Carrot Blondies

Cross between carrot cake and traditional blondie.

• Ready In: 1 hr 35 mins
• Yields: 24 bars

Ingredients

• 3 1⁄2 cups all-purpose flour
• 2  teaspoons baking soda
• 1  teaspoon ground cinnamon
• 1  teaspoon salt
• 1⁄2 teaspoon ground ginger
• 1⁄2 teaspoon  grated nutmeg
• 1  cup canola oil or 1  cup  vegetable oil, plus additional
•  canola oil or   vegetable oil, for the pan
• 1  cup  packed dark brown sugar
• 1⁄2 cup sugar
• 3  large eggs, at room temperature
• 1  teaspoon vanilla extract
• 3  cups  shredded carrots
• 6  ounces  semi-sweet chocolate chips

Directions

1. Position oven rack in the lower third of the oven; preheat oven to 350°; oil a 13x9 inch baking pan; set aside.
2. In a bowl, whisk the flour, baking soda, cinnamon, salt, ginger, and nutmeg together; set aside.
3. In another bowl, beat the oil, brown sugar, and sugar using the electric mixer on medium speed; continue beating until the sugars have dissolved, about 5 minutes.
4. Add in the eggs, one at a time, allowing each to be thoroughly incorporated before adding the next.
5. Scrape down sides of bowl as needed.
6. After beating in the third egg for 1 minute, stir in the vanilla.
7. With a wooden spoon or rubber spatula, stir in the shredded carrot and chocolate chips until combined.
8. Then stir in the flour mixture just until incorporated; do not beat.
9. Spoon batter into prepared pan, spreading it gently to the corners.
10. Bake for 35 minutes or until the top is lightly brown and a pick comes out with a few moist crumbs.
11. Set pan on a wire rack to cool for at least 30 minutes.
12. Cut blondies into 24 pieces while they are still in the pan; carefully remove them with an offset spatula.
13. Serve immediately or let cool completely before covering with plastic wrap for storage at room temperature.
14. Variations: substitute 1 ½ teaspoon rum extract for the vanilla; and/or.
15. add 2 teaspoons finely grated orange zest with the shredded carrot; and/or.
16. substitute milk chocolate chips or white chocolate chips for the semisweet chocolate chips.