Bar cookies that celebrate brown sugar

My mom had a recipe from her South Carolina friend called chess cake.  I thought that cake was so amazing.  Brown sugar clumped together was such an awesome taste to me as a kid.

Here is the chess cake recipe

2 sticks oleo
1 box brown sugar=2 cups
1 cup granulated sugar
4 egg yolks
2 cups flour
2 tsp baking powder
1/4 tsp. salt
1 cup chopped walnuts
1 1/2 tsp. vanilla
4 egg whites
powdered sugar for dusting finished cake before serving

Melt margarine, add both sugars and blend well.  Add egg yolks and beat well.  Sift flour, baking powder and salt together.  Add flour mixture to creamed mixture.  Fold in nuts and vanilla.  Beat egg whites until stiff.  Fold into batter.  Spread batter into a greased and floured 9 x 13 inch pan and bake at 350 degrees for 30 to 45 minutes.  When done sprinkle with powdered sugar before serving.

This is another bar cookie that celebrates brown sugar
1 lb. box of dark brown sugar = 2 cups
2 3/4 cup flour
1 1/2 tsp. baking powder
1 tsp. vanilla
1 1/2 sticks butter
3 eggs
dash salt
1 cup nuts (optional)
12 oz chocolate chips (optional)

Melt butter in a 10 x 13 pan and spread the butter up the sides of the pan.  Pour the remaining butter into a bowl and add the brown sugar.  Stir together and cool slightly.  Sift dry ingredients together.  Mix eggs and vanilla into brown sugar mixture and then add the dry ingredients.  Stir in chocoate chips and the nuts if you are using them.  Bake for 25 mintues at 350 degrees.  Cool before cutting.  Makes 48 bars.