Chinese Chewies? A Christmas goodie, you ask? OH YEAH, BABY! This is a Granny recipe. My Granny was unbelievably amazing! Her mother died a few days after giving birth to her. Her father died not too long thereafter. And my Granny was raised in an orphanage in Nashville where Tenneessee State University stands now. She married young and raised 6 kids while working full time at Brown Shoe Company. And she could cook like nobody’s business!
She made Chinese Chewies all the time! This is actually the first recipe she ever “turned me loose” on. I was about 7. She took down her recipe box, set this recipe in front of me and said, “Get to it, little lady.” That’s how simple they are! A 7-year old can make them!
I have no idea where the recipe came from before my Granny. I wish I knew. But she made these all my life. And everybody who ever ate them, LOVED them! Every year at Christmas, she made a zillion batches. She gave them to the preacher and his family. She gave them to the garbage men. She gave them to the neighbors. She was a giver, my Granny. She wanted to share everything she had. She shared that love for cooking and the giving it away with me.
So since I can’t literally give you all a batch of these, I’m sharing my Granny’s recipe with you so maybe you can make some to give to your preacher or garbage man or neighbor or whoever needs a little “happy” this Christmas season!
Chinese Chewies aren’t anything “Chinese-y” at all. They’re pretty much a blonde brownie. And they’re WONDERFUL! I could sit here and eat a dozen right now! So let’s make some!
Chinese Chewies
* 1 lb. brown sugar
* 1 tsp. vanilla
* 1 1/2 cups self-rising flour
* 1 cup pecans or walnuts
* 1 stick butter, melted
* 3 eggs, well beaten
Mix sugar, butter and vanilla together. Add eggs and beat until well-combined. Gradually add flour until smooth. Add nuts. Pour into a 9″X13″ pan that has been sprayed with non-stick cooking spray. Bake in a pre-heated 325° oven for 25 minutes.
If you’re giving them away, allow them to cool completely before cutting. Cut into squares and dust with powdered sugar.
If you’re NOT planning to give them away, cut them while they’re still warm and prepare for your eyes to roll back into your head!
I hope you enjoy these! My Granny would be thrilled. Granny went home to be with Jesus 17 years ago this month. I have this vision of her standing on the balcony of her mansion in Glory, peeping over the side and down through the clouds watching folks still enjoying “her” food. It would make her very happy!
Merry Christmas, Granny! And Merry Christmas to you all!
Filed under: Christmas/Holidays, Dessert, Recipes |
What's Cookin', Good Lookin'? 
😀 Thank you for sharing Ames! Have you gotten any of of my Facebook msgs? I have sent a couple, and have a funny feeling, they are not going through.
My gmail is acting flakey too. I wonder if I need to update something on my computer.
I always thought of Chinese chewys as the no-cook cookies with the chow mein noodles.
I’ll have to try your version.
I have gotten them, Rachel and I’ve responded, but Facebook must definitely be acting flakey. 😦
I thought they would have been the kind with chow mein noodles, too! I looked at the list and wondered where they were!LOL
I’ll be trying these….and some biscotti. 🙂
Dang….sorry about that….I am logged in as Shane.
It’s tammy!! LOL
Oh my gosh, my eyes are rolling back in my head just THINKING about them!! I made blondie brownies for Karen last weekend….SO thankful I sent them back to school with her! Will definitely be making these…I LOVE chewie cookies/bars/brownies….and I’ll give them away after having just one. 😉
Yeah baby! LOL I’m thinking I may have to make these, today! I have my Tupperware Christmas party to go to, and I’m thinking these will be going with us! Now, if I can just decide on a main dish.
My Granny would be smiling knowing this recipe has made so many folks happy! :o)
Tammy, you cracked me up coming “in disguise!”
Well, I made everyone very happy at the party last night, Amy…especially one lady, who was totally obsessed with these Chinese Chews! Thanks so much for this recipe…and I will definetly be bumping my oven up to 350, next time I make them. Thanks again Amy!
I’m going to have to try these, too. Every time you’ve mentioned them, I pictured them as those no-bake cookies with the crunchy chow-mein noodles (that I don’t like), so I skipped past the idea of them.
But, blondies? Now that I can do. I might make them this weekend.
What a beautiful story . It reminds me of my grandma as well who made Chines Chewies for us when we were little. We though that this recipe was lost forever, so we really appreciate you sharing your recipe and story! What a wonderful gift to bless others with. My grandmother was a ggiver too. She would go out her back door, call out to other people walking by and ask them if they were hungry and then she would feed them. She must have passed aay the same year as your grandma because she has now been in heavenfor about 21 years. I have no doubt that your Granny and Momma Lee are probably up in heaven making and enjoying Chinese Chewies together. One day we’ll all be together again. Won’t that that be wonderful?! God bless Sharon V.