Southern Chew Bread

Name: Southern Chew Bread
Cuisine: American
Ingredients: 1 lb. brown sugar; 4 large eggs; 2 c. AP flour; 1/2 t. kosher salt; 1 t. vanilla extract; 1 c. chopped pecans

culk0204 @cook_3224191

A friend and I recently went into a Southern country-kitchen-type eatery in North Carolina where they had "Chew Bread" in all caps on the menu board. Neither of us had ever heard of it, so we asked the waitress what it was. "Well, it's just... well... chew bread." The cook and one patron gave virtually identical descriptions, so we ordered some, but they were already out just one hour after opening.
Curious now, I hit Google, where I found thousands of recipes. I pirated ideas from several and came up with this.
Imagine a chewy brownie but with a caramel profile rather than chocolate. That's Chew Bread.

culk0204 @cook_3224191

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Ingredients

1 lb.brown sugar
4large eggs
2 c.AP flour
1/2 t.kosher salt
1 t.vanilla extract
1 c.chopped pecans

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Steps

1

Preheat oven to 400°F.
2

Grease a jelly-roll pan (15x10x1).
3

In a medium saucepan, beat the eggs and sugar until well-combined.
4

Over VERY low heat, whisk the mixture constantly until the sugar melts. (I alternate the pot on and off the heat. If the eggs cook, it's ruined!)
5

Remove from heat, and add remaining ingredients. Stir with stiff spoon (it will be DENSE!) until combined.
6

Spread batter evenly into prepared pan.
7

Bake 15 minutes. Cool and cut.