Charleston Chewies are a chewy brown sugar brownie type bar cookie. Traditionally made with pecans, these bars taste like a benne wafer from the addition of sesame seeds instead of pecans.
Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Lightly oil an 8-inch square pan with vegetable oil and set aside.
In a small saucepan, melt the butter and add the sesame seeds. Cook for 3-5 minutes or until light brown. Remove from the heat and add the brown sugar and stir until smooth.
Next, stir in the egg. Stir together the flour and baking powder and stir into the brown sugar mixture.
Stir in the vanilla.
Pour the batter into the prepared pan and bake for 20 minutes. Remove and allow the pan to cool on a baking rack.
When cool, remove the brownies from the pan and lightly dust the top with confectioners' (powdered) sugar.