Hershey's Best Brownies

These are also known as Hershey's Favorite Fudgy Brownies.

1 cup butter or margarine
2 cups granulated sugar
2 teaspoons vanilla extract
4 eggs
3/4 cup Hershey's Cocoa or
    Hershey's European Style Cocoa
1 cup all-purpose flour
1/2 teaspoon baking powder
1/4 teaspoon salt
1 cup chopped nuts (optional)

Heat oven to 350 degrees F. Grease 13 x 9-inch baking pan.

Place butter in large microwave-safe bowl. Microwave at HIGH (100%) 2 to 2 1/2 minutes or until melted. Stir in sugar and vanilla extract. Add eggs, one at a time, beating well with spoon after each addition. Add cocoa; beat until well blended. Add flour, baking powder and salt; beat well. Stir in nuts, if desired. Pour batter into prepared pan. Bake 30 to 35 minutes or until brownies begin to pull away from sides of pan. Cool completely in pan on wire rack. Cut into bars.

Makes about 36 brownies.