Dad’s Favorite Toffee Bars

 

One of my dad’s favorite holiday cookies are toffee bars. I was told not to make them and bring them over because my dad will eat them all. But I need to write up this article and the steps we use to make them. So away I bake, create and write. The family will be getting toffee bars delivered in the near future.

Printed recipes get lost and filed away easily. Now that I have the recipe published on FMK, I can just refer to it during our annual cookie baking event. ooo aaa!

GATHER SUPPLIES

Note the Quaker Oats cookie tins? My father worked for the Quaker Oats company for 33 years. These tins will always remind of that. Any tins or holiday decorated boxes will work well. The boxes Amazon suggest are pretty neat, if I ever need additional tins, I’d go with those.

 

SHOP FOR SUPPLIES

Superior Glass Mixing Bowls Set with Lids – 8-Piece with BPA-Free lids, Space-Saving Nesting Bowls – Easy Grip & Stable Design for Meal Prep & Food Storage – For Cooking, Baking. (Amazon)

Hamilton Beach 6-Speed Electric Hand Mixer with Whisk, Dough Hooks and Easy Clean Beaters, Powerful 275 Watt Motor, Snap-On Storage Case, Black. (Amazon)

Pyrex Colors (9″x13″) Tinted Glass Baking Dish with BPA-Free Lid, Oblong Bakeware Glass Pan For Casserole & Lasagna, Dishwasher, Freezer, Microwave and Pre-Heated Oven Safe, Smoke. (Amazon)

Pyrex Prepware 1-Cup Measuring Cup, Clear with Red Measurements. (Amazon)

OXO Good Grips 7-Piece Plastic Measuring Spoons. (Amazon)

Riveira Bamboo Wooden Spoons for Cooking 6-Piece, Apartment Essentials Wood Spatula Spoon Nonstick Kitchen Utensil Set Premium Quality Housewarming Gifts for Everyday Use. (Amazon)

Joyousa Christmas Cookie Boxes – Bulk 12 Pack Kraft – Large Holiday Christmas Cookie Tins with Lids, Bakery Christmas Treat Boxes, Candy and Cookie Boxes for Gift Giving – Food Packaging Containers. (Amazon)

GATHER INGREDIENTS 

The base or first layer consist of butter, sugar, flour and salt.

 

SHOP FOR INGREDIENTS

Amazon Fresh, All Purpose Flour, 5 Lb (Pack of 1). (Amazon)

Domino, Granulated White Sugar, 4 lb, packaging may vary. (Amazon)

Amazon Fresh, Unsalted Butter Sticks, 16 Oz (Previously Happy Belly, Packaging May Vary) (Amazon)

Amazon Brand – Happy Belly, Sea Salt, Fine Ground, 1 pound (Pack of 1) (Amazon)

Baker’s Unsweetened Chocolate Premium Baking Bar with 100 % Cacao (4 oz Box) (Amazon)

365 by Whole Foods Market, Organic Sweetened Condensed Milk, 14 Ounce (Amazon)

DIRECTIONS

Now that we have our supplies and ingredients, let’s get started. The first thing we need to do is make the crust or base.

Step 1: Mix the butter, sugar and salt.

The recipe states “cream” I’ve always used the term mix. However, you refer to it, the goal is to end up with a pastry material to spread in the 9  x 13 pan.

• 1/2 cup of butter (one stick)
• 1/2 cup of sugar
• 1/2 teaspoon of salt

 

Step 2: Add the flour.

Add 1 cup of flour to the blended butter and sugar. Mix until well combined.

 

Step 3: Place mixture in 9  x 13 inch pan, spread and pat for the base layer.

In the image below, I failed to mix the flour as well as it should have been. The toffee bars ended up ok, and tasted fine, but the crust was a bit crumbly from not mixing in the flour enough.

Once the crust has been spread out in the pan, bake at 350 degrees for 15 minutes. While that is baking, let’s get started on the filling.

 

Step 4: Make the filling.

In another sauce pot melt:

• 2 tbsp butter
• 1/4 tsp salt
• 1oz of unsweetened chocolate, or sweetened chocolate.
• One 14 oz can of sweetened and condensed milk.

Using low heat, melt all the ingredients until thickened. This will take about 5 minutes and you want to continue string the so that it does not burn on the bottom of the pot. Pay attention, as it is easy to burn if left alone.

 

Step 5: Add filling to 9 x 13 pan.

Remove the crust from the oven and spread the filling over the cooked crust. Return the pan to the oven and bake for another 15 minutes. I did not take a picture of this, darn, I guess I’ll have to make them again so I can get the photo.

 

Step 6: Make the fudge frosting.

Grab that pot again and the following ingredients.

• 1 oz unsweetened chocolate
• 2 tbsp unsalted butter
• 1 cup powered sugar
• 1/2 tsp vanilla

 

Melt the chocolate, and butter.  Add the vanilla and powered sugar until mixed well. Note you may need to add one teaspoons of water at a time until the mixture is pourable. You are looking for a liquid texture, not too liquid, but chances are the mixture will be too dry. Adding water helps to bing the mixture to a more workable state.

Remember your crust and filling are still in the oven. Personally, I’d wait until the filling is close to being done or is already done and sitting on your stove, before making the frosting. The frosting sets pretty quickly and it would work best if the baking was done prior to making the frosting.

The frosting tends to set quickly, so it would be easier to make the frosting and then transfer it directly to the baked crust and filing without waiting on the baking to be done.

 

Step 7: Add frosting.

Remove the crust and filling from the oven. While the pan is still hot, take the frosting and spread it over the mixture. The frosting will start to melt and spread, but you will still need to spread the frosting over the entire 9  x 13 pan.

And that folks is all there is to it. Wait until the entire pan cools before cutting into desired sizes. It is much easier to cut when the Toffee Bars have cooled completely. In the meantime, now is the perfect time to wash all those dishes. Or grab your phone and comment and share this with your friends and family. Do it now!

 

Step 8: Taste testing

Grab some coffee or tea, and dig in. They are extremely sweet, so if you take sugar in your coffee, may I suggest you skip the sugar, have your coffee black with nothing in it, hen dig in. Now for some more close up images to make you drool a little more.

 

Have you had these before? We make these every year during the holiday’s in the Gates family, but it’s only October right now. I’m preparing this article so I’m ready for our annual cookie baking event.

Which cookie would you like me to make next? Please comment and share below. Be careful you may end up with a personal delivery. OOO AAA!

And for all those recipe junkies, this recipe was taking from the Better Homes and Gardens Homemade Cookies Cook Book published in 1975 or 1988. I think this one on Amazon is the same book. You’re welcome.