A shortbread like crust is topped off with a chewy toffee layer, then finished off with a layer of melted chocolate and a generous sprinkling of toffee bits in this easy to make bar cookie that’s always a hit.
I recently attended a holiday gathering where my friend Tamara brought these Toffee Cookie Bars. I couldn’t stop thinking about them–even after I’d eaten the plate of extra bars I’d taken home with me!
So naturally I had to ask her for the recipe and make this toffee treat immediately!
I couldn’t believe how easy these bars were to make, and I already had all of the ingredients on hand. Yes, I keep a bag of toffee bits in my pantry at all times.
But even if you don’t, you probably have most of the other ingredients on hand. And trust me, these cookie bars are worth a quick run to the store for some toffee bits or Heath bars.
The best way I know to describe this decadent, delicious dessert is to imagine a combination of shortbread and toffee, or a mix of a Twix Bar and a Heath Bar. However you choose to describe it, the result is amazing!
These bars start with a rich, buttery shortbread-like layer. That’s topped off with a caramel-like layer made with sweetened condensed milk and more butter. Then everything is topped with melted chocolate and sprinkled with bits of crunchy toffee.
As much as I love toffee, I like these bars even more. And they’re so much easier to make than traditional toffee–no candy thermometer required.
After I had a few pieces from the batch I made at home, I had to pack them up and hide them in the back of my freezer so I wouldn’t eat the entire pan at once. That’s how addicting and irresistible this dessert is!
Everyone who has tried these cookie bars loves them. You’ll definitely need to be prepared to share the recipe with anyone who tries them.
These Easy Toffee Cookie Bars are especially wonderful to bake and enjoy during the holidays–they are the hit of any cookie tray or holiday get-together–but this is definitely a treat you’ll be craving year-round!
Be sure to save this recipe for Easy Toffee Cookie Bars to your favorite Pinterest board for later.
Here’s what you’ll need to make Easy Toffee Cookie Bars
- Butter
- Brown sugar
- Flour
- Salt
- Sweetened condensed milk
- Vanilla
- Chocolate chips
- Toffee bits
Easy Toffee Cookie Bars
Ingredients
For the crust
- 3/4 cup butter softened
- 3/4 cup brown sugar
- 1 1/2 cups flour
- 1/4 teaspoon salt
For the filling
- 1 14 oz. can sweetened condensed milk
- 2 tablespoons butter
For the topping
- 12 ounces chocolate chips
- 1 cup toffee bits or chopped Heath bars
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Line a 9×13 inch baking pan with parchment paper.
- With an electric mixer, beat 3/4 cup butter and brown sugar until combined. Stir in flour and salt (the mixture will be crumbly).
- Press mixture evenly into the prepared baking pan. Bake for about 10 minutes, or until just golden.
- Meanwhile, bring the sweetened condensed milk and 2 tablespoons butter to a boil over medium heat. Reduce heat and simmer 5 minutes more. Spread over the warm crust layer.
- Return to the oven for another 10 minutes, or until the top is bubbly and golden. Remove to a wire rack.
- Sprinkle the chocolate chips evenly on top and return to the oven for about 2 more minutes. Remove from oven and spread the chocolate evenly over the bars. Sprinkle with the toffee bits.
- Cool on wire rack, then move to the refrigerator to set completely before slicing into bars.
