English Toffee Bars are incredibly delicious. They have a rich buttery shortbread base topped with chocolate and toffee bits or nuts. These cookie bars are so simple to make that you can enjoy them year-round!
Want to make your sweet tooth happy? Check out this English Toffee Bar recipe! It's easy to whip together and will have you craving more. Plus, it's perfect for any occasion!
This easy recipe is also great for an edible gift idea during the holiday season!
So what are you waiting for? Let's start baking!
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Ingredient Notes
You only need a few simple ingredients to make toffee bars, which you likely have in your pantry!
- butter - this gives the shortbread cookie its amazing flavor. You can use salted or unsalted.
- brown sugar - this provides the cookie with base a rich caramel flavor. You can use dark brown sugar or light brown sugar.
- pure vanilla extract - this enhances the taste of the dough.
- egg yolk - from a large egg.
- all-purpose flour - no need to sift it.
- salt
- milk chocolate chips - you can also use Hershey Bars.
- toffee bits or chopped nuts - topping the bars with one of these options gives the bars a nice crunch to finish them off! We love Heath Toffee Candy, but chopped pecans or walnuts are also wonderful.
You'll need a 9 x 13 x 2-inch baking pan for these bar cookies.
Step-By-Step Instructions
- PREP & PREHEAT - Place your oven rack in the middle of the oven and then heat the oven to 350 degrees F. (175 degrees C). Then, lightly grease a 9 x 13 baking dish with either non-stick cooking spray or butter.
- MAKE COOKIE DOUGH - In a large stand mixer or a large bowl with a hand mixer, cream butter, sugar, and vanilla extract until light and fluffy, about 1-2 minutes. Add the egg yolk and mix until combined. Next, combine flour and salt and mix them into the batter.
- PLACE DOUGH IN PAN - Take the dough and evenly press the mixture into the baking dish.
- BAKE - Bake in the oven until the crust is golden brown, about 22-25 minutes. The bars will be soft.
- ADD CHOCOLATE - Take the dough out of the oven and sprinkle milk chocolate chips. Let them sit for about 5 minutes until they melt, and then spread the melted chocolate evenly over the top of the cookie base with an offset spatula.
- TOP - Sprinkle pecans, Heath English toffee bits, or other chopped nuts on top. Then cool to room temperature on a wire rack for about 30 minutes.
Cut your toffee cookie bars into small pieces and enjoy!
Recipe Tips and Tricks
- Prep your pan for this simple recipe with either non-stick spray, butter, aluminum foil, or parchment paper so the cookie base doesn't stick.
- You can substitute semi-sweet chocolate chips or dark chocolate chips instead of milk chocolate.
- Some readers like to use 4-5 Hershey Chocolate bars instead of chocolate chips.
- We prefer these toffee bars topped with Heath Toffee Bits. However, you can use nuts like pecans or walnuts or leave the topping off altogether.
- Another topping idea is to break Heath Bars into pieces and sprinkle those on top.
Pro Tip: We like to cut our bars into 32 pieces—8 slices on one side, and 4 slices on the other.
More Toffee Recipes
Make your own Toffee with this Almond Roca Recipe.
Top your Chocolate Trifle with Toffee Bits
Enjoy this simple and easy Saltine Toffee year-round!
A Chocolate Toffee Trifle is one of the best desserts!
Storing
Store your English Toffee Bars in an airtight container on the counter for about 5 days.
Freezing
Yes, Toffee Bars are great for freezing. Here's how:
- Cool completely.
- Flash freeze them by laying them out on a cookie sheet and placing them in the freezer until they are frozen. Then, place them in an airtight freezer-safe container with parchment paper in-between layers.
They will last in the freezer for about 3 months.
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Printable Recipe
English Toffee Bars Recipe
Equipment
- large bowl
- Electric Mixer
- Spatula or cooking spoon
- 9 x 13-inch baking pan
Ingredients
- 1 cup butter (salted or unsalted)
- 1 cup packed brown sugar (light or dark )
- 1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
- 1 large egg yolk
- 2 cups all-purpose flour
- ¼ teaspoon salt
- ⅔ cup milk chocolate chips
- ½ cup toffee bits (or chopped nuts)
Instructions
- Place your oven rack in the middle of the oven and then heat the oven to 350 degrees F. (175 degrees C). Then, lightly grease a 9 x 13 baking dish with either non-stick cooking spray or butter.
- In a large stand mixer or a large bowl with a hand mixer, cream butter, sugar, and vanilla extract until light and fluffy, about 1-2 minutes. Add the egg yolk and mix until combined. Next, combine flour and salt and mix them into the batter.
- Press the dough mixture evenly into the prepared baking dish either with your hands or a greased spatula.
- Bake in the oven until the crust is golden brown, about 22-25 minutes. The bars will be soft.
- Take the cookie bars out of the oven and sprinkle milk chocolate chips. Let them sit for about 5 minutes until they melt, then spread the melted chocolate evenly over the top of the cookie base with an offset spatula.
- Sprinkle pecans, Heath English toffee bits, or other chopped nuts on top. Then cool to room temperature on a wire rack for about 30 minutes or until set.
Video
Notes
- CHOCOLATE: You can substitute semi-sweet chocolate chips or dark chocolate chips instead of milk chocolate. Some readers like to use 4-5 Hershey Chocolate bars instead of chocolate chips.
- We prefer these toffee bars topped with Heath Toffee Bits. However, you can use nuts like pecans or walnuts or leave the topping off altogether.
janice says
the shortbread base is amazing and the flavor is amazing! this recipe pretty much melts in my mouth!
Erin Henry says
We couldn't agree more, Janice! This recipe does melt in your mouth!! So good.
Allyson Zea says
These are so delicious, and my kids love helping me make them!
Erin Henry says
Yes! We love hearing that, Allyson. This is the perfect cookie bar recipe to get kids in the kitchen.
Kristyn says
I love English toffee, so to have it in a bar form makes me so happy! It's soft, with a little crunch & tastes so good!
Erin Henry says
You describe it perfectly, Kristyn! These bars are soft and chewy, chocolatey, and have a little crunch.