Chocolate Toffee Bars

These Chocolate Toffee Bars are a delectable treat with a shortbread crust topped with a gooey
and buttery sweet filling that holds a layer of toffee-crusted chocolate for the perfect finish.
These triple-layered bars are perfect for any holiday – winter, spring, summer, or fall!

But I do like to make them during the Christmas holidays. There’s something about the combo
of chocolate and toffee which is perfect for enjoying along with a glass of milk, or a cup of coffee
or hot chocolate.

You’ll love these decadent bars that are easy to make, even though the layers require a few
separate sessions in the oven. The final outcome is totally worth it, so set aside a little time to
make these chocolate and toffee bars that are guaranteed to be a crowd-pleaser!

Ingredients Needed:

Crust:

Butter – Use unsalted. Set it out to soften before mixing it with the other crust ingredients.

Brown Sugar – You can use light or dark.

Flour – Use regular all-purpose flour.

Filling:

Sweetened Condensed Milk – This is heated and mixed with butter to create a sweet filling.

Butter – Needed to help the filling thicken when heated with the sweetened condensed milk.

Toppings:

Semisweet Chocolate Chips – To create the top chocolate layer.

Toffee Bits – For the crunchy garnish on top of the chocolate layer.

How To Make Chocolate Toffee Bars:

Note: This is a summary of the recipe steps. For complete instructions, see the recipe card down below.

STEP 1: Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F and prepare an 8×8 baking dish with butter or line it with parchment paper.

STEP 2: Make the crust by beating together the softened butter, brown sugar, and flour until creamy and well-blended.

STEP 3: Press the crust evenly into the bottom of the baking pan and bake for 25 minutes until lightly golden. Remove and set aside to cool completely.

STEP 4: Prepare the filling by heating, in a saucepan, the sweetened condensed milk, and butter. Stir it continuously on low to medium heat for 5-10 minutes until it thickens.

STEP 5: Pour the mixture over the cooled crust and bake for 15 minutes or until lightly golden.

STEP 6: Remove from the oven and sprinkle the chocolate chips evenly over the top. Return the pan to the oven for 2 more minutes until the chips begin to melt.

STEP 7: Remove from the oven and, using a rubber spatula, evenly spread the melting chocolate chips over the top.

STEP 8: Garnish the top with the toffee bits and lightly press them into the chocolate.

STEP 9: Cool completely before slicing and serving.

Tips:

• Be sure to grease the baking pan well or line it with parchment paper that overhangs so that it can easily lift the uncut toffee bars out and onto a flat surface to slice.
• Soften the butter on the countertop if at all possible rather than using the microwave. You want soft, not melted, butter so that it creams easily.
• You can make the shortbread crust ahead of time and let it cool completely, cover, it overnight, and just finish the recipe the next day.

Where Do I Find Toffee Bits?

Toffee is caramelized brown sugar that becomes hard and can be broken or shattered into hard candy bits.

You can actually purchase toffee bits in the candy or baking section of your grocery store or you can use crushed Heath candy bars, which are a combo of toffee and almonds that are surrounded by chocolate.

You can also make your own toffee bits! The easy recipe is right below.

How To Make Your Own Toffee Bits

You can make this 3-ingredient toffee recipe right on your stovetop. You need 1 stick of unsalted butter, 1 cup of light brown sugar, and a pinch of sea salt. I do like to have a candy thermometer on hand just to make sure I’ve gotten the mixture to the right temperature before I turn it out on the parchment paper to harden.

STEP 1: Line a rimmed baking sheet with parchment paper and set aside.

STEP 2: Add the stick of butter to a saucepan and melt it over medium heat before adding the sugar and salt, whisking continuously until combined, while still on the heat. Continue stirring, for about 10 minutes, until the mixture starts to thicken and the candy thermometer reads between 295°F- 305°F.

STEP 3: Remove it from the heat and carefully pour it out, evenly spread, on the parchment paper. Let it cool and harden for up to 30 minutes. You can then break it into bits by putting it in a Ziploc bag and using a hard object, such as a rolling pin, to crush it into pieces.

Variations For Chocolate Toffee Bars

• If you’re looking for a more substantial shortbread base, add a small egg to the crust mixture.
• For a little more flavor in the crust, add a teaspoon of vanilla or almond extract.
• For a nutty topping, add finely chopped walnuts or sliced almonds in place or in addition to the toffee bits.
• For a saltier topping, add flaky sea salt in place of or in addition to the toffee bits.

Storage:

Keep your chocolate toffee bars in an airtight container on the countertop for up to 4 days or in the fridge for up to 7 days.

More Delicious Bar Recipes:

Graham Cracker Toffee Bars

Christmas Crack

Snickerdoodle Bars

Best Pecan Pie Bars

No-Bake Rocky Road Avalanche Bars