Jesses Toffee Bars Recipes

TERRIFIC TOFFEE BARS

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). Lightly grease a 9x13-inch baking dish.
• Beat butter, brown sugar, vanilla extract, and egg yolk in a large bowl; stir in flour and salt. Press dough into prepared baking dish.
• Bake in preheated oven until crust is light brown, 25 to 30 minutes.
• Immediately sprinkle chocolate chips over hot crust. Let stand until soft, about 5 minutes, and spread evenly; sprinkle with nuts. Cool pan on wire rack for 30 minutes.

TOFFEE BARS

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350°F. Line an 8x8 square baking dish with foil or parchment paper, grease and set aside.
• Using a hand mixer or stand mixer fitted with the paddle attachment, beat butter and brown sugar until smooth and combined. Add flour and salt and beat until combined (the mixture will be crumbly, but should hold together if you press it between two fingers).
• Dump the crust into the prepared pan and use the bottom of a measuring cup to press the crust into a flat even layer. Bake for about 15 minutes, until the edges are just beginning to turn golden brown.
• Immediately after removing the crust from the oven, sprinkle the top with 1/4 cup toffee bits. Combine the sweetened condensed milk and melted butter, then evenly pour it over the top of the toffee chips (I pour it in a zig-zag/back and forth motion so that there is even coverage).
• Return to the oven and bake for another 7-10 minutes, until the mixture is bubbling.
• Remove from the oven and place the pan on a wire rack. Sprinkle the chocolate chips over the top. Wait 3-5 minutes for the chocolate chips to soften, then gently spread the softened chocolate chips using a small offset spatula. Be careful not to push down too hard with spatula, you only want to spread the chocolate, not the toffee layer underneath. Immediately top with 3/4 cup toffee bits, and a sprinkling of flaky sea salt (if desired).
• Allow the bars to continue to cool until they are room temperature. After cooling you can move them to the refrigerator briefly to firm up the chocolate (if necessary).

CRISP TOFFEE BARS

Steps:

• Heat oven to 350 degrees. Place a rack in the middle and place a 10-inch cast-iron skillet on it.
• In the bowl of a stand mixer fitted with the paddle attachment, beat butter on low speed for about a minute, until softened. Scrape down the bowl and the paddle.
• With the mixer running at low speed, add salt and vanilla. Add the brown sugar, then turn the speed up to medium and beat until mixture is the color of peanut butter and fluffy, 1 to 2 minutes. Scrape down the bowl again.
• With the mixer running at low speed, shake in flour, beating just until dough holds together. Mix in nuts or chocolate just until combined.
• Remove the hot skillet from the oven and place a small lump of butter in it. As butter melts, brush it onto the bottom and sides of the pan until evenly coated.
• Dump dough into skillet and press it out to evenly fill the skillet. You can use your fingers (being careful to avoid touching the hot pan), a potato masher or the bottom of a measuring cup. Press dough down firmly to make a compact, even layer.
• Transfer to oven and bake for 30 to 40 minutes, until the top is walnut brown. You may be tempted to take it out when the edges have begun to darken, but let it continue to cook so the entire surface can take on that color. There may be bubbles visible on top of the dough; that's a good sign.
• Remove from the oven and let cool in the pan. If necessary, run a butter knife around the sides of the pan to loosen. Square off the circle shape of the pan by cutting the four rounded edges off; you will have an approximately 9-inch square. Cut the square into bars, squares or diamonds. (The rounded edges can be chopped or crumbled and used as an ice cream topping.)
• Let the bars cool completely before removing from pan. Use a small spatula or butter knife to transfer them to paper towels to blot the buttery bottoms. Store in airtight container; they keep well for up to 1 week.