Friday, June 6, 2014

Toffee Bars

This past weekend I baked a batch of toffee bars. While mixing the ingredients I thought back to the first evening I tasted this delicious recipe. My grandma was in the habit of stopping by in the evenings during the summer months. We would often have a basket of tomatoes from our garden ready for grandma to take with her, and occasionally she would bring by a treat to enjoy while we visited. Grandma had her specialties, a family favorite often baked were molasses crinkle cookies. But this one evening grandma had tried a new recipe she discovered for toffee bars. They met with our approval, and she made a copy of the recipe for us.

I have made them several times over the years. It is a very simple recipe and quick to whip up in a hurry. Each time I bake this recipe I think of grandma, and cherish the legacy of cooking and baking she left behind her. That is how grandma shared her time and love through tasty meals and baked goods.

Toffee Bars

1 cup butter, softened
1 cup brown suger
1 tsp. vanilla
1 egg yolk
2 cups flour
1/4 tsp. salt
2/3 cup chocolate chips
1/2 cup chopped walnuts

Directions:
1.) Heat oven to 350 degrees
2.) Combine butter, sugar, vanilla and egg yolk until well mixed. Add flour and salt, stir. Press dough into ungreased 13 x9" pan.
3.)Bake 25-30 minutes or until very light brown (crust will be soft). Immediately sprinkle chocolate chips over hot crust. Let stand about 5 minutes or until soft; spread evenly. Sprinkle with walnuts. Cool about 30 minutes in pan. Cut into bars while still warm.

********************************************************************************

You may have noticed the beverage in the photo above. It is my new favorite- 1 tsp. instant coffee, 1 tsp. sugar mixed with warm milk. We refer to it as coffee milk in my family and it tastes great with a toffee bar. : )

11 comments:

  1. Dear Sarah,
    This recipe looks delicious...I'll have to try it soon. I'm always looking for new "sweets"...my son likes to take a plate every week to work and treat his "bachelor" buddies that work with him! Thank you so much for sharing!
    Sweet blessings,
    Laura

    ReplyDelete
  2. Thank you for sharing this special recipe with your readers, Sarah! How wonderful to have sweet memories of your Grandma!

    Blessings,
    Kelly-Anne

    ReplyDelete
  3. These look delicious; I could go for some right about now! I treasure recipes that have connections with my mother or grandmother. I keep them in a recipe box for my future home so that my future family can enjoy the same tastes I enjoyed in my childhood.

    By the way, your photography is beautiful!

    ReplyDelete
  4. Oh, do these look and sound wonderful! I love that they have brown sugar in them. What a lovely morning on the go bar this would make also. You always share such wonderful recipes. I'd love to try these- all I need are walnuts :)

    Your photo, as always, also made me feel like I was sitting down to breakfast in the quaintest farmhouse on a beautiful morning.

    I hope you have a wonderful weekend!
    Blessings and hugs to your dear friend,
    Jazzmin

    ReplyDelete
  5. Sounds delicious ~ it's nice how some of our long kept recipes bring back memories. :-)
    Hope you're feeling well ~ Enjoy your weekend! ♥

    ReplyDelete
  6. Yum, these sound so good. I am always looking for new recipes to try. And what memories to have of your grandma. I love it when a recipe has a story behind it.

    Have a wonderful weekend!

    Blessings,
    Amy

    ReplyDelete
  7. Hi Sarah, thank you for sharing your wonderful memories of your Grandma. This is a great example how simple things can create warm and long-lasting memories. And thank you for the recipe. I believe I have all the ingredients at hand, so perhaps tomorrow I'll treat my family to some yummy toffee bars.

    Have a blessed weekend!

    ReplyDelete
  8. Looks delicious! I love how such a simple thing can bring back a wonderful memory. Thanks for sharing!

    ReplyDelete
  9. Oh Sarah, wish I could stop by for a cup of tea and a toffee bar! The look simply delicious! And how precious that the recipe came from your Grandma...some of my most favorite recipes are from my Nana and Mama...I use them over and over again. I have a few that I learned by watching Nana...she didn't have these ones written down...she just knew them by heart. I make them the same way today...and think of her.
    Have a wonderful day!
    Laura

    ReplyDelete
  10. I have used this, or a similar recipe, for years.... and we love it.... thanks to your reminder, I think we will be making them again today!! :) Nice post... have a great day!

    ReplyDelete
  11. Okay, small world as you have linked up with us this week! Thanks for sharing these tasty looking bars on the Art of Home-Making Mondays. I will be trying these out!!!

    ReplyDelete