Shelly's Recipe

SEA SALTED COFFEE TOFFEE BARS

Category: Bars

First layer:
1 cup butter, softened
1 cup dark brown sugar, firmly packed
1/2 tsp salt
2 cups flour
1 1/2 tbsp instant coffee crystals

Second layer
1 can sweetened condensed milk
2 tbsp butter
2 tsp vanilla extract or dark rum
1 1/2 cups whole pecans, hazelnuts, almonds or other mixed nuts
1/2 to 1 tbsp large crystal sea salt

Preheat oven to 350. In a mixing bowl, beat together butter, brown sugar and salt until light and fluffy. Add flour, 1 cup at a time, stirring between additions. Add instant coffee crystals and blend until well incorporated. Pat batter into ungreased 13x9 inch baking pan in an even layer. Bake until edges are lightly browned and center is puffy, 12 to 15 minutes.

Meanwhile, in heavy saucepan, stir condensed milk and 2 tbsp butter over low heat until butter melts. The mixture will thicken and become smooth. Stir in vanilla or rum; remove from heat and let sit until bottom layer is done baking. Sprinkle nuts over baked bottom layer and pour hot condensed milk mixture evenly over nuts using a spatula to spread.

Return to the oven and bake until top is golden and bubbling, 10 to 12 minutes. Immediately sprinkle desired amount of sea salt over bubbling toffee top. Cool slightly in pan and cut into bars. Bars can be kept up to one week in an airtight container.