Shelly's Recipe

TOFFEE TOPPED BARS

Category: Bars

2 cups firmly packed brown sugar
2 cups flour
1/2 cup butter, softened
1 tsp baking powder
1/2 tsp salt
1 tsp vanilla extract
1 cup milk
1 egg
1 cup chocolate chips
1/2 cup chopped walnuts or pecans
1/4 cup unsweetened flaked coconut, optional

Preheat oven to 350. Lightly grease a 13x9 inch baking pan; set aside. In a large mixing bowl, mix together the brown sugar and flour. Cut in the butter until mixture resembles coarse crumbs. Remove 1 cup of mixture and set aside.

To mixture in large bowl, add baking powder and salt. Using a fork, lightly beat in vanilla, milk and egg. Continue beating until a smooth batter forms. Pour batter into prepared baking pan. In a small bowl, combine the chocolate chips and nuts. Fold in the coconut. Sprinkle reserved crumb mixture over top of batter in pan. Sprinkle with the chocolate chips and nuts. Using a long flat spatula, spread topping evenly over the top of the batter in pan.

Bake bars for 35 minutes, or until a skewer inserted in center comes out clean. Transfer pan to a wire rack. Cool bars in pan completely before slicing. Using a serrated knife, cut into 24 bars. Store in airtight container for up to 5 days.