If you have a soft spot for irresistibly sweet, buttery treats that combine crunchy toffee and melty chocolate, then you’re going to adore this Toffee Chocolate Chip Dessert Bars Recipe. These bars bring together a crisp, crumbly crust studded with toffee bits, topped with gooey chocolate chips, and enveloped in luscious sweetened condensed milk—creating a perfect harmony of flavors and textures that’s downright addictive. Every bite bursts with warmth and nostalgia, making them the ideal dessert to share with family and friends or simply treat yourself to a little slice of heaven.
Ingredients You’ll Need
This Toffee Chocolate Chip Dessert Bars Recipe relies on straightforward, pantry-friendly ingredients that come together to create rich texture, balanced sweetness, and delightful crunch. Each component plays its part to bring out the full flavors you crave in this dessert bar.
- 1 cup salted butter, cold: Cold butter ensures a crumbly, tender crust when mixed with flour.
- 2 cups all-purpose flour: The base of the crust for structure and a satisfyingly crumbly bite.
- ¼ cup granulated sugar: Adds just the right touch of sweetness to the crust.
- ½ cup toffee bits: Mixed into the crust for bursts of buttery caramel crunch.
- 2 cups chocolate chips: The melty, chocolatey star of the topping, perfect for contrast.
- 1 ½ cups toffee bits, divided: Sprinkled on top for a luxurious toffee finish and extra texture.
- 1 (14 ounce) can sweetened condensed milk: Creates a rich, gooey layer that binds everything together beautifully.
- 1 pinch sea salt, optional: Enhances the flavors and balances the sweetness when sprinkled on top.
How to Make Toffee Chocolate Chip Dessert Bars Recipe
Step 1: Preheat Oven and Prepare Pan
Start by preheating your oven to 350°F (175°C). Grease a 9×13-inch baking pan or line it with parchment paper, leaving plenty of overhang. This little trick makes it super easy to lift out the bars after baking without any sticking or crumbling.
Step 2: Make the Crust
Cut the cold salted butter into small cubes and combine it with the flour and granulated sugar in a large mixing bowl. Use a pastry blender or two knives to cut the butter into the dry ingredients until the mixture looks crumbly—think coarse crumbs with some pea-sized bits. Then, gently stir in ½ cup of toffee bits. This process sets the stage for a crumbly, buttery crust with sweet surprises throughout.
Step 3: Press Crust into Pan and Bake
Firmly press the crumbly mixture into the bottom of your prepared pan, ensuring it’s evenly distributed and packed down. Pop it into the oven and bake for 22-25 minutes until the crust turns a light golden brown. This step creates a sturdy base that will hold all those gooey layers beautifully.
Step 4: Add Chocolate, Toffee, and Condensed Milk
Once the crust is out of the oven and still warm, sprinkle 2 cups of chocolate chips evenly over the top. Then sprinkle 1 cup of the toffee bits across those chocolate chips. Drizzle the entire surface evenly with the sweetened condensed milk, allowing it to seep between the chips and toffee. Finish by scattering the remaining ½ cup of toffee bits on top.
Step 5: Bake the Filling
Return the baking pan to the oven and bake for an additional 15-17 minutes until the top is lightly browned and bubbling around the edges. This creates that luscious, gooey filling layer that holds the bars together yet oozes with every bite.
Step 6: Cool and Serve
If you like, sprinkle a pinch of sea salt over the bars while they’re still warm to balance the sweetness and deepen the flavors. Let them cool completely in the pan on a wire rack—this cooling step is crucial to let the bars set perfectly for clean, satisfying slices.
How to Serve Toffee Chocolate Chip Dessert Bars Recipe
Garnishes
For an extra special touch, consider a light dusting of powdered sugar or a drizzle of melted chocolate over the cooled bars. A sprinkle of flaky sea salt adds a sophisticated contrast that makes the toffee and chocolate pop even more wonderfully.
Side Dishes
Serve these dessert bars alongside a scoop of vanilla bean ice cream to create a stunning warm-and-cold contrast, or with a cup of freshly brewed coffee for the perfect afternoon pick-me-up. Fresh berries also add a bright, tart note that complements the sweetness beautifully.
Creative Ways to Present
Cut the bars into bite-sized squares for party platters or stack them between sheets of parchment paper to gift in pretty boxes. Wrap individual pieces in wax paper tied with twine for adorable grab-and-go treats. On special occasions, serve with dollops of whipped cream and a sprinkle of toffee on top.
Make Ahead and Storage
Storing Leftovers
Store any leftover Toffee Chocolate Chip Dessert Bars in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 3 days. If your kitchen is particularly warm, refrigeration will keep them fresh longer but allow them to come to room temperature before serving to enjoy that melt-in-your-mouth texture.
Freezing
These dessert bars freeze beautifully! Wrap them tightly in plastic wrap and then place them in a freezer-safe container or bag. They’ll keep well for up to 3 months. Thaw overnight in the refrigerator or at room temperature before serving for perfect results.
Reheating
If you want to enjoy these bars warm, pop individual servings in the microwave for about 15-20 seconds. The chocolate and toffee soften, delivering that freshly baked feel without needing to warm a whole pan.
FAQs
Can I use unsalted butter instead of salted butter?
Yes, you can substitute unsalted butter. Just add a pinch of sea salt to the crust mixture to balance the flavor, especially since salted butter helps bring out the richness of the toffee and chocolate.
What kind of toffee bits work best?
Store-bought toffee bits like Heath or Skor bars work perfectly. They provide the ideal buttery crunch and caramel flavor that pairs beautifully with the chocolate.
Is it necessary to use sweetened condensed milk?
Sweetened condensed milk is key to creating that luscious, binding layer in the bars. It melts and browns during baking, adding richness and sweetness you just can’t replicate with other liquids.
Can I make this recipe gluten-free?
Absolutely! You can substitute a gluten-free all-purpose flour blend in place of regular flour. Just make sure your toffee bits and chocolate chips are also gluten-free to keep the bars safe for gluten-sensitive guests.
How thick should I cut the bars?
Cutting the bars into moderate squares, about 2×2 inches, works best. This size holds together nicely and balances the rich sweetness so each piece feels just right.
Final Thoughts
This Toffee Chocolate Chip Dessert Bars Recipe is truly one of those magical desserts that everyone will ask you to make again. It hits all the right spots with crunchy edges, gooey melted chocolate, and buttery toffee pieces that captivate every bite. I hope you try this recipe soon and enjoy sharing these delectable bars with the special people in your life. Once you do, it might just become your new favorite sweet treat to keep on hand for any occasion.
Print
Toffee Chocolate Chip Dessert Bars Recipe
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 40 minutes
- Total Time: 55 minutes
- Yield: 12 servings
- Category: Dessert
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
Description
Deliciously rich and buttery Toffee Dessert Bars featuring a crumbly toffee-infused crust topped with melted chocolate chips, sweetened condensed milk, and extra toffee bits for added crunch. This easy-to-make baked treat combines a perfect balance of sweet and salty flavors, ideal for sharing at gatherings or enjoying as an indulgent snack.
Ingredients
Crust
- 1 cup salted butter, cold, cut into small cubes
- 2 cups all-purpose flour
- ¼ cup granulated sugar
- ½ cup toffee bits
Topping
- 2 cups chocolate chips
- 1 ½ cups toffee bits, divided (1 cup + ½ cup)
- 1 (14 ounce) can sweetened condensed milk
- 1 pinch sea salt, optional
Instructions
- Preheat Oven and Prepare Pan: Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C). Grease or line a 9×13-inch baking pan with parchment paper, leaving some overhang on the edges to make lifting the bars out easier after baking.
- Make the Crust: In a large mixing bowl, combine the cold, cubed salted butter with 2 cups all-purpose flour and ¼ cup granulated sugar. Using a pastry blender or two knives, cut the butter into the dry ingredients until the mixture becomes crumbly. Then stir in ½ cup toffee bits evenly.
- Press Crust into Pan: Press this crumbly dough firmly and evenly into the prepared baking pan to create the base of your bars.
- Bake the Crust: Bake the crust in the preheated oven for 22 to 25 minutes, or until it turns a light golden brown color. This step ensures a firm base for the gooey toppings.
- Add Chocolate and Toffee: Remove the crust from the oven and while it’s still hot, sprinkle 2 cups of chocolate chips evenly across the surface. Then, evenly sprinkle 1 cup of toffee bits over the chocolate. Drizzle the entire surface with the sweetened condensed milk, and finish by sprinkling the remaining ½ cup of toffee bits on top.
- Bake the Filling: Return the pan to the oven and bake for an additional 15 to 17 minutes. The top should become lightly browned and the edges bubbly, indicating that the filling has set properly.
- Cool and Serve: If desired, add a pinch of sea salt over the bars while still warm to enhance the flavor. Let the bars cool completely in the pan on a wire rack before lifting them out using the parchment paper overhang and cutting into squares for serving.
Notes
- Make sure the butter is cold before cutting it into the flour to achieve the crumbly texture for the crust.
- Use parchment paper with overhang for easy removal of bars from the pan.
- Let bars cool completely to allow filling to set properly before slicing.
- Adding a pinch of sea salt on top balances the sweetness and adds depth of flavor but is optional.
- Store bars in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 3 days or refrigerate for longer freshness.
