Toffee-Topped Bars

By ghinman

Ingredients

• 2 cups firmly packed brown sugar
• 2 cups all-purpose flour
• 1/2 cup (1stick) butter or margarine, softened
• 1 tsp. baking powder
• 1/2 tsp. salt
• 1 tsp. vanilla extract
• 1 cup milk
• 1 egg
• 1 cup semi-sweet chocolate chips
• 1/2 cup chopped walnuts
• 1/4 cup unsweetened flaked coconut (optional)

Details

Servings 24

Preparation

Step 1

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Lightly grease a 13X9 in. baking pan, set aside.
In a large mixing bowl, mix together the brown sugar and flour.
Using a pastry cutter or two knives, cut in the butter until mixture resembles coarse crumbs. Remove 1 cup of mixture and set aside.
To a mixture in a 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 walnuts. Fold in the coconut.
Sprinkle reserved crumb mixture over top of batter in pan. Sprinkle with the chocolate chips and walnuts.
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.
Transer pan to a wire rack. Cool bars in pan completely before slicing.
Using a aerrated knife, cut into 24 bars. Store in airtight container for up to 5 days.