Candy Topped Toffee Squares
Candy Topped Toffee Squares make for a terrific holiday cookie. This easy toffee recipe decks them out in red and green M & M’s, so they are festive and irresistible.
Candy Topped Toffee Squares – Three Luscious Layers!
These Candy Topped Toffee Squares get better with every layer.
First is the buttery shortbread crust which gained its toffee moniker from the nice dose of dark brown sugar. A smooth, rich chocolate ganache graces the middle followed by whatever chopped candy or toasted nut you desire.
I went with Heath bars to give a double dose of toffee flavor on half of the bars. Being the considerate wife that I am, I sprinkled holiday-colored M & M’s over the other half. As hard as it is to believe, Bill does not like toffee. Crazy man.
Holiday Recipes
I know it seems early to be sharing holiday cookie recipes, but if you’re anything like me, the season will creep up on you, and then panic will set in. So go ahead and start collecting recipes early.
Then you’ll just need to set aside an afternoon to bake. I love to share tins of various cookies and candies with my neighbors at Christmas. Even though I make some old favorites over and over, I’m always on the hunt for new inspiration.
Cookie Week
Welcome to day 3 of Cookie Week, hosted by Kim of Cravings of a Lunatic and Susan of The Girl In the Little Red Kitchen! We’ve teamed together with 10 other talented bloggers to bring you 5 fantastic days of cookie recipes to get you into the holiday spirits. If you are feeling a mid-week slump, then there is no better way to beat it than a big dose of cookie love! Please make sure to check out and enter our fantastic giveaway and check out our #CookieWeek Pinterest board full of all the cookie recipes you’ll see here this week!
UPDATE: The giveaway is over and the entry form has been removed from this post.
In addition to my candy topped toffee squares, here are the other treats baking up in the oven today:
- Maple Peanut Butter Sandwich Cookies by The Girl In The Little Red Kitchen
- S’mores Cookies by Cravings of a Lunatic
- Banana Walnut Biscotti by Chocolate Moosey
- Brown Butter Pecan Toffee Cookies by The Cooking Actress
- Candy Topped Toffee Squares by That Skinny Chick Can Bake
- Maple Walnut Shortbread Cookies by Hungry Couple
- Peanut Butter Chocolate Chip Cookies by Dinners, Dishes and Desserts
- Savory Cheddar Coins by Crumb
- White Chocolate Cranberry Ginger Cookies by Jen’s Favorite Cookies
PRO-Tip: To making cutting bars easier, chill thoroughly, then use a sharp knife to score, then cut into squares. These are trickier than some to cut because of the chunks of candy.
Candy Topped Toffee Squares
3 decadent layers in these holiday bars!
Ingredients
- 1 cup (2 sticks) butter, at room temperature (I used Kerrygold)
- 1 cup dark brown sugar
- 1 egg yolk
- 1 teaspoon vanilla
- A dash of salt
- 2 cups flour
Topping:
- 12 ounces semi-chocolate, chopped
- 1/4 cup butter (Kerrygold)
- 1/2 cup heavy cream
- 1 cup M & M's or chopped Heath bars
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 350°. Line a 9-by-13-inch baking pan with non-stick foil (or regular foil sprayed with non-stick cooking spray). Set aside.
- In a large bowl, mix together the butter and sugar. Add the egg yolk, vanilla, and salt and mix till combined. Add flour and mix till combined, then pat the stiff dough onto the bottom of the prepared pan.
- Bake till golden, about 20 minutes. Do not overbake. Let cool to room temperature on wire rack.
- Combine chopped chocolate, butter and heavy cream in microwave safe bowl. Microwave for 30 seconds, then stop, stir and repeat till chocolate is melted and mixture is smooth. Pour over cooled crust and spread to cover crust using offset spatula. Sprinkle top with candies.
- Chill in refrigerator till chocolate sets. Cut and serve.
Yield: 24 bars
Total time: 1 1/2 hours
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Nutrition Information:
Yield:
24Serving Size:
1 barAmount Per Serving: Calories: 231Total Fat: 11gSaturated Fat: 7gTrans Fat: 0gUnsaturated Fat: 3gCholesterol: 24mgSodium: 47mgCarbohydrates: 31gFiber: 1gSugar: 21gProtein: 3g
These cookies look delicious! Baking is one of my favorite things about the holidays and I love trying out new cookies.
These look absolutely beautiful Lizzy!
I love these bars:)
The cookies sound great and that chocolate topping looks amazing:@)
Love this terrific candy topped toffee squares ! I’m agree with you, they are perfect for sharing with friends 😉
Toffee squares? I’m in. 😉 I love holiday baking season! So much to make and eat, so little time. This is excellent — thanks.
Heavenly and this is a great use for candy! I love the Christmassy ones but I think I would choose the ones topped with Heath Bars!
Never to early for Christmas goodies, these look delicious!
My favorite recipe for Christmas will always be my mother’s Italian biscotti recipe, but this recipe looks delicious, too! I love the idea of using up Halloween candy leftover on Christmas cookies…what a great idea…thanks for sharing!
My favorite cookie to bake during the holidays is the classic cutout cookie.
Amazing three layer cookie! I am glad you’re already doing your holiday baking – you’re way ahead of most of us! 🙂
Oh these are for me for sure 🙂 … chocolate and toffee my favs. Happy holidays Liz.
oh. . you put in chopped Heath bars for a double dose of toffee flavor?!! oh sounds soooo good! I’ll take the ones that Bill won’t eat!!! 😛
These toffee squares look sinfully heavenly. Hehe. I love the red & green M&Ms. It makes things so festive. :] // itsCarmen.com ☼ ☯
YUMMY !!
What a delicious treat
Why do I always do it to myself – visiting you blog after midnight? 🙂
My mouth is watering!!
ohhhh yes!!! love the toffee flavor and now I’m thinking how good these would be with butterfingers!
OMG perfect PERFECT dessert for any occasion! Pinning!
My favorite cookie is Italian Shorbread Sandwich cookie, I love apricot preserves in the middle, my family likes raspberry perserves. So I do both. Oh yum yum yum.
My favorite cookie is snickerdoodles …and I only make them during the holidays (to keep them special and because I can eat them till they’re all gone, warm from the oven). 🙂
i love cookie bars (and toffee) – these look simply irresistible!
Sugar cookies are such classics… whether rolled, dropped, iced or plain, they are my favorite holiday cookie.
Moms homemade Christmas cookies is my favorite.
My favorite cookie all year round is chocolate chip.
I have so many that I make only during the holidays..many passed down from my mom and Grandma…but I have to say that I think my favorite are “Cream Wafers”. A delicate little cookie with a butter cream filling 🙂
This is so Christmasy and beautiful!
I thought your M & Ms 3rd layer was fantabulous and then I scrolled down to see the toffee topping! Double yum! But I’d take either choice in a heartbeat…You can’t go wrong with shortbread and chocolate or toffee!
oooh wow these look amazing! i bet they’d be perfect for chopping into little squares and wrapping up as christmas presents 🙂 so excited for the festive season!
the hobbit kitchen x
Those would make a perfect holiday treat! for me 🙂
These cookies look like the perfect holiday treat. Probably the cookies everyone e asks me to bake are my Chocolate Brickle Sensations but they aren’t festive. If I had to go festive they’d be gingerbread men/women cookies or pumpkin whoopie pies.
These colors remind of Christmas.. nice 🙂
Love using dark brown sugar in baking and like the topping option of a holiday or just generic.
Dear Lizzy, these look rich and delicious!!!! Perfect for the holidays. Blessings dear. Catherine
Lizzy,
Love these bars. They would be perfect as a gift too. Pinned.
Annamaria
These probably wouldn’t leave the house or last very long.
My favorite cookie to bake during the holidays is lightly spiced cut-out sugar cookies in all shapes and sizes!
My favorites to bake are windmill cookies and lemon sugar cookies.
Perfect colors for the holiday in those squares. What a great idea. Kids especially will love those!
My ideal dessert, no doubt about that 😀
Delicious toffee squares!
Cheers
Choc Chip Uru
My favorite cookies to bake during the holidays are snickerdoodles.
Fabulous ! Have many versions of this bar………..and love them all !
I have made one for literally decades (that they used to serve at my grade school as a kid) with corn flakes and peanut butter Base…..then topped with chocolate.
Anything like this with a layer of chocolate is so wonderful.