When you take a pan of fudgy brownies and fill them with milk chocolate toffee bars, the result is a batch of Symphony Toffee Brownies, one of the most delectable treats you’ll ever taste!!

I was heading to Colorado with 5 girlfriends and got an email asking whether I was bringing any baked goods. These Brownies with Toffee were already in the oven! We did a good job devouring the batch. Not a crumb came home.

Two Symphony Toffee Brownies stacked on a square white dish.

Why You Must Make

  • Are you familiar with Symphony Bars? They are a Hershey product with the milk chocolate ingredients tweaked for a creamier texture. With both a plain and almond toffee version, the latter was used in these rich, fudgy Symphony toffee brownies!
  • This recipe comes from my friend, Diane Morrissey. She’s an extraordinary cook; check her out on Instagram. When I made these first in 2011, I had just purchased Bake! by Nick Malgieri, the baking guru. When trying to decide which brownie recipe to use for these Toffee Brownies, I went to Nick’s book and quickly decided on his Florida Brownies which are his take on Maida Heatter’s Palm Beach Brownies. They did not disappoint. If they aren’t rich enough for you, try adding a layer of chocolate bars in the middle. They’re definitely sublime.
  • But Diane’s version is even easier! She uses a box of Ghirardelli’s brownie mix which makes these rich, uber-chocolaty brownies a  breeze to prepare!

Ingredient Notes

  • Kitchen Staples – Sugar, Flour
  • Butter – I use salted butter
  • Unsweetened Chocolate – I use Ghirardelli Bars
  • Eggs – Have them at room temperature for easier incorporation. Use large eggs.
  • Vanilla Extract – I use the Nielsen-Massey brand. Never use an artificially flavored vanilla.
  • Symphony Milk Chocolate Bars w/ Almonds & Toffee Chips – You’ll need four 6.8-ounce bars (if the size changes, try to get close to a total of 27.2 ounces).
3 Symphony Toffee Brownies in a small square bowl.

Recipe Tips

  • If you’re not much of a baker or short on time, just grab a box of brownie mix and your friends will think you’re a genius. These brownies with toffee have a delicious, rich, crunchy surprise in every bite!
  • The eggs, sugar, and vanilla are mixed for up to 10 minutes, so using a stand mixer is the best option if available. Make sure to scrape the bowl a couple of times during the process to make certain all the batter is beaten to the same consistency.
  • Since the chocolate bar in the center will be gooey when the brownies are done cooking, you cannot use the usual toothpick test to check whether your brownies are done. The 35-minute timing worked well for me in two different ovens.
  • Like with many fabulous brownie recipes, there is a very thin, crisp top layer that shatters a bit when you cut into these. Using a serrated knife to score them first will help a bit, but there’s really no way to get a perfect, clean cut with every slice.
  • PRO-Tip: Line your baking pans with non-stick foil (affiliate link). This ensures the brownies will not stick to the sides of the pan and also helps for easy removal to a cutting board to slice into squares after they’ve cooled.

Frequently Asked Questions

How Do You Make Fudgy Brownies?

Check the ingredients. It’s all about the ratio of fat to flour. You’ll want more fat than flour which includes butter or oil, egg yolks, and chocolate. Make sure not to overmix. If you use a mixer, mix just until combined at a low speed.

What Are Some Ways to Serve a Brownie?

You can dust with powdered sugar, add some fudgy frosting, or make a brownie sundae with a scoop of vanilla ice cream, a drizzle of fudge sauce, a dollop of whipped cream, and even a cherry on top!

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This recipe was first shared in April 2011. Photos and text were updated in 2019 & 2024.

Stay in touch through social media @ InstagramFacebook, and Pinterest. Don’t forget to tag me when you try one of my recipes! And if you love the results, please give it a 5-star rating in the recipe card.

Two Symphony Toffee Brownies stacked on a square white dish

Symphony Toffee Brownies Recipe

Prep Time 30 minutes
Cook Time 35 minutes
Total Time 1 hour 5 minutes
Yield 24 brownies

Fudgy brownies with a milk chocolate toffee candy bar filling!

Ingredients

Brownies*:

  • 8 ounces (2 sticks) butter
  • 8 ounces unsweetened chocolate, chopped
  • 5 eggs, at room temperature
  • 1 tablespoon vanilla
  • 3 ¾ cups sugar
  • 1 ⅔ cups flour

Filling:

  • 4 6.8 ounce Symphony milk chocolate bars w/ almonds & toffee chips

Instructions

  1. Line 9 x 13-inch pan with nonstick aluminum foil.  Grease with cooking spray if using regular foil. Set aside.
  2. Prepare brownies as the recipe or box states.
  3. For these homemade brownies, preheat the oven to 375º. 
  4. Melt butter and chocolate together in the microwave, using 30-second increments, stirring frequently to not overheat the chocolate until melted and smooth.  Set aside.
  5. Combine eggs, vanilla, and sugar in a large bowl (add a large pinch of salt if using unsalted butter). 
  6. Using a mixer, beat on high, scraping a few times, till very light and fluffy, for up to 10 minutes.
  7. Add the melted chocolate and mix on low, scraping the sides of the bowl occasionally. 
  8. Sift flour into a bowl and mix till just combined.
  9. Spoon half of the batter into the prepared pan.  Smooth the batter to cover the bottom of the pan. 
  10. Place the candy bars side by side over the batter, cutting the 4th bar into sections to finish covering the batter.  Top with the rest of the brownie batter and smooth the top.
  11. Bake for 35 minutes (if using a box mix, follow the baking temperature and time on the package). 
  12. Cool completely, then remove from pan using foil to lift and transfer to a cutting board.  Cut and serve.

Notes

*Or use 2 box mixes for a 9 x 13 pan like Ghirardelli brand.  You may need to add some additional baking time to the time listed on the box.

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Nutrition Information:

Yield:

24

Serving Size:

1 brownie

Amount Per Serving: Calories: 307Total Fat: 10gSaturated Fat: 6gTrans Fat: 0gUnsaturated Fat: 4gCholesterol: 42mgSodium: 35mgCarbohydrates: 49gFiber: 2gSugar: 38gProtein: 5g

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