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Totally gaga for toffee-topped fudgy brownies

Have you tasted Toffee-Topped Fudgy Brownies? No? Well, you’re in for a treat. I just made a whole batch, and the chocolaty aroma is divine. The good news is they’re not hard to make. The bad news is, just like seeing delicious food made on TV, if you want them, you’ll have to make your own.

Toffee Brownie

Have you tasted Toffee-Topped Fudgy Brownies?  No?  Well, you’re in for a treat.  I just made a whole batch, and the chocolaty aroma is divine.  The good news is they’re not hard to make.  The bad news is, just like seeing delicious food made on TV, if you want them, you’ll have to make your own.  Read on for the recipe.

Chocolate is a universal love.  When my daughter’s violin teacher asked us to bring something sweet to the violin recital, I mentioned Toffee Brownies. Her eyes lit up, and with a knowing smile she declared, “Homemade is good, too!”

This Christmas season, you don’t have to compromise on a chocolate treat.  Make it yourself.  Your friends and family will thank you.  I will warn you, these brownies are decadent, delicious, and addictive. Even better, they are a dessert you can make ahead of time—so you have time for holiday fun!

This is a recipe given to me on a recipe card by my mother, origins unknown.  It’s old enough that I had to adjust the amount of Toffee Bits I added, since Heath had downsized the bag from 10 ounces to 8 ounces.  Ho ho ho!

Toffee-Topped Fudgy Brownies

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Ingredients:

  • 1 ¼ sticks of butter (10 tablespoons)
  • 2 cups sugar
  • 2 teaspoons vanilla
  • 4 eggs
  • 1 ½ cups flour
  • ¾ cup Hershey or Ghirardelli unsweetened chocolate cocoa powder
  • 3 1/3 ounces (or nearly ½ of an 8 ounce bag) Heath bits or Almond Toffee Bits
  • ¾ cup Hershey Chocolate Mini Bits

Grease 13x9x2 pan.  Baker’s note: I sprayed Pam on my Pyrex dish.  Melt butter over low heat.  Pour the melted butter into a mixing bowl.  Stir in sugar and vanilla. Add eggs one at a time, beating just until blended.  Combine flour and cocoa; gradually add to butter mixture, stirring just until blended.  Do not over-mix.  Spread batter into prepared pan.  Sprinkle with Toffee bits and Mini Chips.  Bake 35 minutes at 350 degrees or until wooden toothpick inserted in center comes out clean.  Cool completely in pan on wire rack.  Cut into 36 squares.

If you want to freeze some or all of the brownies for later in the Christmas season, wait for the pan of brownies to cool on a wire rack.  Then cut them into 36 or more squares.  Take Saran Wrap and group nine or so brownies in plastic wrap.  Repeat three more times, so that you have all the brownies encased in plastic wrap.  Then place the brownies carefully in freezer bags and store them in your freezer.  I was able to get two of the wrapped brownie packages into one-gallon size freezer zip bag.  I now have two-gallon size freezer bags full of plastic wrapped Toffee-Topped Fudgy brownies in my freezer.

I sneaked one brownie before I wrapped and froze the rest. Oh. My.  Gosh. The chocolate brownie is fudgy on the inside and crunchy on the top.  Pair with milk, and you’ll be in chocolate heaven.

What are some of your favorite Christmas treats?

Photo Credit: Kelly Estes

6 Responses to “Totally gaga for toffee-topped fudgy brownies”

December 11, 2009 at 1:38 PM

Yummo! Now I need to go out and buy some cocoa, bc these just sound wonderful! We had the spicy chicken last night that you last reviewed and it was a delicious derivation from our regular routine =)

December 11, 2009 at 2:34 PM

hhhhmmm I guess I am sending South Beach out the door at least just till the end of December… Can’t wait to try them!!!
I tried the Roasted Cauliflower dish but I only had chives and Rosemary and it turned out Yummy.
Also this week I made Chili! my husband kept on asking me what did you put in the chili??? it taste a touch sweet! I said Kelly’s secret ingredient (CINNAMON!)
From Thanksgiving through Christmas I find excuses to make Paula Deen’s Pumpkin Gooey Butter Cakes!!! – I adjust the amount of powder sugar in the recipe, it was way too sweet- the best way I can describe it is a mix of Cheesecake and pumpkin pie.

December 11, 2009 at 2:52 PM

I am lucky enough to say that I have personally tasted these delish brownies and I cannot wait to try my hand at making them. I was stumped as to what to bring to my work christmas party but these will definitely be making an appearance ( a short lived one i predict)!

December 11, 2009 at 3:52 PM

Oh thank God… dessert!! These are my kind of leftovers! I really could have used this inspiration last night as I made brownies. I assume chocolate chips can be used instead of bits?

December 11, 2009 at 5:21 PM

I think we both have a sweet tooth! :) Yes, you could use semi-sweet chocolate chips if you didn’t feel like going out to get mini bits. However — I would highly recommend getting the mini bits because they not only look prettier, they’re easier to eat. You could try cutting the chocolate chips in half and try the recipe that way… if you do, let me know how that goes! Store Brand note: I used Publix’s store brand mini bits (on sale, they were much cheaper than Nestle’s) and I couldn’t tell the difference in taste.

December 11, 2009 at 5:29 PM

@Noel,
I’m so glad you liked the spicy cheesy chicken recipe! And yes, you must get cocoa powder! I have it on hand year-round, but I make a point to stock up during the Christmas season, when friends and family stop by more often.

@Liz,
I am happy to hear of your successes with the chili and roasted cauliflower!

I recall watching Paula Deen make those gooey butter cakes, but I never made them. Thank you for the tip of lightening the powder sugar amount! I might try making them in the next couple weeks. It’s baked goods open season, right?

@Vicki,
Oh, your work compadres will just looove these brownies. In fact, I almost never eat sweets 30 minutes before dinner, but one of the toffee brownies was calling my name! :)

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