Tuesday, March 03, 2009

Chocolate Toffee Cookie Bars and a GIVEAWAY!



I have a deep love for toffee. I think my love obsession started when I was a young girl. My dad used to take us to Dairy Queen for ice cream treats. I would always order the Heath blizzard, same as my dad. My love for toffee hasn't weakened, it has only gotten stronger.

Whenever Heath bars are on sale, we stock up. I keep them in the freezer so they aren't haunting me every time I walk into the kitch
en. They are hidden. Yes, I know they are there and sometimes they talk to me...they beg to be eaten, but I do my best to ignore them. But this time I gave in.

I made Chocolate Toffee Cookie Bars. The bars are loaded with chopped up Heath bars and chocolate chunks. The texture is similar to a blondie, but much better. The toffee chunks melt in with the chocolate, but they still have a nice crunch.

I was a little worried when the bars we
re baking because they got "bubbly." But don't worry, that is just all of the toffee melting and oozing through the bars. If you are a toffee fan like me, make these now. They are insanely good! The bars are soft and chewy, but you get a nice crunch from the toffee too. They are rich, so beware. I am glad Joshua loved these because he ate more than his fair share...better him than me:)

Now
for another fun giveaway! Have you heard of Blue Cattle Truck Trading Co.Mexican Vanilla? If you haven't, you are missing out!

As seen on the Martha Stewart Cupcake Show - Blue Cattle Truck Trading Co. authentic Mexican Vanilla is produced by the Canosa family in the South of Mexico, the birthplace of vanilla. Grandfather Jose Canosa established his award winning Vanilla company in 1917 after fleeing his native country Spain during World War I. Registered with the FDA and coumarin free, you will never want to use anything else. It’s rich, smooth taste is simply unrivaled. No other type of vanilla can compare to Mexican vanilla. And this Mexican Vanilla is bottled in Utah, yahoo for local companies:)

For a chance to win a 8.4 oz. bottle of vanilla, please comment on this post, you have until Wed. at 12:00 a.m. (MST). We will announce the winner on Thursday morning. So comment away, I know you will want this vanilla for your baking adventures.

They are also giving our readers a 10% discount on all orders, so hurry to their
website and order some vanilla today. The coupon code is TwoPeas (no space.) Just enter it in when you are ready to check out!! Thanks again to Blue Cattle Truck Mexian Vanilla. We love your products!







Chocolate Toffee Cookie Bars

3/4 cup plus 2 tablespoons all-purpose flour
1/4 teaspoon baking soda
1/8 teaspoon salt
1/4 teaspoon nutmeg

1/2 teaspoon cinnamon

1 stick (8 tablespoons) unsalted butter, melted and cooled

3/4 cup packed light-brown sugar

1/4 cup granulated sugar

1 large egg

1 teaspoon vanilla extract

1/4 teaspoon almond extract

4 packages (1.4 ounces each) Heath bars, chopped

3/4 cup chopped chocolate (I used semi-sweet, you can use chocolate chips if you wish)


1. Heat oven to 350°. Spray a 8 by 8-inch baking pan with cooking spray.

2. In medium-sized bowl, sift together flour, baking soda, salt, nutmeg and cinnamon. In another medium-sized bowl, mix together melted butter and both sugars with a wooden spoon. Mix in egg and vanilla and almond extracts until blended. Add in flour mixture and stir until just combined. Stir in Heath bar pieces, and chocolate; batter will be dense. Scrape into baking pan, spreading evenly.
3. Bake 25 minutes or until set. Ours baked for longer, maybe 30 minutes. Just watch them! They will look weird and bubble up, that is ok:) Transfer pan to a cooling rack; let cool for 30 minutes, then cut into bars.


145 comments:

  1. OK- it is 8 am and I want one of those bars with ice cream please. I love toffee- so good on froyo! This vanilla sounds great- I usually buy the plain old store vanilla but I know that quality does matter and I'd love to give a more upscale vanilla a try!

    ReplyDelete
  2. Oh yum! These bars look fantastic! I haven't heard of this vanilla before, I am going to check them out!

    ReplyDelete
  3. First off, those toffe bars look SO good. It's 7 a.m. here and I'll take one, too! ; )

    (I'm a big fan of heath bars myself, too :s)

    That vanilla sounds really neat! Yay for giveways : )

    Hope your Tuesday is great!

    ReplyDelete
  4. those bars are making my mouse watery!!!

    And please, i want to try that vanilla!

    ReplyDelete
  5. Oh I heart Heath bars too!! Your bars look wonderful and that vanilla looks good too! :)

    ReplyDelete
  6. Yum.... these look amazing!!! Love the giveaway!!!

    ReplyDelete
  7. Oh wow those toffee bars look so chocolaty and rich - A perfect combo. in my book! And the vanilla sounds wonderful! I've never tried "upscale" vanilla before but would obviously love to!

    ReplyDelete
  8. These sound fantastic! Can't go wrong when you combine chocolate and Heath bars. :)

    ReplyDelete
  9. Here it's lunch time and my stomach is craving for one of those toffee bars, they look sensational!!! The vanilla sounds wonderful and I've not heard of this one before.

    ....> off to print out this recipe

    Rosie x

    ReplyDelete
  10. I am such a fan of Mexican vanilla. I received a bottle as a gift and what a difference it made in my baking.

    Pick me! Pick me!

    ReplyDelete
  11. Maria--- Oh they look so good can't wait to try I love heath bars are my favorite. Mexican vanilla is the only way to go if I even know I am going close to Mexico I bug VANILLA love it no comparison.

    ReplyDelete
  12. Anonymous6:06 AM

    Yum! Those cookie bars look fantastic!

    ReplyDelete
  13. This is my first response to a blog, though I've been reading them for some time. I couldn't resist that vanilla, my favourite store cupboard ingredient!

    I'm UK based, but will happily pay postage if I'm the lucky one!

    ReplyDelete
  14. Those look great!! My family will love them!!

    ReplyDelete
  15. I totally want a Heath Bar Blizzard now! Topped with one of those bars...yeah, that would hit the spot.

    Never heard of that vanilla but it sounds wonderful!

    ReplyDelete
  16. I would love to try that vanilla. Right now all I have is Walmart's version...lol I bet a fancy vanilla would my baking so much better!

    ReplyDelete
  17. I love toffee and I love vanilla!

    ReplyDelete
  18. I just gained 5 pounds thinking about these bars. The vanilla sounds great.

    ReplyDelete
  19. They need to invent smell-o-vision for the internet. those look awesome!!

    ReplyDelete
  20. Those bars look super yummy.

    ReplyDelete
  21. Thanks everyone! The bars are out of this world delicious:) We are giving one bottle of vanilla away, but don't forget everyone can use TwoPeas for a 10% discount!!

    ReplyDelete
  22. SOme people don't realize that good vanilla can make a difference in the quality of the food you make. Thanks for the giveaway!

    ReplyDelete
  23. Yea! Vanilla. Those bars look sooooo good...

    ReplyDelete
  24. Oh my! My husband would love something like this! He's a total choco-holic.

    ReplyDelete
  25. I love chocolate and toffee these look so good!

    ReplyDelete
  26. I'm a toffee lover too! The bars look amazing! I don't know how I missed hearing about this vanilla, especially since they make it right here in Utah! I definitely want to try some.

    ReplyDelete
  27. These are making me drool on my keyboard, WOW they look good! And I bet that vanilla is fantastic, I'll go check them out! :)

    ReplyDelete
  28. I would love to try that vanilla

    ReplyDelete
  29. I haven't had toffee in the longest time, these have my name on them...so does that vanilla :D!

    ReplyDelete
  30. Ohhhh, Those bars look so tempting and yummy...I buy the cheap vanilla but I do buy pure extract instead of imatition....I see that a lot of cooks prefer the Mexican vanilla....I would love to be able to try it..Thanks for a chance to win a bottle..
    Brenda

    ReplyDelete
  31. I'm running out of vanilla, and I'm hungry. This post is perfect!

    ReplyDelete
  32. Yum! I love Heath Bars, too. I like to throw them in chocolate chip cookies with some dark chocolate chunks and toasted walnuts. I've been wanting to try that vanilla, and with the 10% off I'm definitely going to have to get some. Thanks Maria & Josh!

    ReplyDelete
  33. Oooh some gourmet vanilla sounds great, I have to admit I usually just buy the cheap stuff. But my bottle only has a few drops left. Thanks for the giveaway!

    ReplyDelete
  34. YUM! The vanilla sounds great, I'd love to try it.

    ReplyDelete
  35. Oooh. I would love some of that vanilla! I haven't had good vanilla in quite a while.

    ReplyDelete
  36. These sounds sooo stinking good!!! I love everything about them. I would never be able to pass these up: chocolate, toffee, or Cookies bars!!!! What a most excellent combo! Oh and sweet smelly vanilla- how we love you!!! My honey loves to bake. We always get ours from Costco. Would love to try something fancy!!

    ReplyDelete
  37. My these toffee bars look amazing! DH loves toffee! I came on the site to get the muffin recipe for breakfast this morning and am now going to go to the store this morning for some Heath bars! My waistline does not thank you :)

    ReplyDelete
  38. Love love love this give away! I love Mexican vanilla and would love to win! Thanks!

    ReplyDelete
  39. Yummy! This looks incredibly good - can't wait to make it!

    ReplyDelete
  40. i've never been much of a toffee person, but this has even me drooling! and that vanilla sounds lovely :)

    ReplyDelete
  41. I love vanilla, and that kind looks awesome!

    ReplyDelete
  42. Wow those toffee cookie bars look so yummy delicious.
    Wish i had that plate with all the goodness in the world next to me, alas i can just sit and drool here.

    ReplyDelete
  43. Your recipes never disappoint. I can't wait to try this one soon!

    ReplyDelete
  44. I LOVE mexican vanilla!! they are the best for a good milkshake!

    ReplyDelete
  45. I want that vanilla AND those bars yum!

    ReplyDelete
  46. I think the closest thing we have to a heath Bar here in Canada would be a Skor...and they are so good!!!! I would loove to make these bars and the vanilla would be a great addition!!

    ReplyDelete
  47. Bellini Valli-Skor are very similar to Heath. I love them both!

    ReplyDelete
  48. The bars look really good, and I'm intrigued by the vanilla!

    I've never heard that Mexico is the "birthplace of vanilla". I'd like to be added to the list for the giveaway too please! :)

    ReplyDelete
  49. I LOVE TOFFEE!
    I'm going to make these for sure!
    Thanks!

    ReplyDelete
  50. Many thanks for dropping by my blog!

    These bars look drool-icious!

    ReplyDelete
  51. Woohooo! Those bars look magnificent! I need some . . . NOW! I love Mexican vanilla. It's amazing what a wonderful change it brings to food compared to "vanilla flavoring". So please pick me! :^>

    ReplyDelete
  52. This comment has been removed by the author.

    ReplyDelete
  53. Oh Maria. You are killing me with your delicious recipes, day in and day out. What do I make first? How do I stop myself from eating too many? Oh well, these are good problems to have :-) These bars are talking to me as well. I cannot wait to make them!

    ReplyDelete
  54. I will definitely be making these bars very soon...they look delicious!
    I do love Mexican vanilla and I haven't had any in quite some time. I'd love to win of bottle of this!

    ReplyDelete
  55. I love using good vanilla, it makes a world of difference!

    ReplyDelete
  56. I really love Mexican vanilla and I've been a very good girl. Your cookie bars look and sound great.

    ReplyDelete
  57. How heavenly this would be in the morning. Yummy

    ReplyDelete
  58. I'm afraid I would eat more than my fair share of these. I better make them and find out:) AND I want the vanilla!!:)

    ReplyDelete
  59. Those look so sweet & yummy! And I love the exotic vanillas!!!!

    ReplyDelete
  60. "toffee melting and oozing" - Oh man Oh man!!!!

    ReplyDelete
  61. Those look absolutely delicious! I'm glad you posted this recipe!

    ReplyDelete
  62. I would love to have that vanilla for my baking adventures. Those bars are awesome! Chocolate and toffee go together so well!

    ReplyDelete
  63. i love mexican vanilla. I've never tried this company's... and now I simply MUST! THese bars look delicious by the way!

    ReplyDelete
  64. mmmm... those look so good. I will for sure have to try them out. I WISH I didn't have such a bad sweet tooth! Another giveaway? Hooray!!!

    ReplyDelete
  65. ohhhhh. Wowwww. Wowwwww. I can't pick up my jaw from the ground. Delicious........

    ReplyDelete
  66. Those bars look like they would be really tasty! I enjoy toffee with chocolate and every year at Christmas I make toffee sandwich cookies with dark chocolate filling. Mmmmm.

    ReplyDelete
  67. My mother loves (loves!!!!) Heath bars and I'm going to be home next week so I will definitely make these for her. Thanks for the coupon code. It'd be great to win but I think that I'll head over and use my 10% right now. I'm a weirdo about my baking vanilla (I usually use Penzeys but I love to try new things) and I can't wait to try this out.

    ReplyDelete
  68. I love toffee too! I think it's definitely underutilized - I need to bake with it more!

    ReplyDelete
  69. Oh lordy, these Chocolate Toffee Cookie Bars just look soooooo delicious!!

    Btw you have an award waiting for you over at my blog.

    Maria
    x

    ReplyDelete
  70. mmmmm.... toffee. And then you mentioned blondies, and now I can't decide which one I want more! And please, please, please choose me Random Winner Chooser. I have been wanting to buy that vanilla for a long time, but can't justify spending that much on vanilla.

    ReplyDelete
  71. HOLY YUM AND I NEED VANILLA, PLEASE!! :-)

    ReplyDelete
  72. That look really delicious Maria.
    Cheers,
    Elra

    ReplyDelete
  73. I love it - you hide the bars in the freezer, so you won't be tempted, but you know where they are anyways!

    I would love to try some new vanilla!

    ReplyDelete
  74. I just can't get on the toffee bandwagon, but I love me some Mexican vanilla! I still have a bottle that my aunt brought back from a trip to Jamaica/Cancún that I love... I'll be sad when it runs out!

    Kate

    ReplyDelete
  75. Heath bars are from the gods, I believe and work heavenly in most desserts. these bars look fantastic! I have yet to try the vanilla, but am always looking for a good brand to try out.

    ReplyDelete
  76. FABULOUS dessert!! i've never seen that brand of vanilla, but i do love me some good stuff :)

    ReplyDelete
  77. The toffee bars-look amazing!!!
    Can't find good vanilla like that in stores, pick me! ;)

    ReplyDelete
  78. These bars, the vanilla, the yummies! I would love to try the products.

    ReplyDelete
  79. the bars look delicious and I love that vanilla! what a great giveaway!

    ReplyDelete
  80. Oh Maria, I love toffee in just about anything! I'd love to be able to try a better vanilla extract than what I am able to here.

    ReplyDelete
  81. Your fabulous cookies and bars are seriously hurting my half marathon training. They are so good and my husband loves them too. Question-how are you getting so many companies to donate for your giveaways? I am truly impressed.

    ReplyDelete
  82. omg these look amazing!!! I need to try this asap!

    ReplyDelete
  83. So making these for my FFH.. his favorite candy bars are Heath toffee and Butterfinger. I thank you!

    ReplyDelete
  84. These bars look amazing - I love toffee. The vanilla sounds great, I love the bottles.

    ReplyDelete
  85. These cookie bars look better than the ones I made for Dorie a few weeks ago. Yum!

    ReplyDelete
  86. Ooh...that looks scrumptious. I wish I had one in my hand. I would love the vanilla too!

    ReplyDelete
  87. Wow! I am now drooling. I love that you are so healthy and still make the best treats!! Everything in moderation right! Note to self...buy tons of heath bars!

    ReplyDelete
  88. These bars are so decadent and delicious! I love toffee! What a sweet giveaway, too!

    ReplyDelete
  89. Ohh girl I'm with you, I love toffee. That last shot with the ice cream is KILLER!

    ReplyDelete
  90. I love toffee. I used to by Callard and Bowser toffee all the time. It is no more now. SO sad. THen I also love Heath and Skor bars. YUM.

    I had not heard of that vanilla until now. I love the packaging. I am crossing my fingers to win!

    ReplyDelete
  91. Thank you for your concern for my MIL. I LOVE your brownies..anything with heath is wonderful.

    ReplyDelete
  92. YUMMMMMM!!!!!!!! I don't even know how you can stock up on Heath bars... they're so delicious I tend to munch on them until they're gone. Those bars look sinfully delicious!

    ReplyDelete
  93. I was just craving brownies, but now I want some of these more! I use that vanilla quite often and I love it!

    ReplyDelete
  94. Giving away VANILLA? And GOOD VANILLA? Count me in!! I love baking!!

    ReplyDelete
  95. i watched that episode and was so excited that martha loves ut, even if it's only for our vanilla :D

    ReplyDelete
  96. Anonymous12:59 PM

    Wow! Look at all the comments! I've never heard of this vanilla. Sounds very interesting :)

    ReplyDelete
  97. those look FAB!
    If i see one more chocolate related blog i think i might jsut run to the grocery store.

    ReplyDelete
  98. I will definitely make these bars because we LOVE heath in this house...whenever that's an ingredient I know it will be a hit!

    I bought a huge bottle of Mexican vanilla when I was in Cancun on our honeymoon and ran out a few months ago...it was a sad day :-(

    ReplyDelete
  99. I absolutely love Heath bars. I've used them as a topping with whipped cream on brownies. Yours look so good. I have to give this a try!

    ReplyDelete
  100. i LOVE toffee/caramel anything!!!

    i would love some vanilla, i just ran out! :)

    ReplyDelete
  101. Your chocolate toffee cookie bars look amazing. I have never tried that brand of Mexican vanilla. Thanks so much for getting a discount for your readers.

    ReplyDelete
  102. Yum. I love to bake/eat. Here's a little hint with toffee bars. To easily chop them, freeze them then put them in a zip-loc bag. Then take your handy dandy rolling pin and whack at the bars in the bag.
    Easily chopped bars + very little effort=more time to eat the yummies.

    ReplyDelete
  103. Yum!! These bars look so so delicious!!! We love the good vanilla!

    ReplyDelete
  104. It's 6am & I have never craved anything sweet this early, but those bars are singing to me. Look at that plating. The pic with the ice-cream on them is ceratin dessert nirvana...SLURP!!

    ReplyDelete
  105. Those look SO good! I love the smell of vanilla, and would love to try a new brand. Also, I am going to google coumarin, because I have never heard of it. I always learn something new here. Thanks!

    ReplyDelete
  106. Oh my word those look good. Note to self add heath bars to the grocery list. I've made my own vanilla before never tried the mexican vanilla. Would love to win it.

    ReplyDelete
  107. Boy people really love their givaways dont they!

    I can taste these in my mouth, yes i can!! And now it is added to my never ending compilation of desserts i have must make!!

    ReplyDelete
  108. I would love to win the Mexican vanilla.

    ReplyDelete
  109. Those look insanely delicious! I don't think I've ever seen a Heath bar in Canada, though!! I'll have to look extra carefully next time :)

    ReplyDelete
  110. Who wouldn't want some good vanilla?

    ReplyDelete
  111. These bars look delicious, especioally with the icecream on top.

    ReplyDelete
  112. I love brownies and and brownie type bars - the vanilla sounds wonderful! I don't think we have that in Canada.

    ReplyDelete
  113. What a great giveaway! My love of sweets has also grown over the years. WHo knows what I'll be like 15 years from now!

    ReplyDelete
  114. I just had a brownie with heath bits scattered on top- yum!

    Mexican Vanilla is the only vanilla I will use. It is so unlike any ohter i have tried. It's what my grandmother used and it's all I use. And it smells so good too!

    ReplyDelete
  115. And who doesn't have a deep love for toffee?! I know I would have a deep love for these toffee bars as well! Lovely giveaway! Thanks!

    ReplyDelete
  116. i love toffee, and i got hooked on the heath blizzard as a kid too. somewhere along the line i finally was able to finish a whole one and i haven't looked back. :)
    and clearly, those bars are luscious.

    ReplyDelete
  117. I'm a toffee addict too. Seriously. I never think to stock up on Heath bars when on sale though- brilliant!

    Fun giveaway for those of us who bake a lot!

    ReplyDelete
  118. Yum what a great combo! And I have never used Mexican Vanilla, sounds like it would be really good!

    ReplyDelete
  119. First of all, I must commend you for resisting eating heath bars. I find that virtually impossible :)

    The toffee bars look extremely delicious!

    ReplyDelete
  120. Your toffee bars sound incredibly yummy! And the vanilla looks fabulous!

    ReplyDelete
  121. Anonymous7:02 AM

    Oh my! I am a toffee lover too, and these look sinfully yummy, especially with ice cream! Can't wait to try them.

    Thanks for the fun giveaway, Mexican vanilla is awesome!

    ReplyDelete
  122. Those look so incredibly good. I love toffee stuff. Another one for my to-make list (which seems like your entire blog is on that list).

    ReplyDelete
  123. Hi Maria, please pass by my blog and collect some awards ;o)

    Rosie x

    ReplyDelete
  124. Those look sinfully delish!!!!

    ReplyDelete
  125. Maria you caught me at toffee and reeled me in when I read these were like blondies but better. Could it be better? Guess I'll have to make these and find out! Thanks for sharing the recipe and Hey, the vanilla giveaway!!
    ~ingrid

    ReplyDelete
  126. This looks delicious. Anything with chocolate is good though.

    ReplyDelete
  127. Thanks for stopping by My Kitchen. I adore Mexican Vanilla. Once, years ago, I asked my sister to bring back some on her trip. She returned with a huge (and I mean huge) glass bottle. What a treat. It has such a different flavor. Once you try it you'll never go back to the store kind of vanilla. Thanks so much for giving us a good source for it.

    I love the name of your blog. My husband and I cook together also.
    Sam

    ReplyDelete
  128. ps I have something for you on my blog!

    ReplyDelete
  129. I need some really good vanilla! Those toffee bars look really good!

    ReplyDelete
  130. Love, love, love the site. Good vanilla is soooo hard to find. I'm on my way to the website to check it out. Thanks for the info on the vanilla.

    ReplyDelete
  131. I've used Mexican vanilla before, and it is delicious! Those cookie bars look so yummy, I want to eat one right now! I guess I'll have to go make some first...Thanks for the recipe!

    ReplyDelete
  132. Those toffee bars sound amazing! Growing up, there was a DQ near our temple- I think a lot of kids have memories of Blizzards with their Dads. So fun!

    ReplyDelete
  133. I could eat a whole pan of those. And the French Toast from Monday.

    ReplyDelete
  134. Ok, I have a secret to tell. I love you guy's blog. I am addicted ever since you left the address on our computer. Yeah, it's true. I am always making your food. Jess and i love the healthy fruit muffins and black bean soup.

    I love good prue vanilla. I would just love to get the discount; however, when we were in Mexico we stocked up on mexican vanilla. We have three 20 oz bottles. Thanks, we love the food.

    ReplyDelete
  135. Those toffee bars look so good! My mother's favorite candy bar was always the Heath bar :)

    ReplyDelete
  136. Mmmm... vanilla extract. Must.have.vanilla. Gimme. I hope I win ;)
    .Clara
    iheartcuppycakesATgmailDOTcom

    ReplyDelete
  137. Wow, those bars look delicious! I think this vanilla looks interesting... I hope I win!!

    ReplyDelete
  138. I haven't tried the 5 minute artisan yet, I so need too. I think I only have the book for one more week and I've got to take it back to the library.

    ReplyDelete
  139. As soon as you said the words ice cream, Dairy Queen, and toffee, I was sold.

    ReplyDelete
  140. Wow!! looks so yummy! I want!

    ReplyDelete
  141. Anonymous10:54 PM

    my, i does look moist and chewy... and the french toast looks great with the cinnamon sauce... :)

    ReplyDelete
  142. These bars look like a dream come true. I, too, have a deep-seated affection for toffee. I love it in all forms, but these bars look over-the-top. How delicious!

    ReplyDelete
  143. Hiding chocolate bars in the freezer is a great idea! I'll have to remember that!

    ReplyDelete
  144. Mmm, toffee is the best. I can't wait to try these.

    ReplyDelete