ENGLISH TOFFEE COOKIE BARS

Recipe courtesy of Pam's Midwest Kitchen Korner

Ingredients:

¾ cup butter

½ cup granulated sugar

1 cup firmly packed light brown sugar

1 teaspoon vanilla extract

½ teaspoon almond extract

1½ cups flour

½ teaspoon cornstarch

¼ teaspoon baking soda

¼ teaspoon kosher salt

½ cup plus 3 tablespoons toffee bits, divided

1¼ cups semisweet chocolate chips

Flaked sea salt, for garnish

Method:

Preheat oven to 350°.

Line an 8” square baking pan with parchment paper, letting excess extend over sides of pan.

In a medium saucepan, melt butter over medium heat.

Cook, stirring constantly, until butter turns a medium-brown color and has a nutty aroma, about 5 minutes.

In a large bowl, whisk together browned butter, sugars and extracts.

In a medium bowl, whisk together flour, cornstarch, baking soda and salt.

Add flour mixture to browned butter mixture, and fold in until incorporated.

Fold in ½ cup toffee bits.

Press dough into bottom of prepared pan.

Bake until golden and set, 20 to 22 minutes.

Immediately when crust is removed from the oven, using an offset spatula, spread melted chocolate over warm crust.

Top with remaining 3 tablespoons of toffee bits.

Let cool completely.

Using excess parchment as handles, remove from pan and transfer to a cutting board.

Cut into bars as desired.

Sprinkle with sea salt, if desired.

Store in an airtight container.

Makes 16 bars or more, depending on how they are cut.

Enjoy!