Toffee Topped Bars - cooking recipe

Ingredients

2 c. firmly packed brown sugar
2 c. all-purpose flour
1/2 c. (1 stick) butter or margarine, softened
1 tsp. baking powder
1/2 tsp. salt
1 tsp. vanilla extract
1 c. milk
1 egg
1 c. semi-sweet chocolate chips
1/2 c. chopped walnuts
1/2 c. unsweetened flaked coconut (optional)

Preparation

Preheat oven to 350\u00b0.
Lightly grease a 13 x 9 baking pan and set aside.
In a large mixing bowl, mix together brown sugar and flour.
Using a pastry cutter or 2 knives, cut in the butter until the mixture resembles coarse crumbs.
Remove 1 cup and set aside. To the remaining mixture in a bowl add baking powder and salt. Using a fork, lightly beat in vanilla, milk and egg.
Continue beating until a smooth batter forms.
Pour batter into prepared pan.
In a small mixing bowl, combine the chocolate chips and walnuts.
Fold in the coconut.
Sprinkle reserved crumb mixture over batter.
Sprinkle with chocolate chips and coconut and walnuts.
Using a long flat spatula, spread topping evenly over the top of batter.
Bake bars for 35 minutes or until a skewer inserted in the center comes out clean.
Cool pan on wire rack. Cool bars completely before serving.
Store in airtight container. Makes 24.