Skip the bore and the time suck of rolling individual cookies and make these chewy and decadent toffee-studded Frosted Heath Cookie Bars instead.
Frosted cookie bars are one of my favorite easy desserts. I love that, instead of spending a ton of time in the kitchen rolling out and baby-sitting individual cookies, I can plop the dough in a pan, set the timer, and come back to a finished product. These Frosted Heath Cookie Bars are wonderful on their own; they’d be great even without the frosting. Everything is better frosted, though, and this homemade vanilla frosting takes the bars over the top.
I made these a while back for J to take to a party. Over the next few days I got multiple requests to share the recipe and to make them again. It isn’t tough to see why; these Frosted Heath Cookie Bars are thick and chewy, with a moistness and a richness you won’t find in regular cookies. The homemade frosting is fluffy, light, and the perfect complement to the toffee-studded bars.
Frosted Heath Cookie Bars
Ingredients
For the Cookie Bars
1 cup butter, room temperature
3/4 cup brown sugar
3/4 cup sugar
2 eggs
2 tsp vanilla extract
1 tsp salt
1 tsp baking soda
2 1/2 cups flour
8 oz. bag Heath toffee bits
For the Frosting
1 cup butter, room temperature
4 cups powdered sugar
2 tsp vanilla extract
pinch of salt
Instructions
Preheat oven to 350 degrees. In the bowl of a stand mixer, cream butter for three minutes, until light and fluffy. Add in both sugars and beat three minutes more. Pour in eggs, vanilla, salt, and baking soda and mix until well-incorporated. Add flour and beat just until combined, and then do the same with the toffee bits.
Spread cookie dough into a greased 9 x 13 pan and bake for 23-28 minutes, or until bars are golden around the edges and firm to the touch in the middle.
Prepare the frosting while bars are cooling. In the bowl of a stand mixer, beat butter for five minutes. Add powdered sugar and beat five minutes more, until no powdered sugar lumps remain. Add vanilla and salt and mix one minute more.
Spread frosting on cool bars, cut into squares, and serve.
Tools I Used
Notes
- For an even bigger toffee impact, add another cup of Heath bits and sprinkle more on top of the frosting.
- Other flavors of frosting, like chocolate, cream cheese, or brown sugar would work perfectly.
I looooove heath and this look great. I think the frosting would be too much for me, but if I kept it on it may stop me from eating the entire pan in one sittung!
You’re right, the frosting makes them SO rich, but it also held me to just one small(ish) square.
I love toffee. I bet these are amazing!
I certainly think they are, as does everyone who ate them. Thanks, Alicia!
Oh gosh, these cookie bars look so good! I haven’t made cookies in a long time – sometimes cookies just seem to take so long!! Love these bars, though – and that frosting! YUM!
I find myself making bars more and more often. They’re just so easy!
You’re right! Easier and faster than making individual cookies, plus with that beautiful light and fluffy frosting on top!
I’m totally with you. Love no-fuss desserts that don’t need a lot of babysitting. These look delicious – Heath toffee bit sound like an awesome addition!
Cookie bars for the win! Thanks, Christine!
I always loved the flavor of Heath bars – these sound delicious! (And I’m all for bar cookies… So much easier!)
Frosting looks so good,I can eat all of that first 🙂 so yumm bars!
The frosting puts the bars over the top!
Oh my! These look soooo good. I love heath.
Thanks, Lynette! The Heath bars make this recipe.
Love how quick these would be not having to roll individual cookies. Love that topping!!
Making cookies into bars is a game-changer!