Classic Tom Thumb Cookie Bars Recipe Is From the 1930s (9 Ingredients) Desserts Cookies Snacks Gluten-free

This Tom Thumb cookie bar recipe is nostalgic and said to be from the 1930s and '40s. It has been handed down through the generations in my family. The combination of a flaky, buttery crust combined with the chewy coconut filling makes for an irresistible dessert.

Here is your shopping list for these old-fashioned coconut toffee cookie bars: butter, salt, brown sugar, flour, eggs, vanilla extract, baking powder, shredded coconut and walnuts. Sounds heavenly, right? And that's before you add the optional chocolate topping! For a gluten-free bar, use gluten-free flour.

Frost this coconut toffee bars recipe with chocolate ganache as an elevated option. Who could resist this decadent cookie? Serve these sweet bars for dessert or as a delicious snack during the day.

Cuisine: American
Prep Time: 10 minutes
Cook Time: 40 minutes
Total Time: 50 minutes
Servings: 12

Ingredients

Crust

• 1/2 cup butter, melted
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 1/2 cup dark brown sugar, packed
• 1 cup all-purpose flour (or gluten-free)

Filling

• 1 cup dark brown sugar, packed
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
• 2 tablespoons all-purpose flour
• 1/2 teaspoon baking powder
• 1 1/2 cups shredded coconut
• 1 cup chopped walnuts
• 2 eggs

Optional Ingredients

• chocolate ganache

Here's how to make it: 

1. For the crust, in a medium-sized bowl, mix together the butter and brown sugar until smooth. Stir in the flour and salt until well blended. Press into a 13x9-inch baking pan that's been sprayed with nonstick cooking spray. Bake in a preheated 325-degree F oven for 15 minutes or until slightly browned. After removing the crust from the oven, increase the heat to 350 degrees F.  For gluten-free bars, use gluten-free flour.
2. While the crust is baking, prepare the filling. In a medium bowl or the bowl of your stand mixer combine the brown sugar, baking powder and flour until well blended. Mix in eggs and vanilla, beating until thick and foamy. Fold in the coconut and chopped nuts.
3. Spread the filling over the warm crust. Bake for 25 minutes or until bars are lightly browned and puffy. Cool completely. 
4. Spread with thick chocolate ganache, if desired, and cut into bars. These bars are delicious on their own, but the chocolate ganache just adds that extra something special. Store the bars in an airtight container.

Recipe cooking times, nutritional information and servings are approximate and provided for your convenience. However, 30Seconds is not responsible for the outcome of any recipe, nor may you have the same results because of variations in ingredients, temperatures, altitude, errors, omissions or cooking/baking abilities. Any nutritional information is provided as a courtesy and it is up to the individual to ascertain accuracy. To ensure image quality, we may occasionally use stock photography.

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