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I’ve recreated toffee bars into a healthier, protein packed treat. Say hello to your new favorite dessert – Classic Vegan Toffee Bars!
Toffee Bars. I’ve been eating this classic dessert since probably the day I started eating solid foods. These chocolate and pecan topped bars have been a staple at every party on my mom’s side from birthdays and graduations to Thanksgiving and Christmas and everything in between.
As a kid, I remember indulging in one after another of these sweet treats. When I got older, I would limit myself to just one or two while sipping on my after dinner coffee. The classic traditional bars are light and soft and sweet. They are also loaded with butter, eggs and refined sugar.
I set out to recreate the deliciousness of these bars with healthier ingredients (no butter, no oil, no eggs and no refined sugar!) and I hit the jackpot with the combination of ingredients I used.
These little squares of sweetness have already been child, husband, friend and neighbor approved! Now it’s your turn! Keep reading to find out how I made these Vegan Toffee Bars into a dessert you won’t be able to resist!
Inspired By Family Recipes
Apparently, the original toffee bar recipe that I’ve been eating all my life came from my Auntie Dolores (actually, my Great Aunt). She was always whipping up delicious food and treats. No one would be lacking for offerings in her kitchen. If she thought you weren’t pleased with the 10 things on the counter already (we always were!), she would go scrounging in her fridge to bring out something else. She was kind hearted, generous, boisterous and funny and I hope I’m doing her proud with these Vegan Toffee Bars.
The key to getting that toffee flavor in these vegan toffee bars is coconut sugar and pecan butter.
Coconut sugar has a very similar taste and texture to brown sugar. While it is definitely still a sweetener and should be used sparingly, it does contain trace amounts of vitamins, minerals and antioxidants that you won’t find in refined white sugar. It’s also much lower on the glycemic index.
Pecans are super soft and buttery and make the best nut butter! Pecans are high in many vitamins and minerals, protein, fiber and healthy fats. Pecan butter is the perfect replacement for butter in this recipe and you won’t find any of those nutrients in dairy butter! Store bought pecan butter is ridiculously expensive and might possibly contain other unwanted ingredients. Luckily for me and you, it’s super easy to make at home (and much cheaper too!). Check out the Recipe Notes to find out how.
Chewy Dessert Bars
My vegan toffee bars are not as light and soft as my Aunt’s original recipe, however, I happen to think this worked in my favor! To me, the perfect toffee is chewy. These bars came out dense and chewy, but still soft, and honestly remind me more of toffee than the traditional ones. Gasp! That’s a big statement, I know, but I stand by it!
If you are lucky enough to get your hands on one of the end pieces, savor every bite….the ends (not the whole bar on the end, but just the very end bite of the end bar – does that make sense?) will be more “done” than the center and will be even chewier with a slight crunch….my gosh, those were my favorite!
Classic Vegan Toffee Bars
Run, don’t walk, to your kitchen and bake up a batch of this chocolate vegan toffee goodness. Then rush back here and leave me a comment with your feedback and star rating. You can also find me on social media. Be sure to tag @veggie_inspired and #veggieinspired so I don’t miss your post!
Enjoy!
Classic Vegan Toffee Bars
Ingredients
- 1 ½ cups whole wheat flour
- ½ cup flaxmeal
- 1 cup coconut sugar
- ½ tsp salt
- 1 cup pecan butter (*see note)
- ¼ cup pure maple syrup
- 2 tsp pure vanilla extract
- 1 package dairy free chocolate chips (I prefer Enjoy Life Dark Chocolate Chips, but use your favorite) (**see note)
- ½ cup chopped pecans
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F.
- Line a 8x11 baking pan (***see note) with parchment paper and leave enough hanging over the sides to use as your "handles" later.
- Whisk together the flour, flaxmeal, sugar and salt in a small mixing bowl and set aside.
- In a medium mixing bowl, stir together the pecan butter, maple syrup and vanilla until smooth.
- Stir the dry ingredients into the wet until well combined. Use your hands and really get in there to mash it all together.
- Press the mixture into the prepared baking pan and flatten it down with the palm of your hand.
- Bake for 20-25 minutes until the top starts to firm up.
- Sprinkle on the chocolate chips and bake another 2-3 minutes until the chocolate gets melty.
- With an off set spatula, spread out the chocolate evenly over the bars.
- Immediately sprinkle with the chopped pecans.
- Leave the bars in the baking pan on a wire rack for at least 10-15 minutes - they will continue to firm up.
- Using the parchment paper "handles" lift the whole thing out of the pan and set on the wire rack to continue cooling all the way.
- Cut into bars and enjoy!
Notes
Nutrition
More Delicious Desserts to Love:
Fudgy Mocha Black Bean Brownies
Chai Spiced Pumpkin Layer Cake
Gin says
I never thought of using pecan butter to get that buttery toffee taste. Great idea Jenn! These look amazing, and I could eat a whole plate of them right now.
Jenn S. says
Thanks, Gin! Pecans are so soft and buttery..they work perfectly! Yum!
Howie Fox says
These tofu bars wold be just right for our afternoon tea 🙂
It’s quite inspiring to see how it’s possible to bake impressive baked goods in vegan style!! Thanks 🙂
Jenn S. says
No, tofu in here, Howie! LOL. TOFFEE bars! But, yes, plant based goodies are JUST as good (if not better). Thanks!
Howie Fox says
Oh dear, I’m sorry for my terrible spelling!! I was surrounded by my family members, when I came over to visit your recipe. This German/English switch sometimes mixes up my writing =/
(quite funny though, that one :D)
Jenn S. says
LOL! I do have a lime dessert that contains tofu so it’s not the craziest of ideas. 🙂
Vanessa @ VeganFamilyRecipes.com says
mmmmhm! I used to LOVE toffee bars! I’ve never tried vegan ones but definitely need to now 🙂 Thanks for a great recipe, Jenn!
Jenn S. says
Me and you both, Vanessa! They were always a weakness of mine as I grew up with them! Let me know if you try it!
Theresa says
making these
Jenn S. says
Good morning, Theresa! I hope you enjoy them! Please let me know how they turn out!
Hedi Hearts says
OMG!!!These look insane Jennifer. I love toffee!
Jenn S. says
Oh, thank you, Hedi!!
Kathy Hester says
Cheryl loves toffee, so I think I’ll make her a batch for Christmas tomorrow!
Jenn S. says
Awesome, Kathy! I hope you guys love it! Merry Christmas!!
Mel @ avirtualvegan.com says
Do you think anyone would notice if I cut around the edges and ate all the end pieces? lol
These bars look seriously good! I will definitely be trying them once I get some pecans. Fabulous recipe!
Jenn S. says
LOL, Mel. I hope not because that’s what I’m planning to do!! 🙂 Thank you and Merry Christmas!!
Kelly Page (@TastingPage) says
Toffee is my faaaavvvvvorite! I’m not a huge sweet fan, but toffee is in a category all its own, and love your healthier take on it. Yum!
Jenn S. says
I am the same way, Kelly! I especially love those crunchy toffee bars (like Heath and Skor candy bars!). I haven’t tried making a healthy version of those yet, but I have a feeling it would be much more difficult. Thank you!!
Sara says
These are delicious! I took them to a family Christmas party, so I would have a healthier dessert to eat. I cut them into 1 inch x 1/2 inch bites. I ate two and my sweet tooth was completely satisfied! First time I’ve ever made pecan butter – it was so easy to just dump the pecans in my Vitamix! Thanks for a dessert recipe that everyone (not just me) enjoyed!
Jenn S. says
WooHoo! I’m so happy everyone loved them! Thank you, Sara!! Pecan butter is so super easy, right?! I can’t wait to take them to my family Christmas this week and see if anyone can tell the difference. 🙂 Happy Holidays!
Caitlyn says
This looks amazing!! Can I use brown sugar instead of coconut sugar if I don’t have it?:)
Jenn S. says
Hi, Caitlyn! Yes, brown sugar should work just fine! Let me know how they turn out!! Enjoy and Happy Holidays!
Ceara @ Ceara's Kitchen says
I want to eat my screen! These look so absolutely delicious Jenn! Love a good bar this time of year – just in time for the holidays! 🙂
Jenn S. says
Thank you, Ceara!! I can’t believe how beautiful they turned out! I can’t wait to take them to my family Christmas and NOT tell anyone I changed up the recipe! 😉
The Vegan 8 says
They look wonderful Jenn! So soft and chewy, I’m drooling! I want to grab one from your pic! LOL. Pecan butter is the best and what I’ve used in many of my desserts too for that butter flavor! I first started using it 3 years ago in my chocolate chip cookies for that butter flavor and have used it ever since! I can imagine how yummy these are, great job girl!
Jenn S. says
Thanks, Brandi!! Yes, pecan butter is a magical thing! And so much quicker to make then other nut butters because they are so super soft. I haven’t tried it in cookies yet, but that sounds amazing! Great idea!! And I know you use it in your pie crust too, which is also a genius idea!! So much yum!
veggiesdontbite says
So glad you were able to remake these! I love doing remakes of old favorites. Hope you get to stuff yourself with all those yummy end pieces! Happiest of holidays!! Great job!
Jenn S. says
Thanks! I can’t wait to take them to my family’s Christmas and NOT tell them how they were made! I MIGHT leave the end pieces at home! 🙂
Natalie says
The toffee bars! I should’ve known that was what these were when I saw the pic yesterday. Coconut sugar + pecan butter, you can just stop there, that’s all I need to know to be sure that these are going to be super rich and delicious! And your description of the end piece, oh my gosh I’m sure it was a fight to get that one <3
Jenn S. says
Thank you, Natalie!! Those end pieces…mmmmmmm!! 🙂
Strength and Sunshine says
Mmmm pecan butter! It is one of my winter staples to make!! Since you really can’t buy it anywhere 😛
These just look and sounds lovely…I mean, that perfect chocolate layer on top? Yes please!
Jenn S. says
Thank you so much, Rebecca! We can buy pecan butter around here, but the price tag scared me off long ago! 🙂 Holidays just wouldn’t be the same without chocolate!!