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These Tom Thumb Bars are a delightful dessert featuring a buttery, tender crust topped with a rich, chewy, and flavorful mixture of brown sugar, eggs, coconut, and nuts. Easy to make and incredibly satisfying, they offer a perfect balance of textures and sweetness that makes them a timeless favorite.
Ingredients:
For the Crust:
| Ingredient | Quantity |
| Butter | ⅔ cup |
| All-purpose flour | 1 ¼ cup |
| Dark brown sugar | ⅔ cup |
| Salt | 1 teaspoon |
For the Topping:
| Ingredient | Quantity |
| Dark brown sugar, packed | 1 cup |
| All-purpose flour | 2 tablespoons |
| Baking powder | 1 teaspoon |
| Eggs | 3 |
| Vanilla extract | 1 teaspoon |
| Chopped walnuts or pecans | 1 cup |
| Shredded sweetened coconut flakes | 1 ¾ cup |
Instructions:
- Preheat Oven & Prepare Dish: Preheat your oven to 325°F (160°C). Grease a 9×13-inch baking dish well.
- Make the Crust: In a large bowl, add the ⅔ cup butter and ⅔ cup dark brown sugar. Mix with an electric mixer or sturdy spoon until well combined and creamy. Add the 1 ¼ cup all-purpose flourand 1 teaspoon salt, and mix until the dough comes together and is crumbly but holds when pressed.
- Press & Bake Crust: Transfer the dough to the prepared baking dish. Press it evenly into a thin layer covering the entire bottom of the pan. The crust will be thin. Bake the crust for 13-15 minutes, or until it’s just starting to turn golden in color around the edges.
- Prepare Topping: While the crust is baking, start on the topping. In a separate large bowl, combine the 1 cup packed dark brown sugar, 2 tablespoons all-purpose flour, and 1 teaspoon baking powder. Whisk these dry ingredients together until evenly combined.
- Add Wet & Fold In: Add the 3 eggs and 1 teaspoon vanilla extract to the topping mixture. Beat with an electric mixer for 1-2 minutes until the mixture is light and airy. Then, gently fold in the 1 cup chopped walnuts or pecans and 1 ¾ cup shredded sweetened coconut flakes until just combined.
- Assemble & Bake: Spread the prepared topping evenly over the warm, partially baked crust in the dish. Return the dish to the oven and bake for an additional 20-25 minutes, or until the edges of the topping are turning golden brown and the center is set.
- Cool & Slice: Allow the bars to cool completely in the pan on a wire rack before attempting to slice them. This ensures they set properly and are easier to cut.
Enjoy your chewy and delicious Tom Thumb Bars!