“What a huge hit at the office and our house! I thought it was a newer recipe, but my coworker said her mom made the same ones when she was a kid”

5 2 minutes read

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.

Tom Thumb Bars

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 flour and 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.