Tom Thumb Bars
A dessert bar that is absolutely packed with the good stuff!
you're making mealtime meaningful.
If you’re on the hunt for a dessert that’s rich, chewy, and packed with buttery goodness, look no further than these Tom Thumb Bars. While we don’t have the slightest idea where the name comes from, we can confirm that these bars are not short on flavor! With a buttery crust and a delightfully sticky coconut topping, this treat is sure to have everyone coming back for seconds. Whether you’re serving them up for a special occasion or just an after school treat, you can’t go wrong with an old school baked good like this one.
To start things out, you’ll make up a simple crust. Mix together butter, dark brown sugar, flour, and a pinch of salt. The brown sugar in this recipe really adds to the flavor here so we don’t recommend using light brown sugar unless you’re in a pinch! Press the dough into the bottom of your baking dish until it’s spread to the edges. It will be a very thin layer, but don’t worry, it will rise a bit as it bakes.
As the crust bakes, you can focus on whipping up the delicious topping. It’s up to you whether you use walnuts or pecans here, both are delicious options. The nuts pair so well with the sweet coconut for that tasty chewy/crunchy combo. Let it toast up in the oven and enjoy the heavenly scents that fill your kitchen. Yum! If you’re looking to shake things up with a new baked good, give this simple recipe a try.
Tom Thumb Bars
Yield(s): Serves 12-16
15m prep time
35m cook time
you're making mealtime meaningful.
Crust
- ⅔ cup butter
- 1 ¼ cup all-purpose flour
- ⅔ cup dark brown sugar
- 1 teaspoon salt
Topping
- 1 cup dark brown sugar, packed
- 2 tablespoons all-purpose flour
- 1 teaspoon baking powder
- 3 eggs
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 1 cup chopped walnuts or pecans
- 1 ¾ cup shredded sweetened coconut flakes
Preparation
- Preheat oven to 325 degrees F and grease a 9x13-inch baking dish.
- Crust: In a large bowl, add butter and brown sugar and mix until well combined. Add flour and salt and mix until dough comes together.
- Transfer dough to the prepared baking dish and press into an even layer covering the bottom of the pan (crust will be thin).
- Bake crust for 13-15 minutes or until it’s just starting to turn golden in color.
- Topping: As crust bakes, start on topping. In a large bowl, combine brown sugar, flour, and baking powder until evenly combined. Add eggs and vanilla and mix for 1-2 minutes until airy, then fold in coconut and walnuts.
- Spread topping over crust and bake for 20-25 minutes or until edges are turning golden.
- Allow bars to cool before slicing.
Recipe adapted from Allrecipes.com