Quick & Easy Graham Cracker Toffee or Nelda Horan's Hot Rods - 2 similar recipes

Just five ingredients in this quick and easy version of toffee but it tastes a lot like  traditional homemade toffee. This tasty, stress-free toffee can be whipped up in no time, which makes it the perfect treat for the holidays. 

This recipe reminds me on Nelda Horan’s Hot Rods. Back in the 1960s and 70s Nelda, the area representative for KPL (Kansas Power and Light), used to schedule periodic visits to my Home Economics classes at Abilene High School to demonstrate the wonders of the electric range and oven. Her Hot Rods recipe was a favorite of the students and is posted below the Quick & Easy Graham Cracker Toffee. Her recipe is quite similar but uses much less butter.

 

Quick & Easy Graham Cracker Toffee

15 sheets honey graham crackers

1 cup (2 sticks) butter

1 cup packed brown sugar

1 1/2 cups+ chocolate chips (I used dark but semi-sweet or milk chocolate will work)

1 cup chopped nuts (I used chopped pecans on one end and almonds on other)

1. Preheat oven to 350° F. Line a large half  sheet  baking pan with a Silpat baking mat, parchment paper, or aluminum foil. If you are using aluminum foil, spray lightly with nonstick cooking spray. Place graham crackers in a single layer, touching, on the large baking sheet, cutting crackers to fit as needed. Set aside.
   
2. In a medium saucepan, melt butter and brown sugar together over medium-high heat. Bring butter and brown sugar mixture to a boil. Simmer for 4 minutes, stirring constantly. 
   
   
   
   
3. Pour mixture evenly over graham crackers. 
   
   
4. Bake for 8 minutes.
5. Remove the pan from the oven and immediately sprinkle chocolate chips evenly over the top of the graham crackers. Let the chocolate chips sit for 2 minutes so they have a chance to melt. Spread melted chocolate with a knife or rubber spatula. 
   
   
   
   
6. Sprinkle almonds or pecans on top.
   
7. Let the graham cracker toffee sit for about 2 hours or until the chocolate hardens. If you are in a hurry, you can refrigerate the toffee for an hour, or freeze for 30 minutes. 
8. When chocolate is set up, break the toffee into pieces. 

Nelda Horan’s Hot Rods    48 bars    Recipe from KPL Electric Kitchens.   

24 honey graham crackers

1 cup packed light brown sugar

1/2 cup butter or margarine

1 cup chopped pecans 

1. Grease a 15 1/2 x 10 1/2 x 1” jelly roll pan.
2. Line pan with whole graham crackers.
3. Place brown sugar and butter in small saucepan.  Bring to a rolling boil and 
4. cook for 1 1/2 minutes.
5. Remove from heat and add nuts. Spread mixture over graham crackers.
6. Bake at 350° F. for 8 minutes. Cool and cut into bars.

Recipe without photos . . .

Quick & Easy Graham Cracker Toffee

15 sheets honey graham crackers

1 cup (2 sticks) butter

1 cup packed brown sugar

1 1/2 cups chocolate chips (I used dark but semi-sweet or milk chocolate will work)

1 cup chopped nuts (I used chopped pecans on one end and almonds on other)

1. Preheat oven to 350° F. Line a large half  sheet  baking pan with a Silpat baking mat, parchment paper, or aluminum foil. If you are using aluminum foil, spray lightly with nonstick cooking spray. Place graham crackers in a single layer, touching, on the large baking sheet, cutting crackers to fit as needed. Set aside.
2. In a medium saucepan, melt butter and brown sugar together over medium-high heat. Bring butter and brown sugar mixture to a boil. Simmer for 4 minutes, stirring constantly. 
3. Pour mixture evenly over graham crackers. 
4. Bake for 8 minutes.
5. Remove the pan from the oven and immediately sprinkle chocolate chips evenly over the top of the graham crackers. Let the chocolate chips sit for 2 minutes so they have a chance to melt. Spread melted chocolate with a knife or rubber spatula. 
6. Sprinkle almonds or pecans on top.
7. Let the graham cracker toffee sit for about 2 hours or until the chocolate hardens. If you are in a hurry, you can refrigerate the toffee for an hour, or freeze for 30 minutes. 
8. When chocolate is set up, break the toffee into pieces.