Last updated 4 months ago | Originally Published: September 11, 2021

Discover Hershey’s Iconic Heath Bar

Crunchy, chocolatey, sweet, and unforgettable, the Heath Bar offers a scrumptious balance of creamy chocolate and rich toffee. Did you know that these candy bars have been around since the 1920s and have a rich, fascinating history? It’s true, but then again, they’re one of the most popular chocolate bars around, and for a good reason too! Discover Hershey’s Legendary Heath Bar

In this in-depth guide, we’ll go over the history of the Heath Bar, plenty of sweet trivia, and more! We’ll even share a delicious recipe to try out and reveal where you can buy Heath Bars in bulk. So, the next time you buy one of these creamy crunchy candy bars, you’ll be able to truly appreciate every bite.

What Makes Heath Bars So Popular

In every Heath Bar, you’ll find a combination of creamy milk chocolate and crunchy sweet toffee. This sweet and savory combination is famously recognized in the candy world. Indeed, the Heath Bar uses one of the finest English toffee recipes around! 

In addition to this, the signature toffee recipe found in Heath Bars is rumored to have been first purchased from a wandering merchant. As such, this distinctive toffee flavor can’t be found in any other candy bar! For well over 100 years, the uniquely delicious Heath Bar continues to go strong!

An In-Depth History Of Heath Bars

Heath Bars are an all-American product. First made by the Heath brothers in the year 1915, this confectionery treat has iconic roots in the US. Everett and Bayard Heath were the two brothers who first sold these tasty candy bars.

It all started in Illinois. The father of the Heath Brothers, L.S. Heath was a school teacher who bought a confectionery shop in Robinson, Illinois. He later purchased a dairy company in hopes that he could use the confectionary shop as a way to provide an opportunity for his two oldest sons, Bayard and Everett.

The Heath Brothers Begin Their Dynasty

As the story goes, these two brothers worked in the shop and turned it into a combination ice cream parlor and candy store. Their father found success with his Dairy operation and would later use this success to assist his sons in candy distribution. The Heath Dairy Factory was officially opened in 1915.

Going forward, the Heath brother’s worked to expand their confectionery business. One day, they were visited by a Greek confectioner known as Lady of Fortune, least to say, she was impressed. Although they didn’t know it at the time, this would be a turning point for the Heath family!

A Signature Secret Toffee Recipe

Moving along, they purchased a delicious English toffee recipe from a traveling salesman. After crafting the recipe at home, they immediately realized that they had an English toffee sensation on their hands! Before long, the brothers were crafting and selling these toffee chocolate bars in bulk.

Marketing the Creamy Goodness of Heath Toffee

In the original marketing campaign for Heath Bars, the slogan was “America’s Finest Toffee”. This phrase still seems to ring true until this very day!

In early ads for Heath Bars, this candy was promoted as a healthy nutritious bar. This was because it contained almonds, fresh creamery butter, and pure cane sugar. In fact, The motto at the bottom of Heath Bar ads read “Heath for better Health!” This motto was decorated by illustrations of fresh milk, butter, cream, cheese, and ice cream.

This high-quality chocolate-coated toffee bar soon gained even more popularity in the early 1920s. By the year 1931, the Heath brothers were able to sell their candy bars using a dairy truck delivery system owned by their family. The combination of creamy fresh milk and a crunchy Heath Bar was an instant hit.

The Heath Bar Grows in Popularity

Before long, the Heath Bar gained widespread popularity and success across the nation. From the back of milk trucks to grocery stores nationwide, the Heath Brothers saw substantial success. Soon, the Heath Candy Company was born.

The Heath Candy Company grew quickly. The company made many products and saw widespread success during the Great Depression. As a matter of fact, during the late Depression era, Heath Bars were included in the rations issued by the United States Army.

These Bars Were Hand Made Until 1942

Until 1942, Heath candy bars were made by hand! However, after the United States Army placed its first order worth over $175,000, the company soon began using up-to-date modern machinery. Ultimately, this proved to be a game-changer!

The Heath Family Continues the Legacy

During this time of growth, almost the entire Heath family worked for the business. Not only did the four daughters of the Heath brothers work in the business, but many of their grandchildren were involved as well.

In the 1950s, Heath toffee ice cream bars were introduced to the market. These ice cream bars were very popular and soon were franchised to other local dairies.

By 1960, the original founders of the Heath company were less involved as business operations were left in the hands of the Heath grandchildren including Richard J. Heath. Some of the other original family members were also involved at the time.

In the 1970s, the Heath company bought and registered a new trademark toffee ice cream flavoring. This flavoring was called Butter Brickle and came from the Fenn Brothers Ice Cream and Candy Company out of Sioux Falls, South Dakota.

Acquisition By Leaf Inc. and Later Hershey

Eventually, the remaining Heath family members retired from the confectionery business. In 1989, the original family company was sold to Leaf Inc.

Now, we think it’s probably safe to say that the original founders secured generational wealth! However, it doesn’t end here for the Heath Bar.

Around the same time, the Hershey candy company was developing the Skor Bar to compete with the ever-popular Heath Bar.

By the year 1996, the Hershey Candy Company gave in and purchased the rights to the Heath Bar brand as the Skor bar was not able to compete as successfully as anticipated. At this time, Hershey obtained the original Heath Bar secret recipe.

After Hershey started producing these candy bars, they became even more popular in the United States. Likely, this was because Hershey had the financial resources to heavily promote Heath toffee chocolate bars.

A Bittersweet Chocolate Story

After the rights to the Heath candy company were acquired by Hershey, Richard J. Heath, grandson of one of the original Heath brothers, wrote a memoir about some of the family drama within the Heath candy company.

His book was entitled “Bittersweet: The Story of the Heath Candy Co.” According to this book, there was plenty of tension within the Heath company among feuding grandchildren. This was especially true after certain family members were left to run things in the period after the two original founders were no longer involved.

Despite the unfortunate bittersweet rivalry, Heath candy bars have remained delicious throughout the decades. Indeed, this scrumptious chocolate candy bar has implemented the same signature toffee recipe for nearly a century! Luckily for Heath lovers, the confectioner’s spirit of sweet dedication has persevered!

DIY Home Recipes Using The Heath Bar

Perhaps the only thing better than biting into a scrumptious crunchy Heath Bar is adding these delicious candy bars into your favorite confectionery recipes!

Now that you know all about Heath Bars and how they came into existence, let’s talk about a few great recipes that implement this delicious chocolate toffee bar! No question about it, these candy bars can be used in a range of unforgettable DIY at-home recipes.

Heath Bar Cookies

First and foremost, let’s talk about one of the most delicious cookies of all time. Heath Bar cookies are made using crunchy chunks of Heath Bars for a chewy and creamy confectionery creation like nothing else.

These Heath cookies are without a question some of the most delicious treats that you’ll ever eat! When you dip them in milk, you’ll see why this is a top-notch recipe!

To Make Heath Bar Cookies, You’ll Need:

• 2 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
• 1 teaspoon salt
• 1 teaspoon baking soda
• 1 cup (2 sticks) unsalted butter
• 3/4 cup brown sugar
• 3/4 cup granulated sugar
• 2 eggs
• 1 teaspoon vanilla
• 1 1/2 cups chopped Heath Bar pieces (Eight 1.4 ounce bars)
• 1/2 cup chopped walnuts

5 Steps To Perfection

Step 1: Whisk Dry Ingredients Together

In a medium or large bowl, vigorously whisk together your flour, salt, and baking soda. Then, set the dry mix aside. In a separate bowl, combine your Heath Bar pieces and freshly chopped walnuts. Next, set this mixture aside. After this, you’ll need to preheat your oven to 350°F so it’s ready for baking when you’re done making cookie dough

Step 2: Whisk the other ingredients in a large bowl, beat together the butter, sugar, and vanilla. Beat in the eggs one at a time.

Step 3: Add in Flour and Chill. Now, add the flour mixture in ⅓ portions. As you do this, keep beating the mix after each addition. After mixing, let chill for at least 30 minutes, the longer the better. Without this step, it’s almost impossible to shape your cookies into balls. 

Step 4: Heat your oven and spoon the mixture onto cookie sheets that have been lined or greased. Spoon out the cookie dough in small 1-inch diameter balls (about the size of a rubber ball or large marble).

Place dough balls 3 inches away from each other on the cookie sheets. (Make sure there is plenty of room between the cookie balls, and that the cookie balls aren’t too big. These cookies spread!)

Step 5: Bake Those Yummy Cookies

Now, bake it all at 350°F for 10-12 minutes until the edges are just starting to turn golden brown. Remove the cookies from the oven and let them cool for a few minutes. Then transfer the cookies to a wire rack to cool completely before dipping them in fresh milk!

For freshness, you can wrap these cookies individually in cellophane. They make wonderful additions to any bake sale. These cookies are also perfect for the holidays!

Tasty Heath Bar Cake with Crumble Toffee Topping

This delicious Heath Bar Cake offers you the perfect mix of sweet chocolate, salty toffee, and rich caramel. This is the perfect cake for the Heath Bar lover in your life!

Made from a simple cake mix with a few extra candy ingredients, this is a delicious recipe that you won’t soon forget!

To Make This Heath Bar Cake, All You’ll Need Is:

• 1 bag of Heath Bar topping or five crumbled Heath Bars
• 1 box of cake mix, we recommend chocolate devil’s food cake mix, but you can use any kind of cake mix that you like
• 1 bottle of caramel topping. This topping can be found in grocery stores. We recommend Ghirardelli Caramel topping.
  
• Cool Whip or Frosting
• Baking Staples like vanilla extract, eggs, and vegetable oil (Whatever your boxed mix calls for.)

1. Making the Cake

This recipe is so easy, we hardly have to give you the steps. Essentially, all you need to do is make the cake box mix that you’ve selected using the ingredients and directions listed on the side of the box.

2. Frost and Caramel Infuse

While your cake is cooling, get your caramel syrup and squeeze it into the cake by puncturing a few holes with a straw evenly across the surface. This creates a caramel infusion!

After you do this, you’ll either frost your cake with Cool Whip or with any type of frosting. Both Cool Whip and buttercream frosting are great options.

3. Crumble Heath Bars and Top Your Cake with Caramel

Finally, you crumble your Heath Bars up and add them on top of the frosting or Cool Whip, and top with a caramel drizzle! 

Although this recipe seems incredibly simple, it adds a delicious touch to any cake. Basically, you’re just making a cake and crumbling Heath Bars on top! However, in each crunchy creamy slice of cake, you’ll enjoy a delicious Heath toffee crumble. This texture makes any cake feel extra special!

The Sweet Conclusion

So there you have it! Now you know everything there’s to know about Heath candy bars. From the early days of Dairy truck delivery to today’s modern delicious Heath Bar recipes, these candy bars are an iconic American masterpiece!

Now, if you’ve been wondering where to buy these chocolate toffee bars at close to wholesale prices, we got you! At CandyRetailer.com, we sell fresh candy bars at incredibly low online prices! To buy your favorite candy bar now, simply click here and we’ll redirect you to our Heath Bar product page! From there, the possibilities are endless!