Easy Homemade Toffee Recipe with Step by Step Directions (2024)

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by Alea Milham 28 Comments

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My family loves my Homemade Toffee recipe. In fact, they like it so much that when I make Christmas candies to share with our friends the first batch of this toffee doesn’t make it out of the house.

Easy Homemade Toffee Recipe with Step by Step Directions (1)Easy Homemade Toffee Recipe with Step by Step Directions (2)
Toffee makes a great gift. It has the wow factor because everyone thinks it is difficult to make, but it is actually easier to make than most other candies (just don’t tell my neighbors). The only special equipment that you need is a candy thermometer. You also have the option of making a frugal version, a decadent version, or something in between; matching the candy to your budget.

Easy Homemade Toffee Recipe

There is a printable version of the traditional toffee recipe nearthe bottom of this post.

Ingredients:

  • 1 cup butter
  • 1½ cups sugar
  • 2 tablespoons water
  • 1 tablespoon corn syrup
  • 1 cup chopped nuts (optional)
  • 2 cups semi-sweet chocolate chips, divided
  • ½ cup finely chopped nuts (optional)

Directions:

Line a 12 x 9 pan with foil. Grease the foil.
In a medium pot, melt butter over medium heat.
Stir in sugar, water, and corn syrup. Increase heat to medium-high and attach a candy thermometer to the side of the pan.
Cook the mixture without stirring until it reaches 300 degrees.

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After it has reached 300 degrees, you could pour it into the pan, but if you like nuts keep going. Stir in 1 cup of chopped nuts. Pour the toffee mixture into the prepared pan.

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Let cool on a wired rack for 30 – 40 minutes. (You could skip to the last step, but if you like chocolate keep going.) Melt one cup of chocolate chips in a double boiler. Spread melted chocolate over the cooled toffee.

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Let cool in the refrigerator until the chocolate is firm (You could skip to the last step, but if you really like chocolate and nuts, keep going.) Remove the toffee from the pan and flip it over onto a piece of waxed paper. Remove foil.

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Melt one cup of chocolate chips in the double boiler and spread over the toffee. Immediately top with finely chopped nuts.

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Grab the ends of the wax paper and place the toffee back in the baking pan. Place the toffee back in the refrigerator and allow it to cool until the chocolate is firm. Once the toffee is completely cool, break it into 2 –3 inch pieces. Store the toffee in an airtight container, place it in a pretty tin and give it to a neighbor, or bribe tech support for faster service. 🙂

Easy Homemade Toffee Recipe with Step by Step Directions (13)Easy Homemade Toffee Recipe with Step by Step Directions (14)

Printable Recipe for Toffee

5.0 from 2 reviews

Traditional Toffee

A toffee recipe with a tutorial for making toffee step by step. This easy recipe has variations that can be made with chocolate and nuts.

Author: Alea

Recipe type: Dessert

Ingredients

  • 1 cup butter
  • 1½ cups sugar
  • 2 tablespoons water
  • 1 tablespoon corn syrup
  • 1 cup chopped nuts (I use almonds or pecans)
  • 2 cups semi-sweet chocolate chips, divided
  • ½ cup finely chopped nuts (I use almonds or pecans)

Directions

  1. Line a 12 x 9 pan with foil. Grease the foil.
  2. In a medium pot, melt butter over a medium heat.
  3. Stir in sugar, water, and corn syrup. Increase heat to medium-high and attach a candy thermometer to the side of the pan.
  4. Cook mixture without stirring until it reaches 300 degrees. Once it reaches 300 degrees, remove from heat and remove candy thermometer.
  5. Stir in 1 cup of chopped nuts. Pour toffee mixture into prepared pan.
  6. Let cool on a wired rack for 30 – 40 minutes.
  7. Melt one cup of chocolate chips in a double boiler. Spread over cooled toffee.
  8. Let cool in the refrigerator until the chocolate is firm.
  9. Remove the toffee from the pan and flip it over onto a piece of waxed paper. Remove foil.
  10. Melt one cup of chocolate chips in the double boiler and spread over toffee. Immediately top with finely chopped nuts.
  11. Grab the ends of the wax paper and place the toffee back in the baking pan. Place the toffee back in the refrigerator and allow to cool until the chocolate is firm. Once the toffee is completely cool, break it into 2 –3 inch pieces.

More Homemade Candy Recipes:

Pumpkin Pie Fudge

Peanut Butter Fudge

Easy Homemade Fudge

Divinity Recipe

About Alea Milham

Alea Milham is the owner of Premeditated Leftovers and the author of Prep-Ahead Meals from Scatch. She shares her tips for saving money and time while reducing waste in her home. Her favorite hobby, gardening, is a frugal source of organic produce for her recipes. She believes it is possible to live fully and eat well while spending less.

Comments

  1. Carol says

    Here in Colorado there is a company called Enstrom’s that is famous for its toffee. I would put my toffee up against theirs any day, and my recipe is almost identical to yours. Same ingredients, just slightly different amounts. Also, Enstrom’s and I put whole and coarsely chopped almonds in the toffee, and coat both side with milk chocolate and powdered almonds. OMG, it is so good. It used to sell for $10 a pound, now I see that this year (2022) it is going for $28 a pound. I am so glad I can make my own! I suspect that your recipe tastes as good as mine and Enstrom’s. And it is one of the easiest candies I have ever made! This week I will be making two batches to give away. Thank you for sharing your recipe, I know that if people try it, they will be so glad they did, and be amazed at how easy it is to make!

    Reply

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Easy Homemade Toffee Recipe with Step by Step Directions (2024)

FAQs

How are toffees made? ›

Toffee is made from sugar mixed with milk, butter or cream plus an ingredient such as lemon juice or golden syrup to stop it crystallising. The mixture is heated to between 140C and 154C ('soft crack' stage and 'hard crack' stage), then allowed to cool and set.

What is hard toffee made of? ›

What Is Toffee? Toffee is a candy made by caramelizing sugar with butter. The mixture is heated until it reaches the hard crack stage (at least 300 degrees F), hardened, then broken into pieces.

What is English toffee made of? ›

In America, English toffee usually refers to a candy made with slow-cooked sugar and butter, forming a brittle, which is then coated in chocolate and nuts.

What is the best pan for making toffee? ›

I always use a stainless pot – I wouldn't recommend pots with nonstick coating. Basically, a heavy-bottom is a very admirable quality here. 2) Don't stir constantly. Unlike other homemade candy and many caramel recipes that require constant stirring, toffee is different.

Is toffee just hardened caramel? ›

Toffee – the hard, sweet candy – is an old-fashioned treat, so you might not hear the name very much around modern candy shops. But this classic candy is an enjoyable delight that bursts with flavor at each bite. What is toffee, you ask? Basically, it's hardened caramel (more on that later).

How do I know when toffee is ready? ›

For cooking: cook the toffee until it turns nutty brown. Don't stop cooking it until it's brown. Stop cooking it immediately as soon as it's brown.

Why is my toffee chewy and not crunchy? ›

Low and slow

Simmering the syrup for English toffee to the requisite 300°F temperature can (and should) be a slow process — up to 20 minutes or so. Don't hurry this gradual transformation; syrup that doesn't reach 300°F, or close to it, will make candy with timid flavor and chewy (not crunchy) texture.

What is the difference between English toffee and regular toffee? ›

English Toffee is a nationwide favorite that is easily made with only a few ingredients. The difference between regular toffee and English Toffee is one important ingredient – butter! I make English Toffee throughout the year for special occasions and it's always a big hit.

Should toffee be hard or soft? ›

Toffee is a hard candy made by cooking a sugar syrup with butter to the hard crack stage, 300–310°F (149–154°C), and then pouring it out to cool. It can have inclusions or not, and it can be made either very dense and hard or can be lightened by adding baking soda when the candy is almost done cooking .

What is toffee called in America? ›

The English toffee eaten with regularity in America is also called buttercrunch. What's the difference? Primarily, the difference rests in the ingredients. Toffee in Britain is made with brown sugar, whereas buttercrunch is made with white granulated sugar.

How Long Will homemade toffee last? ›

Add it or sprinkle it on chocolate chip cookies, shortbread, brownies, streusel or ice cream. You can leave the pieces large, break them up into smaller bits or have a mix. To store your toffee, place it in an airtight container for up to 2 weeks, or in the freezer for up to 3 months.

Why cream of tartar in toffee? ›

This means that as boiling continues, a portion of the sugar separates into its constituent parts—glucose and fructose. Adding cream of tartar and a dash of vinegar to a toffee recipe helps bring about this change.

Should I stir while making toffee? ›

Heat all of your ingredients (except for the nuts and chocolate) in a heavy saucepan on med heat until the butter is melted. Turn temp up to med-high and stir constantly until the mixture comes to a boil. Set your timer for 5 minutes and DO NOT let ANYTHING disturb you while you stir.

Why do you add vinegar to toffee? ›

Made with just sugar and a little water, toffee is easy to make and is an easy introduction to the world of confectionary. This recipe includes a dash of vinegar which will help keep the colour of the toffee clear and bright and banish any cloudiness.

Why do you put baking soda in toffee? ›

Brittles and toffees accumulate small amounts of acid from the browning reactions that occur during cooking. This is one reason why the baking soda is added at the end of cooking. The soda reacts with the acid to make bubbles, and the syrup foams.

Are toffee and taffy the same? ›

Taffy is considered an earlier rendition of the word toffee, but the word taffy continued to be used in America while toffee was used in Great Britain.

What's the difference between candy and toffee? ›

Candy and toffee are different because candy is made from boiled sugar syrup, while toffee is made from caramelized sugar with butter and sometimes nuts. Both have been enjoyed for centuries and have various cultural histories.

Is Peanut Brittle a toffee? ›

English toffee and peanut brittle are both candies made with butter and sugar, but there a significant differences. Toffee has a much higher proportion of butter than brittle and that is what gives it a more pliable texture than that of brittle.

What is the difference between caramel and toffee? ›

The difference between caramel and toffee is greater, as caramel has a more liquid consistency and is usually pure sugar (it doesn't contain butter or flour). Still, the taste of caramel, fudge, and toffee is relatively similar, as they are all made from mostly sugar (as well as butter in the case of fudge and toffee).

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