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    Home » Recipes » Desserts » Candy » Toffee Recipe

    Toffee Recipe

    Published: October 12, 2020 · Modified: Dec 16, 2021 by John Kanell

    This post may contain affiliate links. Please read our disclosure policy.

    This rich, buttery toffee recipe has wonderful notes of deep caramel that pairs perfectly with crunchy pecans and chocolate. This easy to make candy takes less than 30 minutes and is perfect for holiday gifts and parties as well as year round snacking.

    Toffee pieces topped with chocolate on a tray.
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    toffee mixture being poured into a square pan
    chocolate chips melting over toffee in a square baking pan
    several pieces of toffee scattered on a counter
    pieces of toffee stacked on a white plate
    several pieces of toffee on a porcelain serving tray
    2 pieces of toffee on a porcelain plate
    2 pieces of toffee on a blue and white plate
    2 pieces of toffee on a christmas plate
    3 pieces of toffee stacked on a christmas plate
    4 pieces of toffee stacked on a christmas plate
    3 pieces of toffee stacked on a blue and white plate
    3 pieces of toffee stacked on a blue and white plate
    4 pieces of toffee stacked on a floral plate
    2 pieces of toffee on a floral plate
    overhead image of stacked pieces of toffee
    4 pieces of toffee stacked on a counter
    large square of toffee on a piece of parchment paper with one piece broken off
    Shards of homemade toffee sprinkled with pecans and salt.

    This toffee recipe is reminiscent of the classic HEATH toffee bar or Almond Roca some of us grew up loving. It’s crunchy, chewy, sweet, full of chocolatey caramel flavor and 100% addicting. Beginner or not, anyone can make delicious homemade toffee!

    Toffee is a praline-like candy typically made by cooking sugar with butter to a “hard crack” stage then letting it cool. So if this is your first time making toffee from scratch, have no fear! It’s not as intimidating as it looks, I promise.

    All you need is a few simple ingredients and a candy thermometer to make it super easy. The best thing about this treat is that you can make a large batch and give it to family and friends as gifts during Christmas or any December holiday party.

    If you love gifting old-fashioned holiday sweets, my Homemade Peanut Brittle recipe, Easy Peppermint Bark Recipe, and Homemade Chocolate Truffles Recipe are some of my favorites to give away.

    What You’ll Need for This Recipe

    Ingredients to make toffee on a marble counter.

    Pecans: Toasting pecans is a great way to bring their flavor out. Almonds can be used in place of pecans if you prefer.

    Chocolate Chips: I use milk chocolate but feel free to use semi sweet chocolate, dark chocolate, or bittersweet chocolate if you want your toffee less sweet.

    Sugar: Granulated white sugar is recommended. English toffee uses brown sugar. No corn syrup is needed!

    Butter: Unsalted is best so we can control the salt (which we add ourselves).

    How to Make Toffee

    Pecans getting added to a the bottom of a baking dish for toffee.

    1. Line a 9×9 inch baking dish with parchment paper then spread an even layer of chopped pecans out and set aside.

    2. Combine the sugar, salt, water, and butter in a heavy-bottomed pot.

    Toffee getting cooked in a copper pot then poured into a square dish.

    3. Place over medium heat, stirring occasionally. Once the mixture comes to a boil stir frequently until a candy thermometer reads 305F (151C). Remove from heat and stir in the vanilla. Be careful as the vanilla can crackle and fizz as it comes into contact with the hot sugar.

    4. Immediately pour over the pecans and use a spatula to spread to the edges. Set aside for 2-3 minutes to cool slightly.

    Chocolate chips melting on top of a toffee base.

    5. Sprinkle chocolate chips over the surface then cover with foil for about 4 minutes and then use a spatula to smooth into a thin even layer.

    6. Top with a few tablespoons of finely chopped pecans as well as some salt if desired. See my notes below on salt in the Pro Tips section. Refrigerate for at least an hour to chill and set then break into pieces and enjoy.

    Pieces of toffee on a white marble counter.

    Pro Tips for this Recipe

    • Toasting nuts is always a nice way to bring out more depth of flavor in your toffee. Spread the chopped pecans on a baking sheet and bake at 350F for about 4 minutes or until fragrant.
    • You can sub in toasted chopped almonds for the pecans if desired.
    • A candy thermometer makes this such an easy recipe to make, do yourself a favor and pick one up if you don’t have one yet.
    • Store toffee in an airtight container in a cool place. Humidity will make the toffee sticky while heat will melt the chocolate.
    • The chocolate is optional. You can leave it out or use 1/2 a cup instead for a paper thin layer. Milk, semisweet, or bittersweet are all fine, it’s really up to your personal preference.
    • You can use a larger pan and either double the recipe or spread the toffee out thinner.
    • I love this toffee recipe when topped with a sprinkle of big flaked sea salt. You can find Maldon’s sea salt flakes at most grocery stores or look for a brand that says fleur de sel.
    • I suggest using parchment paper or a nonstick silicone mat as opposed to aluminum foil to prevent the toffee from sticking.
    • Use the BEST ingredients you can find. Using quality butter and chocolate will ensure you have the best toffee recipe.
    • Using a HEAVY-BOTTOMED pot is highly recommended and will help your sugar heat evenly.

    Three pieces of toffee on a small blue and white plate.

    Frequently Asked Questions

    What is the difference between caramel and toffee?

    Caramel is cooked to the softball stage 240F, while toffee is cooked to 305F, the hardball stage. The higher cook temperature makes it into a solid while also adding more depth of flavor as the sugar caramelizes more.

    What does it taste like?

    While sweet, toffee has a deep caramel flavor that goes well with chocolate. The ample amount of butter added to the sugar gives it a delicate melt in your mouth consistency that makes it easier to eat than brittle.

    What is the difference between toffee and English toffee?

    English toffee uses brown sugar and often will not have nuts while American toffee almost always has pecans or almonds and uses white granulated sugar to make it.

    How do you store it?

    Store your toffee in a sealed container in a cool place. Humidity will make it sticky and heat will melt the chocolate. 

    How long will it last?

    If stored properly then your toffee should last 3 weeks.

    If you love this recipe try these out!

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    If you’ve tried this Toffee recipe then don’t forget to leave a rating and let me know how you got on in the comments below, I love hearing from you! 

    Four pieces of toffee on a marble counter.
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    5 from 81 votes

    Toffee

    This crunchy toffy melts in your mouth and has a wonderful finish of chocolate and lots of delicious pecans.
    Course Dessert
    Cuisine American, British, english
    Prep Time 5 minutes
    Cook Time 15 minutes
    Chill Time 1 hour
    Total Time 1 hour 20 minutes
    Servings 20 pieces
    Calories 158kcal
    Author John Kanell

    Equipment

    • Medium pot
    • 9x9 baking dish
    • Wooden spoon
    • Parchment paper

    Ingredients

    • 1 cup chopped pecans
    • 1 cup unsalted butter 226g
    • 1 cup granulated sugar 200g
    • ¼ cup water
    • 1/2 tsp kosher salt
    • 1 tsp vanilla extract
    • 1 cup milk chocolate chips
    • 3 tbsp finely chopped pecans for the topping, plus sea salt if desired

    Instructions

    • Line a 9x9 inch baking dish with parchment paper then sprinkle the bottom evenly with chopped pecans and set aside.
    • Add the sugar, water, salt and butter to a heavy-bottomed pot. Place over medium heat and bring to a boil, stirring frequently.
    • Once boiling stir occasionally until the mixture reaches 300F, which is the hard crack stage.
    • Remove from heat and carefully stir in the vanilla then immediately pour over the chopped pecans. Use a spatula to spread to the edges into a flat layer then set aside to cool slightly for about 2 minutes.
    • Sprinkle chocolate chips over the top and cover with foil for 4 minutes so the chocolate chips soften. Use a spatula to spread the chocolate into a thin layer then sprinkle with finely chopped pecans and a bit of sea salt if desired.
    • Refrigerate for at least an hour before lifting from baking dish and breaking into pieces. You can score the top with a knife then snap into pieces for a cleaner look.

    Video

    Notes

    • Toasting nuts is always a nice way to bring out more depth of flavor. Spread the chopped pecans on a baking sheet and bake at 350F for about 4 minutes or until fragrant.
    • You can sub in toasted chopped almonds for the pecans if desired.
    • A candy thermometer makes this such an easy recipe to make, do yourself a favor and pick one up if you don't have one yet.
    • Store toffee in an airtight container in a cool place. Humidity will make the toffee sticky while heat will melt the chocolate.
    • The chocolate is optional. You can leave it out or use 1/2 a cup instead for a paper thin layer. Milk, semisweet or bittersweet are all fine, it's really up to your personal preference.
    • I love this when topped with a sprinkle of big flaked sea salt, you can find Maldon's sea salt at most grocery stores or look for a brand that says fleur de sel.

    Nutrition

    Serving: 1piece | Calories: 158kcal | Carbohydrates: 11g | Protein: 1g | Fat: 13g | Saturated Fat: 6g | Cholesterol: 24mg | Sodium: 60mg | Potassium: 25mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 10g | Vitamin A: 287IU | Vitamin C: 1mg | Calcium: 7mg | Iron: 1mg
    *Nutrition Disclaimer
    Have you Tried this Recipe? Tag me Today!Mention @preppykitchen and tag #preppykitchen!
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    Thanks for stopping by! I’m John Kanell, a husband, dad to twins Lachlan and George, Los Angeles native, and an avid baker and cooker of all things delicious thanks to a life long education from my mother. This blog is where I share all of my kitchen creations!

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