Homemade Toffee Recipe (2024)

Updated on |By Kate|2 Comments

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This homemade toffee recipe makes rich, buttery toffee with almost no work! This easy English toffee recipe makes tasty toffee with just 4 simple ingredients.

Homemade Toffee Recipe (1)

This easy English toffee recipe is one of my family’s favorite holiday treats! The candy has a layer of rich toffee sandwiched in between layers of chopped almonds and semisweet chocolate.

This buttery toffee recipe makes a tasty treat that’s perfect for snacking on or for sharing. Homemade candy makes a lovely gift any time of year but is especially welcome during the holiday season!

Ingredient notes and substitutions

  • Almonds: I use unsalted almonds to better control how salty the toffee is.
  • Salted butter: I like to use salted butter in this recipe. If you’re using unsalted butter, you’ll need to add 1 teaspoon of salt along with the butter and sugar.
  • Sugar: You’ll need granulated sugar (white sugar) for this recipe.
  • Semi-sweet chocolate chips: You can use dark chocolate chips or milk chocolate chips if you prefer. The chocolate layer is fairly thin, so if you like a thick layer of chocolate on your toffee, increase the amount of chocolate chips.

How to make homemade toffee

Here you’ll find step-by-step photos showing how to make this recipe. The full recipe, including instructions, is given below.

Step 1: Line a jelly roll pan with parchment paper or with a silicone baking mat.

Homemade Toffee Recipe (2)

Step 2: Sprinkle the chopped almonds in an even layer over the bottom of the pan. They won’t cover the surface of the pan. Set aside.

Homemade Toffee Recipe (3)

Step 3: Add the butter and sugar to a large, heavy saucepan.

Homemade Toffee Recipe (4)

Step 4: Melt the butter over low heat, stirring regularly.

Step 5: Once the butter has melted, increase the heat to medium-low, and bring the butter mixture to a boil. Occasionally gently stir the toffee mixture.

Homemade Toffee Recipe (5)

Step 6: Cook until the toffee mixture is 295-300 degrees F (hard crack stage). The toffee mixture should be a rich amber brown.

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Step 7: Carefully pour the toffee mixture over the nuts in the prepared pan. Use a silicone spatula to spread out the toffee as needed.

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Step 8: Sprinkle chocolate chips over the top. Let the chocolate chips stand for about 5 minutes to begin to melt.

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Step 9: Carefully spread the melted chocolate chips over the top of the toffee, and sprinkle with the chopped nuts, if using.

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Step 10: Let the toffee sit until it has set and has come to room temperature, and then break into pieces to serve.

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Recipe Tips!

  • Spoon: Since the toffee mixture gets up to 295F, you’ll need to use a spoon that won’t melt. A wooden spoon or a silicone spoon that is heat-rated for that temperature will work well.
  • Topping ideas: If you don’t want to top the toffee with chopped almonds, you can leave it plain, sprinkle on a bit of sea salt, or go with crushed pretzels for nut-free crunch.

Recipe FAQs

Can I omit the nuts?

You can! Feel free to leave the almonds out for candy that is similar to homemade Skor bars.

Can I use a different type of nut?

Absolutely! You can use chopped pecans or your favorite nut to make toffee.

Homemade Toffee Recipe (11)

Storage

Store any leftover toffee in an airtight container in the refrigerator. The toffee will keep for up to 1 week when properly stored in the fridge.

More candy recipes!

  • Peanut Brittle
  • Saltine Toffee
  • Peppermint Bark

If you’ve tried this homemade toffee recipe, don’t forget to rate the recipe and leave me a comment below. I love to hear from people who’ve made my recipes!

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Homemade Toffee Recipe (15)

Homemade Toffee Recipe (16)

5 from 3 votes

Homemade Toffee Recipe


Author Kate @ I Heart Eating

Course Dessert

Cuisine American

Prep Time 5 minutes minutes

Cook Time 20 minutes minutes

Total Time 25 minutes minutes

Homemade toffee recipe makes rich, buttery toffee with just 4 simple ingredients.

Equipment

  • Jelly roll pan

  • Candy thermometer

Ingredients

  • 1 cup roughly chopped unsalted almonds
  • 2 cups salted butter
  • 2 cups granulated sugar
  • 2 cups semisweet chocolate chips
  • 1/4 cup finely chopped unsalted almonds

Instructions

  • Line a jelly roll pan with parchment paper or with a silicone baking mat.

  • Sprinkle the chopped almonds over the bottom of the prepared pan. They won’t cover the surface of the pan. Set aside.

  • Add the butter and sugar to a large, heavy saucepan.

  • Melt the butter over low heat, stirring regularly.

  • Once the butter has melted, increase the heat to medium-low, and bring the butter mixture to a boil. Occasionally gently stir the toffee mixture.

  • Cook until the toffee mixture is 295-300 degrees F (hard crack stage). The toffee mixture should be rich amber brown (check out the pictures above the recipe for reference).

  • Carefully pour the toffee mixture over the nuts in the prepared pan. Use a silicone spatula to spread out the toffee as needed.

  • Sprinkle the chocolate chips over the top.

  • Let the chocolate chips stand for about 5 minutes to begin to melt.

  • Carefully spread the melted chocolate chips over the top of the toffee with an offset spatula, and sprinkle with the chopped nuts, if using.

  • Let the toffee sit until it has set.

  • Break into pieces to serve.

Notes

  • Almonds: I use unsalted almonds to better control how salty the toffee is.
  • Salted butter: I like to use salted butter in this recipe. If you’re using unsalted butter, you’ll need to add 1 teaspoon of salt along with the butter and sugar.
  • Sugar: You’ll need granulated sugar (white sugar) for this recipe.
  • Semi-sweet chocolate chips: You can use dark chocolate chips or milk chocolate chips if you prefer. The chocolate layer is fairly thin, so if you like a thick layer of chocolate on your toffee, increase the amount of chocolate chips.
  • Nutrition values are estimates.

Nutrition

Serving: 1serving | Calories: 396kcal | Carbohydrates: 31g | Protein: 3g | Fat: 30g | Saturated Fat: 16g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 2g | Monounsaturated Fat: 10g | Trans Fat: 1g | Cholesterol: 50mg | Sodium: 148mg | Potassium: 173mg | Fiber: 3g | Sugar: 27g | Vitamin A: 576IU | Calcium: 41mg | Iron: 1mg

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Created by Kate

Kate got her first cookbook when she was five years old, and she hasn't stopped cooking since then! Her delicious recipes have been featured on Food Network, MSN, Better Homes & Gardens, Buzzfeed, The Huffington Post, and more. When she's not cooking or baking, she can be found on her mini farm with her husband and her five kids.

Reader Interactions

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    Comments & Reviews

  1. Darlene Mapes says

    Can I use white chocolate instead?

    Reply

    • Kate says

      Yes, you can use white chocolate, milk chocolate, or dark chocolate on top of the toffee.

      Reply

Homemade Toffee Recipe (2024)

FAQs

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.

What's the difference between taffy and toffee? ›

Is toffee the same as taffy? Taffy is in no way, shape, or form toffee. Taffy describes chewy fruit candies, whereas toffee is closer to caramel.

What is the best pan to make toffee in? ›

1) Use a heavy-bottom saucepan. This is important as the thicker base means more even heat distribution which means less chance of burning. Thin-bottom, cheaply made pots should stay far away from toffee making. I always use a stainless pot – I wouldn't recommend pots with nonstick coating.

What can go wrong when making toffee? ›

Common toffee making mistakes:
  • I started with way too high of a heat. (At least, I think this was an issue.) I set my portable cooktop at 260 degrees F.
  • I stirred too quickly. I didn't realize this could be an issue.
  • I didn't add a dash of salt. They say you can save a ruined batch of toffee by adding a dash of salt.
Dec 13, 2017

Is toffee just butter and sugar? ›

Ingredients: Toffee consists of sugar and butter, while caramel comprises sugar, water, and cream—or just sugar. Temperature: Confectioners cook toffee to the hard-crack stage, around 310 degrees Fahrenheit, resulting in its signature craggy shards.

Do you stir toffee or not? ›

If you don't stir the toffee often as it's cooking, the toffee can separate. Once the toffee reaches 250 F degrees, stir the toffee frequently to make sure the ingredients stay together. The toffee can also separate if the temperature is too high and it gets too hot too fast. So keep the temperature around medium heat.

What is the role of butter in toffee? ›

The fat content in butter contributes to the smooth and velvety texture of the toffee, making it more enjoyable to eat. Preventing Sugar Crystallization: The presence of butter helps to inhibit sugar crystallization during the cooking process. Sugar crystals can cause a grainy texture in the toffee.

Are Tootsie Rolls just chocolate taffy? ›

Tootsie Roll (/ˈtʊtsi/) is a chocolate-flavored candy that has been manufactured in the United States since 1907. The candy has qualities similar to both caramels and taffy without being exactly either confection. The manufacturer, Tootsie Roll Industries, is based in Chicago, Illinois.

What do Americans call toffee? ›

January 24, 2018 | by Warrell. Historically, taffy has been considered an American term while toffee is the term used by the British.

Is Starburst just taffy? ›

Starburst (originally known as Opal Fruits) is the brand name of a box-shaped, fruit-flavoured soft taffy candy manufactured by The Wrigley Company, which is a subsidiary of Mars, Incorporated.

Why is vinegar added to 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.

What does cream of tartar do in toffee? ›

Cream of tartar is a white powder sold in the baking aisle that's commonly used to stabilize whipped egg whites in meringues and cakes, prevent sugar crystallization in candies and caramel, and act as the activating ingredient in baking powder.

Why is my butter separating from my toffee? ›

If the butterfat separates out then usually this is due to the mixture being either heated or cooled too quickly, which "shocks" the mixture and causes the fat to separate out. It can also be caused by the mixture being heated unevenly (if the pan has a thin base and has hot spots).

Why is my toffee not set and why is it's texture grainy and not smooth? ›

As the toffee cools and the molten sugar crystals become solid again, they are attracted to the 'seed' forming new lumps of tiny crystals – hence the grainy texture. This can also happen if the toffee is stirred, or agitated, after it has begun to boil or on cooling (as happened with this pink-tinted toffee).

Why is my cracker toffee chewy? ›

Then, make sure the entire mixture comes to a rolling boil, not just the edges of the pan. Why is my saltine toffee chewy? If your saltine toffee, or Christmas crack, is chewy, it's because the chocolate hasn't fully set yet. Try popping it in the fridge for 15 minutes to firm it up.

What texture should toffee be? ›

Ideally toffee has a nice snap when you bite into it, but then it gives way to a tender texture that immedietly crumbles and dissolves in your mouth. Even though I add a tremendous amount of butter to my recipe, the texture I end up with is more like a hard candy that ultimately sticks to your teeth.

Is toffee crunchy or chewy? ›

Even textures vary, so expect to come across soft and chewy toffee as well as a traditional English butter toffee that is nice and crunchy. Chocolate used can be milk, white or dark, which only adds to the variety.

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