We’ll walk you through step-by-step, to make this Quick and Easy Toffee the most no-fuss, easy recipe for homemade toffee! It is the perfect holiday gift to delight friends and family!
This is our absolute favorite time of year. It has turned cold, and we are happily whipping up all of our favorite holiday treats. Our kids certainly don’t complain, seeing as there is a never-ending amount of cookies, fudge, caramel, and toffee. There are not enough words to adequately describe how much we love toffee. With or without nuts and chocolate chips, it doesn’t even matter. We could eat this all day, every day, for the rest of our lives. While that may not be the best idea for a multitude of reasons, you’ll be hard pressed to convince us to put down the toffee these last few months of the year. We are going to savor every single bite, and share our love of toffee with everyone we know!
What is English Toffee?
Toffee has different names in different countries. In the United States, most toffee is known as English Toffee. Where it can get confusing however, is that traditional English Toffee does not contain any nuts, yet English Toffee in the United States can contain a variety of nuts. The moral of the story is to always check toffee labels to make sure you’re getting the toffee you want.
Nuts in Quick and Easy Toffee:
Nuts are entirely optional in this recipe, however we highly recommend them. Whether you roast them in the oven or use them raw, they are absolutely delicious and add an amazing crunch to your toffee. You can leave them whole or give them a rough chop.
Cooking Stages:
There are set temperature stages in candy making to represent the texture of your finished product, depending on the type of candy you are making. Generally speaking, the lower the temperature, the softer it will be; the higher the temperature, the more firm and brittle. In this recipe, we are looking for our finished product to reach the hard crack stage of 290-300 degrees F.Â
Cooking Tip:
Make sure you have your pan prepped and everything ready to go before you start making the toffee. Once your toffee reaches the appropriate temperature, you need to immediately remove it from the heat so it does not continue to cook and go past that hard crack stage.
What size saucepan should I use:
When toffee is cooking on the stove, it bubbles and grows tremendously. If you have a saucepan that looks like it is probably big enough for how much toffee you’re making, consider going up a size from that! There is nothing more stressful than realizing your saucepan is too small while it is starting to bubble up!
Caramel vs. Toffee vs. Butterscotch:
Caramel, toffee, and butterscotch are very similar, but they do have some key differences. Caramel and butterscotch have an addition of cream or milk, and call for different sugars. Both are heated to a lower temperature to make them softer or liquidy depending on how you’re using the finished product. Toffee is meant to be hard and brittle, so it is cooked to a higher temperature.
Corn Syrup Substitute:
Can’t find corn syrup or want to make your own corn syrup substitute? Corn syrup is not the same product as high fructose corn syrup. It is an invert sugar that prevents crystallization in candy making. If you need to replace the corn syrup in this recipe, you’ll want to use another invert sugar that will also prevent crystalization, including:
- Honey (will impact flavor and won’t prevent crystalization as well)
- Golden Syrup
- Brown Rice Syrup
- Homemade Corn Syrup Substitute
Troubleshooting: Why does my chocolate not stick to the toffee?
The most common cause of chocolate not sticking to toffee is excess moisture on the toffee from butter seeping out. If you follow our recipe, this shouldn’t happen, but if it does and you do notice some seepage, simply blot it off with a clean dish towel or paper towel.
Storage Instructions:
Store your toffee in an airtight container on the counter for up to 2 weeks, though we promise it won’t last that long!
If you like this recipe, you may be interested in these other delicious holiday dessert recipes:
The best toffee ever! It is my go-to recipe for toffee. Easier than you think! Thank you
I have made this recipe for years but I use bourbon instead of water.
I make this I use about a 1/4 cup of bourbon in mine.
I’ve never made this, at what point do you add the bourbon? Sounds gooood!
I made this for a party and everyone absolutely loved it! I love the video that shows how to make this! Please please keep up the fabulous recipes!
Just made this and it was my first try with toffee, looks like it will be a big success! Kids are already begging to try it! Thanks so much!
I make this every year but with a few differences. I grind the almonds before adding them to the mixture and I don’t use corn syrup. I love this stuff, but it’s addicting!!