Homemade Toffee: Candy 101

Homemade toffee is a crunchy and tasty candy that is much easier than you may think! Basic candy making instructions included.

Homemade toffee in a bowl

Homemade toffee in a bowl

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Homemade toffee is a great introduction to candy-making.  I’ve been making it for years using an old recipe that was passed around the neighborhood when I was a kid.  I think every teenage girl on the block made it at least once.  How’s that for doable?

If you’d like to try making candy, you shouldn’t be intimidated.  The basic process is to cook sugar (usually mixed with other ingredients) until your candy thermometer says it is the right temperature.  You then take a few final steps–which may be as simple as “pour out of the pan”, or may be a bit more complex.   Since toffee is a “cook and pour” recipe, it is a great beginner candy.

When you make candy, the hotter you get your melted sugar, the crunchier the final product is.  Caramel, which is chewy, goes to about 245 F, while toffee, which is crunchy, must reach 300F.

Homemade toffee early in the cooking process

Homemade toffee early in the cooking process

Homemade toffee beginning to caramelize

Homemade toffee beginning to caramelize

From my experience the biggest problems in candy making occur when you use a faulty candy thermometer and learn (too late) that it isn’t accurate.  Cooked too long, toffee will burn; undercooked, it is chewy not crunchy.  In this picture I am still using an old fashioned candy thermometer but now I use this instant read thermometer which you can easily calibrate (their really nice customer service walked me through the process when I was melting chocolate which is super touchy). So, I recommend you periodically test the accuracy in ice water. 

test a candy thermometer

Trust me–test your candy thermometer

It is still possible to make toffee if you don’t own a candy thermometer (or own one that isn’t accurate, sigh).  In that case, you use something called the coldwater test, to check or double check your stage (many professionals say they always second guess their thermometers).  Just dip a spoon into the boiling liquid and drop a little into a cup of cold water.  Then carefully (molten sugar is hot) mold the results.  Candy syrup will move through various stages as it heats up.  Initially it forms a soft ball, and later forms strands that break sharply (hard crack stage), which is where you want it for toffee.  For more information, see this great  explanation from the Science of Cooking.

toffee covered with chocolate and nuts

Covered with chocolate and nuts

All of this is probably more information than you actually need. As you may have guessed, my candy thermometer decided to fail right before Christmas this year so now I am extra cautious.  But as a teen, I learned how to make it using just the directions below and have lots of fun making it over the decades, er, years.  A neighborhood of teenage girls can’t be wrong…

Homemade Toffee on a Glass Stand

Homemade Toffee

More Classic Candy Recipes

Homemade Toffee

Homemade toffee is a crunchy and tasty candy that is much easier than you may think! Basic candy making instructions included.
Author: Inger
5 from 1 vote
Prep Time 5 mins
Cook Time 30 mins
Total Time 1 hr 30 mins
Course Desserts & Snacks
Cuisine British
Servings 36
Calories 116 kcal

Ingredients
  

Toffee ingredients

  • 1 cup butter
  • 1 cup sugar (not organic, see note)
  • 1 Tablespoon water
  • 1 teaspoon vanilla
  • 1/2 teaspoon salt

For the topping

  • 1 cup chocolate chips (or 2 cups, depending on how thick you want the topping)
  • 2 Tablespoons sliced almonds broken up

Instructions
 

  • Combine toffee ingredients in medium saucepan and stir until the sugar is dissolved.
  • Continue cooking without stirring until brittle when dunked in water (300 F, hard crack stage).
  • Let cool a few seconds (that is seconds not minutes) then pour out slowly on to buttered cookie sheet to make sure it isn’t spreading too fast. You want it hot enough to pour out, but not so hot it runs off the cookie sheet. Let cool.
  • Melt chocolate in microwave or over double boiler and spread on top of toffee.
  • Sprinkle with almonds while chocolate is still soft.
  • Let cool, then break into pieces.

Notes

I don’t recommend organic sugar for this recipe. I use it for everything except candy-making where the slight impurities can cause problems with crystallization. Trust me, I have had numerous failures.
When making candy, make sure your pan is deep enough. Candy may boil up higher than you expect--and do it quite rapidly--and boiled over candy is no fun (though this recipe isn't as bad as many for this).

Nutrition

Calories: 116kcal
I am not a health professional and nutrition data is calculated programatically. Accuracy may vary with product selection, calculator accuracy, etc. Consult a professional for the best information.
Tried this recipe?Let us know how it was!

 

Homemade toffee, up close

Homemade toffee, up close

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12 thoughts on “Homemade Toffee: Candy 101

  1. Pingback: New Year’s/ Christmas Crack Toffee - Art of Natural Living

    1. Inger Post author

      I was happy nothing burned ;-). When I made marshmallow–with yet another faulty thermometer (guess it’s not my year for candy thermometers), I didn’t catch it in time.

  2. Pingback: Salted Caramels Don't Have to Come from the Sweet Shop | Art of Natural LivingArt of Natural Living

  3. ivysew

    Hi Inger, wow, homemade toffee! This is indeed something. Isn’t it wonderful to make your own candy than buying? Love it!!! Thanks for sharing and regards 🙂

  4. Louise

    I have never ventured into the world of candy making, Inger. Although, I do have a candy thermometer, why I’m not sure:) I think it is so cool that you have an old neighborhood recipe. I’ve often heard to begin candy making with Toffee, I just never knew why. Now I do. Thanks for sharing, Inger…

    1. Inger Post author

      Stay tuned Louise, next post will (probably) be Salted Caramels. Maybe I can get you to dust off that candy thermometer yet 😉 But I haven’t forgotten that I’m supposed to be helping you out with all that cranberry sauce!

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