Indulge in the Ultimate Toffee Recipe, reminiscent of the freshly made batches from your beloved candy shop. Delightfully soft and buttery, with a satisfyingly crisp texture that melts in your mouth.
And the best part? Crafting a batch or two is a breeze! Elevating the flavor profile, we’ve incorporated our cherished Pan-Roasted Pecans. A hint of olive oil and sea salt enhances the richness and depth of this delectable chocolate and buttery treat.
Toffee is a confection made by caramelizing sugar or molasses (creating inverted sugar) along with butter. The mixture is heated until its temperature reaches the hard crack stage 300°F/149°C to 310°F/154°C. While being prepared, toffee is sometimes mixed with nuts or raisins.
What Is the Difference Between Caramel and Toffee?
Caramel is sugar and cream or milk, with butter occasionally in the mix. Caramel is cooked at a lower temperature, about 248°F/120°C, while toffee is heated up to about 300°F/148°C to make it hard and crunchy.
You may notice that this recipe is double thickness, you can easily halve it to create a thinner alternative. Such as the beloved Skör Bar®, but this is the perfect balance of candy and pecans.
This Toffee is an American version (also known as Buttercrunch) of the confectionery, made with white sugar and added pecans. Traditional British toffee is crafted with brown sugar and you won’t find any nuts nestled in the shards of sweetness. And yes it’s delicious too! But we like the added bite and taste of the pecans.
How Long Is Homemade Toffee Good For?
Our toffee candy is good for at least two weeks if stored at room temperature. If your home is a bit on the warm side or if you’re holding onto it for gift-giving, store it in the fridge to give it a couple of extra weeks it will stay perfectly fresh!
Can You Freeze Toffee?
Yes! Toffee freezes very well. Make a batch, break it up and then store it in an airtight container in the freezer for some winter snacking, or give it away as a perfect gift for the holidays!
Purchase a Candy Thermometer (if you don't already own one)
There are many things that can be prepared in the kitchen by eyeballing, seasoning and spices can be added here and there to taste. BUT, creating candy is not one of them. This recipe absolutely must be the precise temp. We bring the sugar syrup to exactly 300°F/148°C Hard Crack for this recipe. Remember to be careful while cooking and handling the hot syrup!
Warning: Working with bubbling hot sugar can be dangerous. Sugar burns are extra painful because the sugar sticks to your skin, so please be careful when working with sugar syrup.
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How to Make Homemade Toffee
Ingredients
- 2 cups (250 grams) Pan Roasted Pecans, whole or chopped
- 2 cups (454 grams) butter, unstalted
- 2 cups (400 grams) sugar
- 1 teaspoon Pink Himalayan Sea Salt or Kosher Sea Salt, finely ground
- 2 teaspoons pure vanilla extract
- 2 cups (350 grams) chocolate chips, milk chocolate, semisweet, or white
Instructions
- Line a 9x13 inch baking dish with parchment paper. Spread the Pan Roasted Pecans in a single layer on top of the parchment.
- Add the butter, sugar, and sea salt to a heavy-bottomed saucepan. Bring to a boil over medium-low heat, stirring frequently with a flat bottomed wooden spoon until the sugar has dissolved. Once the candy is boiling, continue to stir slowly and evenly, until the candy reaches 300°F/148°C Hard Crack Stage (on a candy thermometer).
- Once the mixture has reached the Hard Crack Stage 300°F/148°C, remove from the heat and stir in the pure vanilla extract. Mix until thoroughly combined. Carefully pour the candy over the Pan Roasted Pecans, spreading with the back of a spoon to even out if necessary.
- Allow the candy to sit undisturbed for 3 minutes, then pour the chocolate chips over the top. Cover with foil and allow them to sit for 5 minutes, remove the foil and spread the softened chips into an even layer. Place in the refrigerator and allow the toffee to chill for 2 hours.
- Remove from the fridge and lift the parchment paper out of the baking dish onto a cutting board. Use a sharp knife to score and break the toffee into smaller pieces.
Notes
- Prep time is approximate.
- Store homemade toffee between sheets of parchment paper in an airtight container in a cool, dry place.
Creative Recipe Inspiration
Looking for more easy candy recipes? Then you’ll defiantly want to check out our super popular Easy Marshmallow Recipe!
Candied Pecans always make a great gift during the holiday season too, plus they’re super easy to make too!
Step Into My Kitchen!
Hey there, fellow food enthusiast! Welcome to Mean Green Chef, where every dish tells a story and every recipe is a labor of love. I’m thrilled to share a bit about myself and the journey that led me here, stirring pots and sprinkling spices for over three decades!
I love toffee! I haven’t had any in so long, now I need to make this. 🙂
It’s one of my favorites from childhood and great for holiday gifts too! Thanks for visiting, Erika 🙂
YUM! I love toffee, but I’ve never made it before. I’ll have to give it a go 🙂
You’ll love it, Colleen! It’s so easy to make and a perfect gift over the holiday season too 🙂
I think I could actually make this, though will have to try it with ghee so the rest of my family could have some …or maybe not? Hmmm if I make it with butter, only I can eat it, what a plan! It looks just fabulous and will keep me from springing for chocolove bars.. . Will hunt for a good candy thermometer, soon.
Lol, Beth! Maybe a batch for them and for you, it’s so easy to make too. I’m sure you will love it 🙂
This toffee looks delicious! I haven’t tried making it homemade before, but it your instructions make it seem pretty easy!
I promise you it’s super easy to make, Morgan! You’d knock it outta the park 🙂
I am so happy I came across this recipe! It is going to make the perfect treat for my twins third grade teacher for the holiday’s! Bookmarked to come back to very soon!
Awesome, Tamara! Please be sure to share your results with us, it does make a great Christmas gift! 🙂