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You are here: Home / Recipes / Dessert / Candy / English Toffee

English Toffee

December 10, 2016 Updated October 20, 2024 13 Comments

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English Toffee is part of our Christmas chocolates tradition.  I had hoped to have this post for English Toffee up at least 2 weeks ago.  In fact, I had hoped to have at least two more of my favorite chocolate recipes posted.  I had a little accident that prevented my chocolate dipping.
 
I had just come home from a very cold morning run.  I was chilled to the bone.  I decided to make My favorite oatmeal after a cold morning run. I poured the oatmeal into my favorite kitty bowl that I had purchased from Anthro to remind me of my two old kitties that we had to have put down the past few months (I know, so sad. It broke my heart).  Anyway…I took a spoonful and was amazed at how wonderful and warming it was.  I walked to a chair to sit and enjoy my breakfast and the bowl slipped from my hands.  In an effort to rescue my oatmeal, I tried to break the fall of the bowl.  As I caught the bowl it had already broke and a sharp edge cut the palm of my hand.  Blah, blah, blah.  Dipping delayed a week.
 
 
My Christmas candy making is almost complete.  I’m still waiting on truffle shells that I ordered a week BEFORE Thanksgiving.  What the heck?  So…truffles just may not get made this year.
 
 
I hope that all of my failed attempts in making English Toffee will help your first attempt a success. Once year I seriously went through 8 pounds of butter trying to make this stuff. Just as the toffee was nearing temperature, the butter would separate from the sugar.  Ahhhh.  What was I doing wrong? Finally I talked with a candy making genius and she told me that I could have saved the batch.  All I needed to do was add 1/2 cup cold water to the separated mess and it would save my toffee.  Genius.
 
I will pass on my little tricks that can help make English Toffee a success.
 

You will need the following:

1 cup toasted almonds, chopped
2 cups (1 pound) butter
1/2 cup water
1/4 cup light corn syrup
2 1/2 cups sugar
melted tempered chocolate for dipping
4-6 cups toasted almonds, finely chopped

Line a 10 x 15-inch baking sheet with non-stick aluminum foil.  Use regular foil, if non-stick isn’t available.  Butter the foil.

Sprinkle 1 cups coarsely chopped almonds on buttered foil.

Set aside.

In a large HEAVY post melt butter and add remaining ingredients.

It was really hard for me to get great photo’s during the process of the toffee cooking.  I’m a one woman show and it was hard to snap a shot while stirring constantly.

Candy is just temperamental.  So don’t plan on leaving the toffee at all during this process.  Don’t answer your phone or your door.  Just pay attention to the toffee.

Place the mixture over medium-high heat.  Stir the mixture constantly.  It will be very hot.  Stir constantly and make sure you get around the edges as you stir.  You don’t want your toffee to burn.

Notice how the toffee has turned from bright yellow to a light tan.  At this point clip on a candy thermometer and DO NOT STIR any longer.  Turn the heat down SLIGHTLY not much and carefully watch and wait for the temperature to reach 290F (145C).

The color will have darkened.  The second the temp reaches 290F (145C) immediately remove from the heat and pour into the prepared baking sheet.

BE CAREFUL this stuff is HOT!!

I had a few air bubbles form because of the almonds.  I just poked them with a toothpick and they went away.

Let the mixture cool for exactly 12 minutes.

Use the foil to help lift toffee from the baking sheet and place onto a cutting board.  Take a knife and score the top of the toffee.  I made my squares 1 1/4 inch by 1 1/4 inch.

You don’t have to score the toffee at all.  You can just wait for it to cool and break it into random pieces.  That’s how I used to do it until my hair dresser told me how to score the toffee.  Fabulous tip!

When the toffee is cool enough to handle, you can just continue to cut through with a sharp knife.  I just broke the toffee along the score lines with my hands.

At this point I store the toffee in a tin lined with waxed paper.  I keep it in a cool place until I am ready to dip.  I have made the toffee as much as 3 weeks before dipping.

In a food processor add about 4-6 cups of toasted almonds.

Pulse until you get a fine texture.

Pour the nuts onto a baking sheet that has been lined with waxed paper.  This just makes clean up a bit easier.

Last year I finally broke down and purchased a used chocolate tempering machine.  I wish I would have bought this 35 years ago!!!

Dip each piece of toffee into the chocolate.

Place on the chopped nuts.

Gently cover completely with more chopped nuts.

Let the toffee sit covered in nuts until the chocolate is firm.  I make little mounds all around.  This is a great job for a child.  I used to let my kids stay home a day from school to help with chocolate dipping.  This was one of their jobs.  I’m a firm believer that school should not get in the way of an education.

 

 

Carefully place toffee on another baking sheet that has been lined with waxed paper.  I should mention that I chill my house to 60 degrees anytime I’m dipping chocolate.  It’s a perfect temperature for chocolate to set.  It’s pretty dang cold.  I generally wear a pair of wool socks and slippers so my feet stay warm.

Store toffee in a cool place.  I have a cold storage room in my basement that works perfectly.  I layer the all my candy in tins and waxed paper.  Works like a charm.

 
 

 

 

 

 
 
 

 

 

 

 

This is what Christmas tastes like.
English Toffee and almonds on plate
5 from 3 votes
Print

English Toffee

Candy making can be a bit finicky, but I walk you through the timing and temperature to make this classic English toffee.

Course Dessert
Cuisine English
Keyword classic English toffee, English toffee recipe, how to make English toffee
Prep Time 20 minutes
Cook Time 12 minutes
Total Time 32 minutes
Servings 20 servings
Calories 477 kcal
Author Janet Barton

Ingredients

  • 1 cup toasted almonds chopped
  • 2 cups butter 1 pound
  • 1/2 cup water
  • 1/4 cup light corn syrup
  • 2 1/2 cups sugar
  • melted tempered chocolate for dipping
  • 4-6 cups toasted almonds finely chopped

Instructions

  1. Line a 10 x 15-inch baking sheet with aluminum foil.  Butter the foil.  Spread with coarsely chopped nuts then set aside.  In a heavy 3-quart saucepan, combine butter, water corn syrup and sugar.  Place over high heat and stir constantly until mixture begins to thicken and turns to very light brown in color.  Reduce heat to medium-high and clip on a candy thermometer.  Cook until mixture reaches 290F (145C).  Remove from heat and carefully pour over chopped almonds in prepared baking sheet.
  2. Let cool for exactly 12 minutes.  Lift toffee out onto a cutting board and score toffee to desired size and shape.  Let cool,  Break along score lines.  Cool completely.  Dip toffee into tempered chocolate then roll in chopped almonds.  Place on a baking sheet lined with waxed paper and cool until chocolate has hardened.  Store toffee in a cool location.  Can be made in advance and kept for at least 3 weeks.

Recipe Notes

Makes about 4-5 pounds of toffee.

Nutrition Facts
English Toffee
Amount Per Serving
Calories 477 Calories from Fat 324
% Daily Value*
Fat 36g55%
Saturated Fat 12g60%
Cholesterol 48mg16%
Sodium 165mg7%
Potassium 257mg7%
Carbohydrates 36g12%
Fiber 4g16%
Sugar 29g32%
Protein 7g14%
Vitamin A 565IU11%
Calcium 100mg10%
Iron 1.4mg8%
* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.

 

 

 

 

 

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Filed Under: Candy, Dessert Tagged With: candy, Christmas Candy, English Toffee

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Comments

  1. Kristen says

    December 4, 2019 at 4:16 am

    What type of chocolate?melting chocolate? Perhaps I should know, but I don’t. What brands do you recommend? Why do you find a tempering machine helpful? I’m not familiar with using one.

    Reply
    • Janet Barton says

      December 4, 2019 at 6:06 pm

      I use Peter’s chocolate. It comes in 10 lb blocks. Peter’s chocolate needs to be tempered. Other forms of melting chocolate or molding chocolate do not need tempering. After years of tempering chocolate on a marble slab by hand, I decided to invest in a tempering machine that tempers the chocolate and get the chocolate to the perfect temperature for dipping. I melt over 30 lbs of chocolate when I make my Christmas candy. The tempering machine saves me a lot of time.

      Reply
  2. Jeannette England says

    December 10, 2018 at 6:23 pm

    I apologize for calling you a stepford wife , For making perfect foOd, espesially at Thanksgiving. The funny part is that you’re awesome aT many more things than cooking. I’m so lucky to be your friend and know that! Merry Christmas!

    Reply
    • Janet Barton says

      December 10, 2018 at 6:37 pm

      Lol No need to apologize. I’m so glad someone looks at me as at least “stepford” rather than mostly crazy! You’re the best and I love you tons. I wish I had a fraction of your talent. xoxo

      Reply
  3. kathie says

    October 20, 2017 at 12:52 am

    Tell me where I can get one of the neat measuring tools that you used to score your toffee. I like for my candies to look as perfect as they taste! thanks for your recipe AND beautiful photographs.

    Reply
    • Janet Barton says

      October 20, 2017 at 5:11 pm

      Hi Kathie, That tool was given to me by my quilting Grandmother. I’m sure she had great hopes for me to become a fabulous quilter. Ha! I use it in my kitchen a lot. It is a quilting ruler. It is 6 inches wide by 24 inches long. I noticed that my local fabric store had them. I love it! Best of luck with your English Toffee. I guess it’s time to start thinking all things candy.

      Reply
  4. Debora Glover says

    January 3, 2017 at 6:39 am

    Janet what brand is your new tempering machine and where did you purchase it.

    Reply
    • Janet Barton says

      January 4, 2017 at 10:16 pm

      I have a Hilliard Little Dipper. I found it on a site called thechocolatelife.com They have classfied ads. If you go into a godiva store you can see one, because most of their store use them. It's awesome.

      Reply
    • Debora Glover says

      January 14, 2017 at 4:32 am

      Thanks so much!! I'll check them out!! Keep warm up in UT…it looks pretty chilly up there.

      Reply
  5. Unknown says

    December 11, 2016 at 11:45 pm

    Janet …Your chocolates always look stunning. Thank you for taking the time to post, I have tried several of your recipes and always enjoy them. Lyn

    Reply
  6. Janine says

    December 11, 2016 at 6:08 pm

    Thank you Thank you!!

    Reply
  7. Cheryl says

    December 11, 2016 at 2:13 am

    Yum! Thanks for the great tutorial.

    Reply
  8. Sandra says

    December 10, 2016 at 12:06 pm

    It looks amazing.

    Reply
5 from 3 votes (3 ratings without comment)

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Janet Barton

Hi I'm Janet and this is where I share my delicious made-from-scratch seasonal recipes that I make at home for my family every day.

I believe cooking from scratch, using unprocessed and whole foods is an important part of healthy eating. My goal is to help you create amazing recipes by providing easy step-by-step photos and instructions.

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