It’s that time of the year to start making all the Holiday treats.
What is English Toffee?
Toffee is a candy made of crystallizing sugar and butter. We just add a layer of chocolate and nuts to zing it up! It’s like a Heath candy bar.
What You’ll Need
Unsalted butter – This recipe requires real butter, not margarine.Granulated sugar – This will be cooked to form a hard candy.Water and Corn syrup – Corn syrup helps prevent the sugar from crystallizing.Pecans -Feel free to omit the nuts.Semi-sweet chocolate chips – Or milk chocolate chips.
This toffee was so decadently delicious that it will be hard to share. I received major praise for this treat, and you will too! Add this peppermint fudge, chocolate covered pretzel rods, and peanut butter balls to your Christmas holiday baking list!
How to Make English Toffee
Prepare a jelly roll pan or baking sheet with aluminum foil or parchment paper. Combine the butter, sugar, corn syrup, and water in a heavy saucepan. I find it easier to use this type of gadget to chop my nuts. They stayed contained and don’t fly all over my kitchen. Cook over medium heat, and constantly cook, stirring with a wooden spoon until the butter melts. Then stir occasionally until the mixture reaches 285 degrees F (soft crack stage). It takes around 20 minutes. The mixture should turn a light brown/caramel look. Because of my apprehension with this recipe, I used a candy thermometer and the ice trick. I just happen to have a candy thermometer, but you could just use the ice. When the candy has reached the correct temperature, it hardens immediately upon hitting the ice. Handy trick, right? Remove from the heat and quickly pour into the prepared pan. Sprinkle chocolate chips on top. Let them soften, then spread the chocolate evenly with an offset spatula over the toffee. I used semi-sweet, but you can use dark chocolate or milk chocolate. Sprinkle with chopped pecans while the chocolate is still warm. Press the pecans down slightly into the melted chocolate. Let the toffee cool completely (room temperature) until hard, then break it into pieces or bite-size pieces. I promise this is an easy traditional English toffee recipe to impress your friends, family, and guests during the Holidays! I halved the original recipe.
Tips
Use a good-quality candy thermometer.Place a bowl of ice next to the stove. This is to ensure it’s reached the proper candy stage. I use both a candy thermometer and drop some on ice.Sometimes chocolate will melt at a temperature that makes it shrink when it hardens. If this happens, warm it gently for a minute or so in an oven preheated to 300 degrees F. (I have never had this happen)
