How to Make English Toffee: Tips for a Classic Treat

It’s coming upon that time of year, the Holidays! Discover how to make English toffee with our simple recipe and tips for a perfect sweet treat every time. If you’re adventurous and love to home cook, here’s how we would suggest trying to make english toffee at home for the Holidays or any day. We would suggest simply ordering your English Toffee from MalibuGift and leave all the hard stuff to us! Up to you.

How to make English Toffee Candy

1. Prepare a Baking Sheet: Line a baking sheet with parchment paper or a silicone mat.

2. Melt the Butter: In a heavy saucepan, melt the butter over medium heat.

3. Add Sugar and Salt: Once the butter is melted, add the sugar and salt, stirring constantly.

4. Cook the Mixture: Continue cooking the mixture, stirring constantly, until it reaches a deep golden color and reaches 300°F (150°C) on a candy thermometer (hard crack stage). This usually takes about 10-15 minutes.

5. Add Vanilla: Once the mixture reaches the correct temperature, remove it from the heat and stir in the vanilla extract.

6. Pour and Spread: Quickly pour the hot toffee mixture onto the prepared baking sheet and spread it out evenly with a spatula.

7. Add Chocolate and Nuts: Immediately sprinkle the chocolate chips over the hot toffee. Let them sit for a minute to melt, then spread the melted chocolate over the toffee. Sprinkle chopped nuts on top if using.

8. Cool and Break: Allow the toffee to cool completely (you can speed this up by placing it in the refrigerator). Once it’s hardened, break it into pieces.

Supplies You’ll Need:

• Baking sheet
• Parchment paper
• Measuring cups 
• Candy thermometer

Ingredients:

• 1 cup unsalted butter
• 1 cup granulated sugar
• 1/4 teaspoon salt
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
• 1 cup semi-sweet chocolate chips
• 1/2 cup chopped nuts (e.g., almonds, pecans) – optional

What is English Toffee ?

•  English Toffee is a hard, brittle sweet candy that is buttery and can be hard and crunchy typically dipped in chocolate and rolled in nuts

Did the English create English Toffee? Of course not. This term was created in the United States and is often used in the U.S. to describe a specific type of toffee that’s typically made with butter, sugar, and often coated with chocolate and nuts. Our English Toffee Sticks at MalibuGift are rolled in freshly toasted almonds and are our Best Seller!

In general “Toffee” refers to a confection made by caramelizing sugar along with butter. It has a hard, brittle texture and can be plain or flavored. Sometimes English Toffee has a more buttery flavor, whereas standard Toffee (like what’s common in the UK) might not be as rich in butter and can vary more in texture and flavor.

At MalibuGift, we haven’t spent a lot of time on the history of English Toffee making. Maybe we should?  We’ve prioritized making the best, most “candy addictive” English Toffee ever for our Malibu locals and now, you. Check out a simple recipe below for a home version of our Malibu local’s favorite candy.  

How to Store Homemade English Toffee

• If it lasts long enough to store, store the toffee in an airtight container at room temperature for up to two weeks. Refrigeration may be needed if you’re in a warm or humid climate. Use an airtight container to prevent moisture from making your English Toffee sticky. If you’re making a bunch of English Toffee for the Holidays ahead of time, you can store in the freezer for up to 3 months. Just use that airtight container.

FAQ

What is the difference between toffee and english toffee?

English Toffee is usually crunchy and dipped in chocolate then rolled in nuts. It has a more “buttery” flavor than Toffee typically.

Is it still called english toffee if you don’t add nuts?

No, when you don’t add nuts it is just called toffee.

What is the hardest part of making english toffee?

The hardest part about making english toffee is the carmelizing process.

What causes english toffee to separate?

Water or Moisture can cause your english toffee to seperate while making or storing English Toffee.

Can you store it in the freezer?

Yes, you can store it in an airtight container for up to 3 months.

Why is my toffee chewy and soft and not hard and crunchy?

Toffee comes in many textures. MalibuGift’s English Toffee is buttery and crunchy.