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    Home » Dessert » Candy » Toffee Recipe

    Toffee Recipe

    Published: Dec 21, 2020 · Modified: Apr 10, 2023 by Tonia Larson

    This post may contain affiliate links. Please read my disclosure policy.

    ↓ JUMP TO RECIPE ↓ JUMP TO VIDEO

    This Toffee Recipe is a homemade version of Almond Roca. A buttery, crunchy treat with milk chocolate that’s perfect for the holidays!

    a close up photo of the yummy toffee

    Toffee is one of my favorite kinds of candy bars, anything from Heath bars to Skor bars! My mom used to make Almond Roca every year at Christmas time. The whole family looks forward to this treat during the holidays.

    adding butter, sugar and water to the pot

    Start by greasing a large, rimmed baking sheet very well with butter. Set it aside for later.

    Next, combine the butter and sugar in a large, heavy-bottom saucepan over medium heat.

    Would a smaller saucepan work?

    For safety reasons you will want to use a large saucepan. This toffee recipe requires you to work with temperatures close to 300˚F. When you add the water to the hot syrup, it will boil up. You will want to have enough space so it doesn’t boil over.

    bring sugar and butter mixture to a boil

    Allow the mixture to come to a boil while stirring constantly.

    a photo of the sugar and butter mix boiling

    Once it is boiling, stir in water, light corn syrup, and salt. Pour the water in carefully to avoid it splashing up out of the pot and onto your hands.

    Can this toffee recipe be made without corn syrup?

    Corn syrup plays an important role in this toffee recipe. It prevents the sugar from crystalizing and gives the candy a smooth texture. Many of the commonly suggested corn syrup substitutes are not a good choice when making candy. However, if you do want to use a substitute, golden syrup would be a good choice.

    checking the temperature with a cooking thermometer

    Stir the syrup constantly while cooking over medium heat until the temperature is between 285˚F and 290˚F.

    Can I make this toffee recipe without a thermometer?

    We highly recommend using a candy thermometer or instant-read thermometer (this is the one we used) for making this toffee recipe. That said, you can use the cold water method to identify the different stages in candy making.

    For toffee you’ll want to know when you’ve reached the “soft crack” stage.
    To test this using the cold water method, remove the candy from heat and drop a small amount of the candy into very cold water.

    When the candy separates into hard, but not brittle, threads, you know you have the “soft crack” consistency required for toffee.

    adding the chopped pecans to the the toffee

    Working quickly, remove the pot from the heat and stir in the chopped almonds evenly. The saucepan is very hot so be sure set it on a trivet to protect the surface.

    Can I make this toffee recipe with other types of nuts?

    We made this toffee recipe with almonds, however, it would be delicious with other nuts as well. Here are some other types of nuts you could try.

    • peanuts
    • cashews
    • pecans
    • hazelnuts
    spreading the toffee mixture into a baking pan

    Pour the mixture on to the pre-greased baking pan and use a silicone spatula to spread it out to fill the pan.

    It is really helpful to have another person available to assist with this step. One person can grab the pre-greased pan and scrape out the saucepan with a spatula while the other person pours the hot mixture from the saucepan into the baking pan.

    spreading chocolate over the toffee mixture

    Allow the toffee to cool. Then melt the chocolate chips and spread them evenly over the toffee.

    sprinkling finely chopped pecans over the chocolate

    Before the chocolate cools, sprinkle finely chopped almonds over the top of the toffee.

    cutting the toffee bars with a knife

    After the chocolate hardens, cut the toffee into bite-sized pieces. Or if you prefer, you can break the toffee into pieces by hand.

    a topdown view of the toffee pieces on a plate

    Store toffee in an airtight container at room temperature for up to two weeks.

    a close-up view of the delectable toffee

    If you want to give a gift from the kitchen, this toffee recipe would be a great choice. Stack the toffee in a decorative tin or in a cellophane bag for easy gifting.

    delicious chocolate covered toffee pieces on a plate

    Want more candy recipes? Try these next:

    Homemade Peanut Brittle is sweet and salty, crispy and crunchy. This classic Christmas treat is easy to make and better than store-bought!

    These Nut Goodie Bars are melt-in-your-mouth amazing! The combo of chocolate and maple nougat with peanuts is one of my family’s all-time favorites.

    This microwave Caramel Candy recipe makes soft, melt-in-your-mouth caramels that everyone loves! Made with only 5 ingredients, they are a family tradition.

    Homemade Peppermint Patties are so easy to make and more delicious than the store bought ones! Cool and minty on the inside with smooth chocolate on the outside, they are a Christmas holiday tradition.

    a close up photo of the yummy toffee

    Toffee Recipe

    This Toffee Recipe is a homemade version of Almond Roca. A buttery, crunchy treat with milk chocolate that's perfect for the holidays!
    4.67 from 9 votes
    ↑ Click stars to rate!
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    Prep Time: 10 minutes minutes
    Cook Time: 15 minutes minutes
    Additional Time: 30 minutes minutes
    Total Time: 55 minutes minutes
    Servings: 54 pieces
    Prevent your screen from going dark

    Equipment

    Portable Induction Cooktop
    Farberware Stockpot
    Digital Thermometer
    USA Pan Cookie Sheet

    Ingredients

    • 2 cups butter
    • 2 cups granulated sugar
    • ¼ cup water
    • 2 tablespoon light corn syrup
    • ¼ teaspoon salt
    • ½ cup chopped almonds
    • 1 cup milk chocolate chips
    • ½ cup finely chopped almonds

    Instructions

    • Grease a large, rimmed baking sheet very well with butter. Set aside.
    • In a large, heavy-bottom saucepan combine the butter and sugar over medium heat. Bring to a boil, stirring constantly.
    • Carefully stir in the water, light corn syrup, and salt. Cook over medium heat, stirring constantly until it reaches 285˚F-290˚F.
    • Remove from heat. Stir in the chopped almonds and pour onto the prepared baking sheet. Allow to cool.
    • Melt the chocolate chips and spread evenly over the toffee.
    • Sprinkle with the finely chopped almonds.
    • Allow the chocolate to harden and then cut the toffee into bite-sized pieces. Store in an airtight container for up to 2 weeks.

    Video

    Notes

    Safety:
    The toffee mixture is extremely hot, so be extra careful! It is helpful to have another person available to help while pouring the hot candy mixture onto the baking sheets.
    Storage:
    Store toffee in an airtight container at room temperature for up to two weeks.

    Nutrition

    Serving: 1piece | Calories: 125kcal | Carbohydrates: 11g | Protein: 0.5g | Fat: 9g | Saturated Fat: 5g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 1g | Monounsaturated Fat: 2g | Trans Fat: 0.3g | Cholesterol: 18mg | Sodium: 65mg | Potassium: 29mg | Fiber: 0.3g | Sugar: 11g | Vitamin A: 210IU | Calcium: 11mg | Iron: 0.1mg
    Course: candy
    Cuisine: American
    Author: Tonia Larson

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    • candy sticks wrapped in cellophane wrappers with red shiny ribbons.
      Candy Sticks

    About Tonia Larson

    Hi! I’m Tonia, the owner and recipe creator at The Gunny Sack, where I’ve shared easy recipes for busy people for 12+ years! My family-friendly meals, easy side dishes, and delicious desserts include mouthwatering photos, dynamic videos, and step-by-step instructions to help you cook at home.

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    Comments

    1. Faith says

      May 2, 2023 at 11:32 pm

      5 stars
      This is one of my favorite candies. it’s good any time, not just at Christmas. I like that you warned people about being safe making this.

      Reply

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    Tonia Larson and Brian LarsonHi, We are Brian and Tonia Larson! We hope you enjoy our family-friendly meals, easy side dishes, and tasty desserts!
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