Description
Sweet caramel-rich homemade toffee delights chocolate lovers with its buttery crunch and irresistible flavor. Crisp edges and smooth textures invite dessert enthusiasts to savor each delectable bite of pure indulgence.
Ingredients
Scale
Main Ingredients:
- 1 cup (226 grams / 2 sticks) unsalted butter
- 1 cup (200 grams) granulated sugar
- 1 cup (170 grams) semi-sweet chocolate chips
Flavoring and Seasoning:
- ¼ teaspoon salt
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
Topping:
- ½ cup (60 grams) chopped nuts (almonds, pecans, or walnuts)
Instructions
- Prepare a baking sheet by lining it with parchment paper or a silicone mat, ensuring complete coverage to prevent sticking and facilitate easy removal of the toffee.
- Select a heavy-bottomed saucepan and combine butter, sugar, and salt, positioning the pan over medium heat. Engage in continuous stirring using a wooden spoon or heat-resistant spatula, maintaining constant motion until butter melts and sugar dissolves completely.
- Continue cooking the mixture, stirring consistently to prevent burning, watching for color transformation to a rich golden hue. Monitor temperature carefully using a candy thermometer, aiming to reach precisely 300F, which indicates the hard crack stage. This process typically requires 10-15 minutes of attentive cooking.
- Immediately remove the saucepan from heat and swiftly incorporate vanilla extract, stirring rapidly to distribute flavor evenly throughout the toffee base.
- Carefully transfer the molten toffee onto the prepared baking sheet, using a spatula to create a uniform layer with smooth edges and consistent thickness.
- While the toffee remains piping hot, distribute chocolate chips across the surface, allowing them to soften naturally for 1-2 minutes from residual heat.
- Gently spread the now-melted chocolate into a seamless layer, ensuring complete and even coverage over the toffee foundation.
- Delicately sprinkle chopped nuts across the chocolate surface, using gentle pressure to encourage adherence and create a textured topping.
- Allow the toffee to cool completely at room temperature or accelerate the process by placing it in the refrigerator. Wait 1-2 hours until the confection becomes fully hardened and set.
- Once solidified, break the toffee into irregular, rustic pieces, creating an artisanal presentation ready for serving and enjoying.
Notes
- Watch the temperature carefully when cooking toffee, as even a few degrees can dramatically change the texture from soft and chewy to burnt or brittle.
- Use a high-quality candy thermometer for precise temperature tracking to guarantee perfect toffee consistency every single time.
- Consider using unsalted butter to control the salt content and achieve a more balanced flavor profile in your homemade toffee.
- Experiment with different nut varieties like almonds, pecans, or pistachios to add unique crunch and personalized taste to the classic recipe.
- For a gluten-free version, ensure all ingredients, especially chocolate chips, are certified gluten-free before preparing.
- Store toffee in an airtight container at room temperature for up to two weeks, separating layers with parchment paper to prevent sticking.
- Avoid making toffee on humid days, as moisture can affect sugar crystallization and potentially ruin the candy’s smooth texture.
- Prep Time: 5 minutes
- Cook Time: 15 minutes
- Category: Desserts, Snacks
- Method: Caramelizing
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 12
- Calories: 200
- Sugar: 20 g
- Sodium: 10 mg
- Fat: 14 g
- Saturated Fat: 8 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 6 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 24 g
- Fiber: 1 g
- Protein: 2 g
- Cholesterol: 30 mg