• Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • Skip to footer

Let's Dish Recipes

Family friendly recipes from dinner to dessert

  • Home
  • About Me
  • Recipe Index
  • Contact
  • Kitchen Essentials
go to homepage
Homepage link
  • Home
  • About Me
  • Recipe Index
  • Contact
  • Kitchen Essentials
    • Email
    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • Pinterest
    • Twitter
  • ×
    You are here: Home / Desserts / Candy / Best Toffee Ever

    Best Toffee Ever

    October 29, 2019 by Danelle 98 Comments

    Jump to recipe

    BEST TOFFEE EVER — Old fashioned toffee topped with chocolate and chopped nuts.


    Best Toffee Ever

    This really is the Best Toffee Ever, and it’s perfect for sharing with family and friends this holiday season! I have tried many, many toffee recipes over the years.

    Quite a few of them have been complete failures (and I have a funny feeling it wasn’t the recipe).

    I have never made toffee before. I’m more a baker than candy maker so this was my very first try for toffee. It was PERFECT! Everyone raved over this deliciousness. So much so, in fact, that I have to make more. ~ Angie

    Luckily, I’ve learned a few things from my mistakes, and I’ve also found a tried and true toffee recipe, which helps make up for any “human error.”

    Here are a few of my favorite toffee making tips:

    • Use a medium to large, heavy pot. This is definitely one of those times it’s best to follow the advice of Julia Child and “always start out with a larger pot than what you think you need.”
    • Melt the butter and sugar together over low heat, whisking the WHOLE time (the constant whisking is very important). 
    • Bring your toffee to a steady, but NOT a rolling boil, at medium to medium-high heat, and continue to whisk constantly.
    • When your thermometer says 285 degrees, drop a bit of toffee into some ice water…it should be brittle. If so, it’s done!

    Best Toffee Ever

    Update: After sharing this recipe, I had several people tell me they don’t use a candy thermometer when making toffee. They just cook the caramel until it’s the color of peanut butter. 

    I tried it and it works brilliantly! I actually put a jar of peanut butter on the counter next to my pot for comparison. As soon as the toffee looks like the peanut butter, I pull it off the stove and pour it onto the baking sheet. It’s now my go-to method for perfect toffee every time!

    Just made this and it is awesome! My first try didn’t come out very good because I didn’t cook it long enough.

    I read the comments and someone said she took it off the stove when it reached the color of peanut butter. Thank you very much because the second try was perfection! ~ Wanda

    That’s it! You’re ready to make some delicious toffee. And once you’ve perfected your toffee making technique, you’ll really be able to impress your family and friends with your delicious homemade candy.

    It really is worth all that whisking and stirring!


    Be sure to save this recipe for the Best Toffee Ever to your favorite Pinterest board for later.


    Best Toffee Ever

    Just made this! IT IS WONDERFUL! You are correct, it is the best toffee ever! ~ Larisa

    This article has some great tips for candy making in general, and toffee making specifically. Remember, toffee is tricky and takes practice. I had to give it several tries myself before I got it right.

    So if it’s your first time making toffee and it doesn’t turn out the way you hoped, keep trying!


    Here’s what you’ll need to make the Best Toffee Ever


    • Butter
    • Sugar
    • Salt
    • Vanilla
    • Chocolate chips
    • Almonds
    Continue to Content
    Best Toffee Ever

    Best Toffee Ever

    Yield: 16 servings
    Prep Time: 10 minutes
    Cook Time: 15 minutes
    Total Time: 25 minutes

    Old fashioned toffee with chocolate and chopped nuts.

    Ingredients

    • 2 cups butter
    • 2 cups white sugar
    • 1/4 teaspoon salt
    • 1 teaspoon vanilla
    • 2 cups semisweet chocolate chips
    • 1 cup chopped almonds (optional but recommended, toast almonds before adding to toffee)

    Instructions

    1. Cover a large baking sheet with aluminum foil or parchment paper.
    2. In a medium to large heavy bottomed saucepan, combine the butter, sugar and salt over low heat until butter is melted, whisking constantly. Bring to a steady (not rolling) boil over medium to medium-high heat, and cook, whisking constantly, until the mixture has reached 285 to 300 degrees F (137 to 150 degrees C).
    3. Remove toffee from heat and stir in vanilla. Pour mixture onto the prepared baking sheet. (If desired, you can sprinkle some of the nuts on the baking sheet before pouring on the toffee).
    4. Sprinkle the chocolate chips over the top, and let chocolate soften for a few minutes. Spread the chocolate into a thin even layer. Sprinkle with chopped almonds.
    5. Refrigerate until set. Break into pieces, and store in an airtight container.

    Recommended Products

    As an Amazon Associate and member of other affiliate programs, I earn from qualifying purchases.

    • Saucepan with Cover
      Saucepan with Cover
    • Baking Sheets
      Baking Sheets
    • Food Thermometer
      Food Thermometer
    • Silicone Spatulas
      Silicone Spatulas
    Nutrition Information:
    Yield: 16 Serving Size: 1
    Amount Per Serving: Calories: 455Total Fat: 34gSaturated Fat: 19gTrans Fat: 1gUnsaturated Fat: 13gCholesterol: 61mgSodium: 263mgCarbohydrates: 41gFiber: 2gSugar: 37gProtein: 3g

    Did you make this recipe?

    Please leave a comment, or tag @LetsDish on Instagram.

    © Danelle
    Cuisine: English / Category: Candy

    WHAT PEOPLE ARE SAYING ABOUT THE BEST TOFFEE EVER

    I have never made toffee before. I’m more a baker than candy maker so this was my very first try for toffee. It was PERFECT! Everyone raved over this deliciousness. I used the “cook it until it is the color of peanut butter” method, which was about 5 min more than the recipe suggested. Thank you for this recipe! ~ Angie

    Made this last year and again this year. Turned out perfect both times. Everyone loved it. ~ Sandy

    I tried this recipe tonight. Very easy and came out perfect!! I worked in a small candy store when I was young and one of their signature candies was almond butter crunch! This is it! Perfect recipe and easy to make. Can’t wait to bring to my office tomorrow. I can’t leave it at home because I would eat the whole batch myself!!!!!! ~Katie

    Toffee is my absolute favorite candy! I never thought it would be so easy to make. I do not have a candy thermometer, so I literally grabbed a jar of PB and compared until I was satisfied. Thank you thank you thank you for explaining so thoroughly I got it right on the first try. ~ Excited Mama

    Never miss a Let’s Dish Recipe:

    Facebook | Pinterest | Instagram | Twitter

    If you love this recipe, you might also like:

    Continue to Content

    More Holiday Treat Recipes

    Rocky Road Candy

    Traditional rocky road candy, made with chocolate, nuts and marshmallows, gets an upgrade for the holidays with the addition of gummy candy. So easy to make, this candy will quickly become a holiday favorite!

    Cherry Pecan Sliced Shortbread

    Festive Christmas shortbread cookies with cherries and pecans. Freeze the dough until you're ready to slice and bake your holiday cookies.

    Easy Chocolate Orange Truffles

    Dark chocolate and orange oil combine in these rich decadent truffles. With only four ingredients, you won't believe how easy they are to make!

    Candy Bar Pretzel Bites

    Miniature candy bars are sandwiched between two pretzels, then popped in the oven until slightly softened. Then the little candy bar sandwiches are dipped in more chocolate for a festive touch.

    Ten Minute Microwave Caramels

    Delicious, chewy caramels made in 10 minutes or less in your microwave oven!

    3 Ingredient Mock Butterfinger Bars

    Made with Wheat Thins, peanut butter and chocolate, these tasty treats are reminiscent of Butterfinger candy bars.

    Who Dished It Up First: Adapted from allrecipes.com

    Reader Interactions

    Comments

    1. Theresa H. Roach

      December 11, 2013 at 11:12 am

      Yummy! I can’t wait to try this! Thanks for the recipe! Have a blessed day, HUGS!

      Reply
      • Danelle

        December 11, 2013 at 8:50 pm

        Thanks Theresa! Hope you love it!

        Reply
        • Larisa L Bradshaw

          December 18, 2017 at 9:31 pm

          Just made this! IT IS WONDERFUL! You are correct, it is the best toffee ever!

          Reply
      • KELLIE

        December 17, 2017 at 1:49 pm

        this was the worst candy i have ever made!!!!!! i followed the recipe exact!!! twice your review says to cook it on med high and the recipe say cook on low I followed the recipe WRONG WRONG WRONG!!!!! the sugar never cooked. 10>00 LATER I PITCHED EVERYTHING!!! PISSED OFF

        Reply
        • Larisa L Bradshaw

          December 18, 2017 at 9:35 pm

          The sugar never cooked? With the candy thermometer in the pan and the heat on….it does say to bring to a boil on medium heat, regardless on low it would cook, just takes a loooong time, on high it would come to temp faster on the thermometer….hmmmm, may want to call an appliance repair guy to fix your stove

          Reply
          • Meggan Lloyd

            January 06, 2018 at 5:15 pm

            I attempted this recipe THREE times. Every time the sugar recrystallized precisely at 225 degrees. I’ve been making toffee and peanut brittle for twenty years and I’ve never had them recrystallized. This is the absolute worst recipe.

            Reply
            • Donna Schroer

              January 07, 2018 at 12:26 pm

              The proper temp for pouring the toffee is at least 280 degrees & I keep cooking it to 300. It is brittle & doesn’t stick to your teeth. 225 degrees would be like mush! High heat, med heat, low heat shouldn’t make any difference as long as it doesn’t burn.

            • Candice Graves

              December 15, 2019 at 5:55 pm

              So what is happening is there are sugar crystals along the sides of your pot that have fallen down into the candy this causes the WHOLE mixture to recrystallize. A good way to stop this is to use a heavy pot copper is best really be neat when putting the ingredients into the pot and don’t slosh it when whisking if you see crystals along the sides you can use a tiny bit of water on a brush and melt them down. Check out a YouTube video about it for better Info.

        • Debra Seiveno

          November 27, 2019 at 1:51 am

          Same thing happened to me. I tried to make it 2 times. Each time I had to throw it away. It was a costly recipe. The butter I used was importanted from the Isle of Man. When you try some of these recipes here or else where, I suppose you take your own time and money in your own hand.

          Reply
        • Jen

          December 16, 2019 at 9:42 pm

          Yep, the same thing happened to me. This recipe has not been perfected. I suspect the positive reviews on here aren’t truly people who’ve made this. I hate wasting my time and money on Pinterest recipes that are just posted by folks for the fun of it. I think the problem with this recipe is NOT in the ingredients but in the cooking process itself.

          Reply
          • Jennifer

            December 24, 2019 at 10:43 am

            I just made this for the first time and it turned out perfectly. I followed the instructions and use the peanut butter jar as my guide as my candy thermometer is broken. This toffee is delicious!

            Reply
    2. diane streicher

      December 12, 2013 at 1:54 am

      Beautiful photo, drool-worthy recipe. I’m beside myself.

      Reply
      • Joseph

        July 01, 2020 at 12:22 pm

        I recommend melt chocolate chips in a double boiler and then pour over the toffee. Just sprinkling them over won’t be enough to melt them.

        Reply
    3. Stephanie @ PlainChicken

      December 12, 2013 at 6:40 am

      I’ve only made toffee once. It was good. I will give your recipe a try since it is the “best toffee ever”. I can’t pass that up!

      Reply
    4. danielle

      December 12, 2013 at 7:57 am

      Pinned this and definitely making it!

      Reply
    5. Hari Chandana

      December 12, 2013 at 10:01 am

      Sounds very simple.. thanks for the recipe 🙂

      Reply
    6. kelly kardos

      December 12, 2013 at 7:17 pm

      OMG_my daughter just sent me this recipe. She said the girls at work thought it was better than almond roca-I’m so making this. thank you.

      Reply
    7. Dina

      December 13, 2013 at 7:22 am

      it looks yummy!

      Reply
    8. Caroline

      December 13, 2013 at 8:17 am

      I LOVE toffee! It’s such a great gift this time of year too…looking forward to trying yours! Lovely!

      Reply
    9. Lisa

      December 13, 2013 at 2:47 pm

      I am a toffee addict – especially during the holidays and I’m super excited that I have everything needed for this recipe so I can try it tonight!

      Reply
    10. Anna

      December 17, 2013 at 2:52 pm

      Do you add almonds to the toffee mix before adding the chocolate chips? Looked like there was some mixed in in the picture.

      Reply
      • Danelle

        December 17, 2013 at 3:15 pm

        You can add some into the toffee if you like Anna (right before you pour it onto the baking sheet), which I do sometimes, or you can just sprinkle them on top. Either way is fine.

        Reply
    11. Anna Goodenough

      December 18, 2013 at 1:33 pm

      I made this the other night. It was so good! The flavor was the best toffee I’d ever had for sure! My texture was off though. I used a candy thermometer and brought it up to the right temp, but when it hardened, it was still kind of soft. It was firm enough to pick up, but it kind of melted in your mouth. It was still amazing, but definitely not toffee texture. I talked to someone else who is really good at making toffee and she said that she doesn’t even use a thermometer. She just cooks it until its the color of peanut butter (mine was lighter in color than peanut butter for sure). I will try that next time (or maybe I just need to buy a new thermometer?).

      Reply
      • Margaret

        December 19, 2013 at 4:11 am

        It is probably an altitude problem. Use the ‘thread test’ recommended above the recipe (drop a drip in ice water and see if it is the texture you want), which is more reliable. To ‘set’ your thermometer to YOUR altitude, boil water and see what temperature your thermometer reads. 212 degrees F (100 Celsius) is at sea level. Use your ‘difference’ from 212 to always adjust your cookbook recipes that much higher. However, internet recipes are at the author’s altitude, and so you should use the thermometer as a guideline … “oh, goody, can almost stop stirring” … and the test, or visual as the proof. http://www.exploratorium.edu/cooking/candy/sugar-stages.html

        Reply
        • Lisa M Steele

          December 15, 2019 at 11:20 am

          thank you! I live at 10,000 feet and am worried about this!

          Reply
      • Danelle

        December 19, 2013 at 8:16 am

        Glad you liked the flavor Anna. I’ve always thought candy making is tricky and I often have to make a recipe a few times before I get it right. I usually err on the other side and burn it though! I know there are ways to test your thermometer to make sure it’s accurate (I’m sure you could find a tutorial on Google). Altitude can also be an issue. Dropping some in ice water is also a helpful trick. I’d love to know any tips you come up with if you make it again.

        Reply
        • Sherry

          December 22, 2013 at 1:59 pm

          Mine turned out to thin and not as dark., I did use thermometer .. You called for a large baking pan think a 9x 13 would be better to make it thicker .. It did not harden as much either.,

          Reply
          • Danelle

            December 22, 2013 at 3:45 pm

            You could certainly use a 9×13 pan Sherry. Candy making can be really tricky sometimes. For me it works to take it off the heat right at 285, but you might need to go to 290. All kinds of things can make a difference, like altitude, and candy thermometers can vary too. I definitely recommend dropping some of the toffee in ice water when it reaches 285. That should give you a pretty good idea of what the final product will be like. If it’s too soft, you can always keep cooking it a little bit longer. Hope that helps. There are also some helpful comments above this in the thread too. I find I often have to make a candy recipe more than once to get it just right for my climate/altitude/thermometer, etc. Good luck!

            Reply
            • Sherry

              December 22, 2013 at 3:51 pm

              What size pan makes it the correct thickness?

            • Danelle

              December 22, 2013 at 8:24 pm

              There really isn’t a set size of pan you need to use Sherry. You can make the toffee as thick or thin as you would like. I use a large cookie sheet, just to make sure I have plenty of room, but I don’t spread the toffee all the way to the edges. I just spread it until it’s the thickness I like. If you want to spread the toffee to the edges of the pan and make a perfect rectangle, I think 9×13 would be a good size. Mine looks more like a big blob before I break it into pieces. So there really isn’t a correct thickness, just whatever your personal preference is.

      • Donna Schroer

        December 10, 2016 at 12:08 pm

        I’ve been making toffee for over 60 years, using a similar recipe but no vanilla and I spread pecans over my baking sheet & then drizzle the hot toffee over those. The thinner you can spread the toffee, the easier it is to break up & the more brittle it will be. I didn’t use a thermometer for years but watched for the color to darken & allowed about 15 minutes for cooking. If I do use a thermometer I go closer to 300 degrees & just on the verge of burning. My coated Circular pan works better than my old stainless steel as it doesn’t burn as easily. CONSTANT stirring is only necessary towards the end so it doesn’t burn. I also add chopped pecans over the chocolate after it’s spread & then frost the other side after it’s cooled with melted chocolate & the ground nuts. A baking pan would make the toffee too thick & not easy to work with. I like to use some peanuts or cashews in place of the pecans once in awhile. This is great for gift giving but just remember NOT to pour it too soon!!!! Also, too big a pan would be too hard to handle for pouring. I have always used a 3 qt size & it gets close to the top but with careful heat & stirring it works. I yours failed you are not alone. About half the people I give the recipe to get it right the first time & if it’s soft or sugary you have not cooked it long enough. Better to burn a little than pour too soon! Good Luck!!!

        Reply
        • Angela Pelletier

          December 13, 2016 at 11:05 pm

          hi, I heard someone saying to use brown sugar instead of regular sugar. Is that correct? mine didn’t get that brown color and the butter separated from the sugar, what did I do wrong?

          Reply
          • Donna Schroer

            December 14, 2016 at 10:41 am

            I’ve always used white sugar. Sometimes the butter & sugar DO separate toward the end of cooking but if you just continue to cook it wii go back together again. I’ve been using a higher heat the past few years & it hasn’t been separating. Not sure if this is why. I also use a bit more than the 2 cups of sugar & add a TLB of water to the pot. You MUST get it to the darker color & even if there is a little butter on top when you pour it, it shouldn’t make a difference. My sister blotted hers with a paper towel.

            Reply
    12. danielle

      December 24, 2013 at 7:52 am

      I made this and just posted about it. I would love for you to stop by and see. Thanks so much for sharing this awesome recipe.

      Reply
    13. Lisa

      July 07, 2014 at 12:43 pm

      I just made this using organic cane sugar and think half the butter would work if you want to sub this sugar in likely because it is more grainy? I had to pour a lot of butter off butter off and really re-work it with the cane sugar. Just an FYI for anyone looking to make it this way… That aside – I love this toffee!

      Reply
    14. Carrie Stenger

      December 07, 2014 at 11:57 am

      salted or not salted butter?

      Reply
      • Danelle

        December 07, 2014 at 6:36 pm

        I use unsalted, but you can use salted and just omit the salt from the recipe.

        Reply
      • Carol Faith

        December 23, 2017 at 9:27 am

        Mine turned out great. My biggest question is when you pour out the toffee you say to cool it for a few minutes. Does this mean to wait until the toffee sets up to be slightly sticky before you put the chocolate chips on to melt?

        Reply
        • Donna Schroer

          December 23, 2017 at 12:55 pm

          You can place the chocolate on the hot toffee right way. If you frost the other side you will of course have to melt the chocolate first & you would wait for your slab of candy to cool before turning it over for frosting.

          Reply
    15. Iyla

      December 18, 2014 at 5:44 pm

      I tried making this and the butter separated during the boiling process. I was whisking the whole time, not sure what happened. I couldn’t get it to come back together and had to toss it out. Any ideas about what could have gone wrong?

      Reply
      • Danelle

        December 18, 2014 at 6:16 pm

        Candy can be really finicky. I have had my toffee separate too, but I do have the most success with this recipe. If you were whisking the whole time, some other things that can cause toffee to separate are the quality of your saucepan–some can cause hot spots and it’s important for things to come to a boil at a steady, even rate. Along those same lines, you don’t want to heat things up too quickly. If you used medium heat, it might be helpful to try medium low next time. This article has some really good tips if you decide to try again, even some tips for saving toffee that has separated. http://candy.about.com/od/carameltoffee/f/separate_faq.htm Good luck!

        Reply
        • K Chilano

          March 18, 2015 at 7:01 pm

          I’m not going to waste any more time or ingredients on this recipe. I cooked it on medium-low setting and it was at a rolling boil while stirring constantly. Like I said, I’ve made toffee before and it was fine.

          Reply
    16. K Chilano

      March 18, 2015 at 6:59 pm

      I’ve made many different recipes for toffee before and thought I’d try this “best ever” recipe. Well, it did not work. I cooked the butter, sugar and salt exactly as specified to 285*. As soon as I removed from the heat and added the vanilla, the butter separated from the sugar and no amount of mixing made it blend together. I ended up with a full cup of melted butter after I poured it off of the toffee. Another thing. the sugar was still grainy. So I wasted a full pound of butter and 2 cups of sugar. FAILURE.

      Reply
      • M

        December 01, 2016 at 11:55 am

        Same here! What did we do wrong? What a disappointment.

        Reply
    17. Wanda Quinn

      December 20, 2015 at 10:23 am

      Just made this and it is awesome! I’m going to try it with pistachios next! My first try didn’t come put very good because I didn’t cook it long enough.I read the comments and someone said she took it off the stove when it reached the color of peanut butter.Thank you very much because the second try was perfection!

      Reply
      • Danelle

        December 01, 2016 at 1:22 pm

        Thanks Wanda! Toffee is tricky. I had to make it once or twice myself before I got it just right. I think that’s how it goes for most people….and I think the peanut butter comment was awesome. That has helped me get it just right too! And pistachios are a great idea!

        Reply
    18. OgreMkV

      December 10, 2016 at 11:58 am

      Nope. Didn’t work at all.

      I had a cup of clarified butter and a 5×6 piece of liquid sugar/butter at the end.

      Reply
    19. Ron

      December 18, 2016 at 12:02 pm

      How long can it be stored?
      I’d love to make some to give for Christmas, but want to give extra time to make sure I don’t have to make a second batch

      Reply
      • Danelle

        December 18, 2016 at 5:06 pm

        It will be good for at least a few weeks, so you are fine at this point to make it for Christmas. The biggest issue now would be eating it all before then. 🙂

        Reply
        • Donns Schroer

          December 19, 2016 at 10:09 pm

          I live in Florida where it can get humid, so I keep mine in sealed containers in the fridge. Humidity causes the toffee to get soft & sticky. Some friends have hidden theirs in the freezer, only to find it months later and it is still good. I make it all during the month of December.

          Reply
    20. Suzanne G

      December 21, 2016 at 2:51 pm

      I don’t know…I ruined 4 batches with this recipe. They all separated before goal temp. I researched toffee making, and found a number of incorrect instructions in this recipe. I used the cooking method found here, and it came out perfectly the first time, using the recipe from this site. Just had to outsource for cooking instructions. http://www.cookingforengineers.com/recipe/159/English-Toffee

      Reply
    21. Tammie

      December 21, 2016 at 8:04 pm

      I have been making candy for 50 years and this is the worst recipe ever. Inconsistent, greasy, and not right. Yuck!!

      Reply
    22. Angie

      December 22, 2016 at 7:05 am

      I have never made toffee before. I’m more a baker than candy maker so this was my very first try for toffee. It was PERFECT! Everyone raved over this deliciousness. So much so, in fact, that i have to make more. I used the “cook it until it is the color of peanut butter” method, which was about 5 min more than the recipe suggested. Thank you for this recipe! Follow the link to my pinterest page and you can see a picture! Look for the board “Things I’ve Made”
      pinterest.com/angiebaking

      Reply
      • Danelle

        December 22, 2016 at 7:09 am

        Thanks so much Angie! I’m thinking the “color of peanut butter” is great advice, especially since things like altitude and humidity can effect the cooking time. The peanut butter method seems to work every time! 🙂

        Reply
    23. Shelly

      December 23, 2016 at 7:16 am

      When it comes to making toffee, you either can or you cannot. I cannot. After a couple years go by, I try again. With this recipe, I grabbed a bigger pot than I would’ve because that’s what the recipe said. I think that was my downfall. The temperature never reached 285 and the butter eventually separated from the sugar. Down the disposal it went. The second attempt, in regular old pot, was better, reached 285, and made it to the pan. But I don’t think it’s right. Well, we’re eating it anyway. I need to stick to cookies!

      Reply
    24. Angie

      December 24, 2016 at 9:32 am

      I changed the name of the board on Pinterest. If you want to see my toffee pic, it’s now on the board “My baking obsession”

      Reply
    25. Julie

      December 04, 2017 at 4:01 pm

      Just made this. It took forever and the butter separated several times. I read on another site to add hot water and whisk until it goes back together. I had to do this twice. Finally, it was done and I forgot to the put the vanilla in!! Grrr. Anyway, its setting up in the fridge. Can’t wait to try it.

      Reply
      • Julie

        December 04, 2017 at 6:05 pm

        Update-even though it took two hours, struggled with butter separating, forgot the vanilla, the toffee tasted great. I poured it into a 1/4 sheet pan lined with parchment, smoothed it out. Then I sprinkled milk chocolate chips and let them melt and then spread them to cover toffee. Refrigerated until set. Then I cut in bite size pieces. Will definitely make notes and make again.

        Reply
        • Julie

          December 20, 2017 at 11:02 am

          I made this again and followed some tips I found on line. I also made sure I stirred and cooked on medium heat. Came out perfect! I think I was stirring too fast and scraped sides and I guess that can cause it to be grainy. I guess practice does make a difference. It only took about 30 minutes!!!

          Reply
          • Donna Schroer

            December 20, 2017 at 11:22 am

            Good for you, Julie! Yes, you are right not to scrape the sides of the pan & even though I’ve been using a coated pan the last 10 years, I still line it with the melted butter before I add the sugar. I don’t find that the cooking temp or the speed of stirring makes any difference. MOST important is to cook it long enough.
            1 cup of butter & one cup of sugar should be close to ready to pour in 15 – 20 minutes on med to high heat.

            Reply
    26. Patti

      December 05, 2017 at 9:23 am

      Made this yesterday per instructions. It did not get very hard and was super thick on the large cookie sheet. Didn’t work for me!

      Reply
    27. lovemykitchen

      December 09, 2017 at 1:16 pm

      Well ….. After 1.5 hours following the recipe to a t. This is what I have ended up with, grainy, tardy looking mess. Won’t use this recipe again.

      Reply
    28. Katie

      December 10, 2017 at 8:34 pm

      I tried this recipe tonight. Very easy and came out perfect!! I worked in a small candy store when I was young and one of their signature candies was almond butter crunch! This is it! Perfect recipe and easy to make. Can’t wait to bring to my office tomorrow. I can’t leave it at home because I would eat the whole batch myself!!!!!!

      Reply
      • Danelle

        December 11, 2017 at 10:37 am

        Thank you SO much! 🙂

        Reply
    29. Linda

      December 13, 2017 at 5:11 pm

      I always have trouble with my butter and sugar separating just about the time it reaches temperature. What am i doing wrong

      Reply
      • Danelle

        December 14, 2017 at 6:16 am

        I”m not sure, but I find if I use a whisk and whisk constantly the entire time, this doesn’t happen to me.

        Reply
    30. Donna Schroer

      December 14, 2017 at 1:00 pm

      I’ve been making toffee for over 60 years! Sometimes it separates & sometimes it does not but it always turns out just fine. I’ve used high heat & low heat, electric stove & gas. The last 10 years I’ve added 2-3 T of water to the butter & sugar, which seems to make it more brittle. Never have bothered with vanilla. I cook it to at least 300 degrees & if there is a big separation, I keep cooking & stirring & smelling to make sure it isn’t burning. The darker it gets, the better it tastes! If there is some butter floating on top I drizzle the candy over my pecans anyhow & i never see it again! Biggest reason for failure is not cooking it long enough. Never mind the separated butter. Also, use a large sheet pan because the thinner you spread the toffee, the better it is.

      Reply
      • Danelle

        December 14, 2017 at 1:22 pm

        Thanks so much Donna. Great tips!

        Reply
        • Donna Schroer

          December 23, 2017 at 12:42 pm

          I’ve also been using a bit more sugar than my original recipe. I use 2-½ cups of sugar to 2 cups of butter. This works well & gives me a little more finished candy. The recipe I started with many years ago was: 1 lb sugar, 1 lb butter, 1 lb pecans, 1lb chocolate. This amount of chocolate will frost both sides & half the pecans are ground for toping.

          Reply
    31. Connie

      December 18, 2017 at 1:34 pm

      Tried it turned out great! Just need to constantly stir it!,

      Reply
      • Danelle

        December 18, 2017 at 2:25 pm

        Thank you Connie!

        Reply
    32. Sandy

      December 21, 2017 at 1:21 pm

      Made this last year and again this year. Turned out perfect both times Everyone loved it Don’t know why it worked for me, I don’t make a lot of candy. I did turn the heat up a little when it was not changing color both times and it was great.

      Reply
    33. David Locke

      December 23, 2017 at 5:03 am

      I have tried this recipe for years and about 75% of the time it works. A cool kitchen helps. Thanks for sharing!!

      Reply
    34. Annetta

      December 23, 2017 at 12:30 pm

      I made this today, and something is not right! The toffee layer is not hardening…. this has never happened to me! It’s been in the fridge for 4 hours.

      Reply
    35. Arvemia Wilburn

      December 25, 2017 at 5:25 pm

      The first thing you do is check the humidity. Don’t try this recipe unless the humidity is low. I have been making toffee for almost fifty years at Christmas time. My recipe is slightly different and I use pecans. I also use Hersey Kisses for the chocolate.

      Reply
    36. Molly jenkins

      December 27, 2017 at 2:36 pm

      The toffee turned out great but it sticks to my teeth. Is this normal. If not what did I do wrong?

      Reply
      • OgreMkV

        December 27, 2017 at 2:58 pm

        That’s perfectly normal. This is, essentially, a hard caramel.
        Keep it in your mouth for a bit to dissolve some of the sugars, then crunch lightly. Not like chewing, but a grinding motion. I use my front teeth (which is not recommended, but oh well).

        Reply
    37. Debbie

      December 30, 2017 at 10:35 pm

      It was very easy, I made it my first time today. It turned out great but, no one liked it. My cousin spit her piece out and said it was disgusting. Everyone seems to think it was the chocolate and I used the semi sweet chocolate morsels but, the taste sure wasn’t what we were expecting. Anyone else use any other type chocolate?

      Reply
    38. Geraldine Ventura

      January 01, 2018 at 6:31 pm

      Followed recipe but turned out grainy. Sugar didn’t melt. Help!

      Reply
    39. E. Ericson

      December 01, 2018 at 8:31 pm

      This is very similar to my mother’s recipe. I noted that many people have had problem with it. My always said “you have to know the color.” and to my wife “Watch me a couple of times. It’s easy to screw up.”

      You are right. If you don’t have someone to show you, use the thermometer.

      Reply
    40. Patti in Houston

      December 05, 2018 at 11:23 am

      This is the recipe that I’ve used for years with just a couple of differences….
      My recipe calls for one cup of butter and one cup of sugar plus one tablespoon of water. The water was added a few years ago after a few failures! I did some research and if you separate it’s recommended to add a tablespoon of water and whisk, whisk to recover. I live in a very humid climate and don’t find that it makes the difference in my batch. I’m going to try this “double batch” since this the the thing everyone wants for Christmas from me I end up making 10 batches at the smaller size!

      Reply
    41. Excited Mama

      December 15, 2018 at 1:38 pm

      Toffee is my absolute favorite candy! I never thought it would be so easy to make. Since I am a comment reader, they definitely helped. I have never made homemade candy before..ever! This is so easy. Yes, it’s a lot of stirring, and consumes quite a bit of time, but so worth it! I do not have a candy thermometer, so I literally grabbed a jar of PB and compared until I was satisfied. Spooned a little and dropped in ice water, abera cadabra, it was brittle and delicious. Finishing was so easy to follow. Have it setting in the fridge now, can’t wait to try it once set. Thank you thank you thank you for explaining so thoroughly I got it right on the first try. Once finished and tried, I will be making more for friends and family for Christmas in a few short days.

      Reply
    42. Lorelei

      December 21, 2018 at 6:32 am

      Hi all
      I consider myself pretty good in the kitchen and I had absolutely no trouble with is recipe at all. I loved it and my family loved it! My only suggestion echoes one all ready made above; rather than using a squre baking dish, use a jelly roll pan lined with buttered parchment paper. This does make the pieces thinner and easier to break.
      And with respect to cooking times – my first batch took nearly 25 minutes to reach 295 degrees; while my second batch took 15 minutes.

      Reply
    43. Angela

      December 22, 2018 at 6:01 pm

      I followed the recipe and the butter seperated before 250…it did nothing after that…total flop.

      Reply
      • Heather

        December 11, 2019 at 3:24 pm

        Yup me too. What a waste.

        Reply
    44. Paige

      December 30, 2018 at 2:45 pm

      Help! I made this toffee and it turned out great! Only though, after a day or so it started getting softer and softer and now it’s just awful. What causes that?

      Reply
    45. Bobbie

      January 04, 2019 at 8:24 pm

      I have made toffee every holiday season for the past 30 plus years. I have found that stirring constantly is the secret for making good toffee—especially until the butter and sugar are completely combined. I also add slivered almonds when the candy reaches about 235°F. on a candy thermometer. The almonds get nicely toasted by the time the toffee is done. I pour the hot candy into a buttered cookie sheet that has sides and, while hot, I spread the chocolate chips over the top. Once the chocolate is melted and spread over the top, I sprinkle it with chopped slivered almonds. This makes a very good toffee and I always receive compliments when I share it with friends.

      Reply
    46. saniya malhotra

      October 30, 2019 at 12:14 pm

      I just made this using organic cane sugar and think half the butter would work if you want to sub this sugar in likely because it is more grainy? I had to pour a lot of butter off butter off and really re-work it with the cane sugar. Just an FYI for anyone looking to make it this way… That aside – I love this toffee!

      Reply
    47. Carla Beswick

      November 16, 2019 at 3:31 pm

      I have used a similar recipe for years. One of the key tricks I have learned is while you are stirring constantly, although temped DON’T scrape down the sides, it will cause the toffee to be grainy. Also use high quality butter.

      Reply
    48. Abby Buchanan

      November 26, 2019 at 2:33 pm

      This recipe is perfect! I’ve tried others but this will be my go to from now on.

      Reply
    49. Jackie

      December 15, 2019 at 11:15 am

      Way too much butter!!! Look at other receipes and don’t try this one because toffee came out all wrong.

      Reply
    50. Tanja

      December 23, 2019 at 3:27 pm

      I tried this recipe because it was supposed to be easy, and followed it exactly. I whisked until my arms were about to fall off- it never changed color!! What a total waste of butter and sugar! Now I have to throw it all away. Grrrr!

      Reply
    51. laptopshub

      January 02, 2020 at 5:46 am

      A cool kitchen helps. Thanks for sharing!!

      Reply
    52. Angela

      January 17, 2020 at 12:51 pm

      I have made this toffer SEVERAL times and each time it has been perfect. Until now!! For some reason, my butter and sugar separated. I thought I wasn’t whisking enough or my heat was too high, but when I made adjustments, the same thing happened! I’ve never had this problem. It seems to happen just before the mixture is supposed to start turning brown. I’ve never used a thermometer, not even the first time I tried this. I always use the peanut butter color method. I’m confused!

      Reply
    53. Andrea Brewer

      December 09, 2020 at 10:44 am

      I use to make this exact recipe for many years. And from the beginning used the peanut butter test and it always came out perfectly. I wanted to add a trick . Make your toffee, pour and spread in the pan and while still hot place chocolate bars of your choice on top (I use Hershey’s Special dark) it melts perfectly and then top with nuts or candies of your choosing or even do one side nuts and the other candies to give a variety gift!

      Reply
    54. Charlotte Richard

      December 13, 2020 at 11:27 am

      Fabulous!
      I tried this recipe for the first time yesterday. I made 2 batches; one with milk chocolate and the other with dark chocolate. Instead of nuts I used Maldon Sea Salt Flakes – awesome!!
      Highly recommend this recipe!

      Reply
    55. Elizabeth

      December 22, 2020 at 12:36 pm

      I have made this exact recipe for the past 3 years and it makes the BEST toffee! SO SO easy and good. I agree with the time and patience to make it come together. I do however have a question – this year when I took my Toffee out of the freezer to cut the chocolate broke off from the toffee…have you ever had this problem? Any solves? Thanks!!

      Reply
    56. Asha

      April 01, 2021 at 6:24 am

      Love your recipes, I am going to try this best toffee recipes.

      Reply

    Leave a Reply to Donna Schroer Cancel reply

    Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

    Primary Sidebar

    Uptown foodie meets real life at Let’s Dish, where I share all my favorite recipes. Making meal time easy, but doing it in style!
    READ MORE
    • Email
    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • Pinterest
    • Twitter

    SUBSCRIBE TO LET'S DISH FOR THE LATEST RECIPES

    Footer

    As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. I get commissions for purchases made through links in this post. You can read our disclosure policy here.

    • Privacy Policy & Disclosure
    • Official Giveaway & Contest Rules

    Copyright © 2021 · Foodie Pro & The Genesis Framework