Butter Toffee Recipe - The Carefree Kitchen (2024)

By Jill Baird · Published November 9, 2023 · Updated December 8, 2023 · 2 Comments

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This classic Butter Toffee recipe combines sweet, crunchy buttery toffee with a thick layer of milk chocolate, topped off with toasted almonds. It’s an unbelievably simple recipe that will have you making this delicious old-fashioned candy in no time.

Butter Toffee Recipe - The Carefree Kitchen (1)
Jump to:
  • The Best Butter Toffee Recipe
  • Butter Toffee Ingredients
  • How to Make This Recipe for Butter Toffee
  • Butter Toffee Tips and Tricks
  • Recipe Variations for Butter Toffee
  • Frequently Asked Questions
  • Storing and Freezing Toffee
  • Best Butter Toffee Recipe
  • More Simple Christmas Candy Recipes

The Best Butter Toffee Recipe

Our Buttery Toffee Recipe will remind you of the stuff your grandma used to make. It’s a classic version of this favorite homemade Christmas candy treat that is surprisingly simple to make. All you need are a few ingredients, a candy thermometer, and these step-by-step instructions.

If you are someone who likes to gift homemade treats around the holidays, tuck a few pieces of toffee candy inside a cute little tin for the perfect present to give to neighbors, teachers, family or friends.

Also, even though it’s technically a candy, Butter Toffee makes a great addition to cookie plates or cookie exchanges. This recipe can be easily doubled, so feel free to go nuts (pun intended)!

Butter Toffee Recipe - The Carefree Kitchen (2)

Butter Toffee Ingredients

  • Almonds - these should be lightly toasted and chopped. You can substitute chopped pecans or walnuts if you like.
  • Butter - either salted or unsalted butter would taste great.
  • Sugar - use regular white granulated sugar.
  • Water
  • Corn Syrup - this helps make sure that your toffee doesn’t crystallize.
  • Vanilla Extract - pure vanilla extract tastes best.
  • Chocolate Chips - we like to use milk chocolate, but both dark chocolate and semi sweet would also taste good.

How to Make This Recipe for Butter Toffee

  1. Toast nuts. To toast nuts, spread them evenly in a baking pan and bake for about 10 minutes, stirring halfway through the cooking time. Once they are fragrant and golden brown, remove from the oven, let the nuts cool and then coarsely chop. Set aside.
  2. Make toffee. Meanwhile, in a heavy saucepan over medium high heat, melt butter and add the sugar, water and corn syrup. Bring the mixture to a boil, stirring constantly. Continue to stir and cook sugar mixture until it reaches 300 degrees F on a candy thermometer (hard crack stage). Once the candy mixture reaches 300 degrees F, take it off the heat, add vanilla and mix, then quickly pour into the prepared pan. Use a spatula or wooden spoon to spread the toffee mixture to an even thickness.
  3. Add chocolate layer. Let the toffee cool for 1-2 minutes, then sprinkle the chocolate chips on top, letting the hot toffee melt the chocolate.
  4. Finish with toasted nuts. Spread the melted chocolate evenly all over the toffee, then quickly top with the toasted chopped almonds. Let cool until solid, then put it in the fridge to continue to cool for about 20 minutes.
  5. Serve. Once set, remove from the fridge and slip a butter knife under the toffee to release it from the pan. Break the toffee apart into serving size pieces. Serve immediately or store in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to one week. Enjoy!
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Butter Toffee Tips and Tricks

  • Make sure that you cook your toffee to the correct temperature. Not only should you use a candy thermometer, but you should also make sure it works properly (it should read 212 degrees F in boiling water)! This is probably the biggest reason that your toffee wouldn’t come out right.
  • Be sure and exercise patience and don’t break your toffee up too soon.
  • If you don’t want to put your toffee in the fridge, you can also let it set up at room temperature overnight. By the next day it should be completely solid.
  • Use a heavy-bottomed pot to avoid burning your toffee.
Butter Toffee Recipe - The Carefree Kitchen (4)

Recipe Variations for Butter Toffee

If you are looking for ideas for flavor variations, here are a few easy ones:

  • Pecan Praline Toffee: Incorporate chopped pecans into the toffee for a Southern-inspired praline flavor.
  • Salted Chocolate Toffee: Sprinkle sea salt over the chocolate coating for a sweet and salty combination. You can also use dark chocolate for a richer flavor.
  • Coffee-Infused Toffee: Add instant coffee or espresso powder to the toffee mixture for a subtle coffee flavor.
  • Coconut Macadamia Toffee: Mix shredded coconut and chopped macadamia nuts into the toffee for a tropical and nutty variation.
  • Rosemary Sea Salt Toffee: Infuse the toffee with finely chopped fresh rosemary and sprinkle with coarse sea salt for a unique and savory-sweet twist.
  • Citrus Zest Toffee: Add finely grated orange or lemon zest to the toffee for a citrusy kick. Consider dipping the toffee in dark chocolate for a luxurious touch.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the best chocolate to use for toffee?

You can use regular chocolate chips from the grocery store, but if you are looking for an upgrade, you can use chocolate bars or a high-quality chocolate chip. Guittard milk chocolate chips taste great.

What is the difference between English Toffee and regular toffee?

English Toffee and regular butter toffee are essentially the same thing, however an English Toffee recipe is typically nut-free while American toffee often has almonds or other nuts.

Storing and Freezing Toffee

  • Refrigerator: you can keep your toffee stored in an airtight container in the fridge for up to one week.
  • Room Temperature: you can also store toffee in an airtight container at room temperature for up to a week as long as the room is relatively cool.
  • Freezer: yes, you can freeze Buttery English Toffee! Be sure and wrap extremely well so that no moisture can seep in and store for up to 2 months.

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Print

Best Butter Toffee Recipe

This classic Buttery Toffee recipe combines sweet, crunchy buttery toffee with a thick layer of milk chocolate, topped off with toasted almonds. It’s an unbelievably simple recipe that will have you making this delicious old-fashioned candy in no time.

Course Dessert

Cuisine English

Prep Time 10 minutes minutes

Cook Time 20 minutes minutes

Total Time 30 minutes minutes

Servings 12 people

Calories 280kcal

Author The Carefree Kitchen

Ingredients

  • 1 cup Almonds toasted and chopped
  • 1 cup Butter
  • 1 cup Sugar
  • 2 Tablespoons Water
  • 2 Tablespoons Corn Syrup
  • 1 tsp Vanilla Extract
  • 1 12-oz bag Milk Chocolate Chips

Instructions

  • Preheat oven to 325 degrees and butter a 9" x 13" baking dish.

  • To toast nuts, spread them evenly in a baking dish and baking for about 10 minutes, stirring halfway through the cooking time. Once they are fragrant and golden brown, remove from the oven, let the nuts cool and then coarsely chop. Set aside.

  • Meanwhile, in a heavy saucepan over medium high heat, combine the butter, sugar, water and corn syrup. Bring the mixture to a boil, stirring constantly. Continue to stir and cook sugar mixture until it reaches 300 degrees F on a candy thermometer.

  • Once the candy mixture reaches 300 degrees F, take it off the heat, add vanilla and mix, then pour into the prepared buttered baking dish. Use a spatula or wooden spoon to spread the toffee mixture to an even thickness.

  • Let the toffee cool for 1-2 minutes, then sprinkle the chocolate chips on top, letting the hot toffee melt the chocolate.

  • Spread the melted chocolate evenly all over the toffee, then top with the toasted chopped almonds. Let cool until solid, then put it in the fridge to continue to cool for about 20 minutes.

  • Slip a butter knife under the toffee mixture and then break the toffee apart, into serving size.

  • Once set, remove from the fridge and slip a butter knife under the toffee to release it from the pan. Break the toffee apart into servings sizes.

  • Serve immediately or store in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to one week. Enjoy!

Nutrition

Calories: 280kcal | Carbohydrates: 22g | Protein: 3g | Fat: 21g | Saturated Fat: 10g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 2g | Monounsaturated Fat: 8g | Trans Fat: 1g | Cholesterol: 41mg | Sodium: 138mg | Potassium: 89mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 20g | Vitamin A: 473IU | Calcium: 37mg | Iron: 1mg

More Simple Christmas Candy Recipes

  • Saltine Cracker Toffee
  • Nilla Wafer Caramel Candy
  • White Chocolate Cinnamon Bear Marshmallow Popcorn
  • Nutella Balls
  • Homemade Caramel
  • Coconut Caramel Popcorn
  • Chocolate Covered Strawberries
  • Unicorn Hot Chocolate Bombs
  • Mint Chocolate Dipped Oreos
  • Peanut Butter Bars
  • Peanut Butter Bars
  • Nutella Ball Candy
  • More Candy Recipes

This Old Fashioned Toffee Recipe is a classic version of the homemade Christmas candy treat that is surprisingly simple to make. All you need are a few ingredients, a candy thermometer and these step-by-step instructions.

« Candy Cane Chocolate Chip Cookies

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Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. Virginia

    I took the candy to a party this over the weekend, and at least five people asked me for the recipe! Huge hit!

    Reply

    • Jill Baird

      It's a hit every time! So glad you loved it too.

      Reply

Leave a Reply

Butter Toffee Recipe - The Carefree Kitchen (2024)

FAQs

What's the difference between toffee and butter toffee? ›

The English toffee eaten with regularity in America is also called buttercrunch. What's the difference? Primarily, the difference rests in the ingredients. Toffee in Britain is made with brown sugar, whereas buttercrunch is made with white granulated sugar.

Why is my butter separating when making toffee? ›

If the butterfat separates out then usually this is due to the mixture being either heated or cooled too quickly, which "shocks" the mixture and causes the fat to separate out. It can also be caused by the mixture being heated unevenly (if the pan has a thin base and has hot spots).

Why is my toffee chewy and not crunchy? ›

Don't hurry this gradual transformation; syrup that doesn't reach 300°F, or close to it, will make candy with timid flavor and chewy (not crunchy) texture. Think you can save time by bringing the syrup to a full rolling, popping boil in order for it to darken more quickly? Think again.

Why is my butter toffee grainy? ›

Separating (and/or crystallizing where the toffee turns sugary and grainy) can happen with sudden drops or spikes in the temperature or with constant, vigorous stirring.

Is butterscotch the same as butter toffee? ›

Toffee vs Butterscotch

While butterscotch is cooked to a soft-crack stage, toffee is produced by allowing that same butter and brown sugar mixture to reach the hard-crack stage. Butterscotch tends to be chewy and pliable; toffee is brittle and more breakable.

What's the difference between butterscotch and butter toffee? ›

Yes, butterscotch and toffee are made up of the exact same ingredients: Butter and sugar. However, butter toffee contains the addition of cream (Yes, this is confusing). The only remarkable difference between butterscotch and toffee is their texture and sugar content.

Should you stir toffee or not stir? ›

If you don't stir the toffee often as it's cooking, the toffee can separate. Once the toffee reaches 250 F degrees, stir the toffee frequently to make sure the ingredients stay together. The toffee can also separate if the temperature is too high and it gets too hot too fast. So keep the temperature around medium heat.

Should butter toffee be refrigerated? ›

We recommend serving the toffee at room temperature, although many of our customers tell us they love it cold. Conservatively, our toffee will keep well in the refrigerator for three weeks (take care to guard against moisture getting to it), and three months in the freezer.

How to know when toffee is done? ›

Once boiling, cook, stirring only 2 to 3 times, until it turns a dark amber color and the temperature reaches 285 degrees F (137 degrees C) on a candy thermometer, 20 to 30 minutes. Immediately pour toffee into the prepared baking dish.

What kind of pan is best for making toffee? ›

This should NOT be a non-stick pan, because non-stick pans allow crystals to be pulled into the cooking toffee and will cause the batch to crystallize. The heavy pan distributes heavy evenly so the toffee cooks without burning.

What happens when you add baking soda to toffee? ›

The soda reacts with the acid to make bubbles, and the syrup foams. When the cooked syrup is poured out and begins to harden, many of the tiny bubbles are trapped before they can escape (another reason the baking soda is added at the end).

Is light or dark brown sugar better for toffee? ›

Taste is obvious: sweets made with dark brown sugar will have a slightly deeper flavor with those notes of caramel and toffee I mentioned.

How to keep butter and sugar from separating when making toffee? ›

How to prevent toffee from separating
  1. Don't change the heat suddenly, hot or cold. Try to keep the temperature even during the whole cooking process.
  2. Make sure to follow the instructions and stir as often as indicated to keep the mixture together.
  3. Try to use a heavy bottomed pan that will distribute the heat evenly.
Jan 17, 2017

What temperature should toffee be cooked at? ›

Toffee (as opposed to butterscotch) should reach about 285°F. This ended up being the perfect temperature for the toffee to harden after being poured onto the baking sheet.

Is butter toffee the same as caramel? ›

The difference between caramel and toffee is greater, as caramel has a more liquid consistency and is usually pure sugar (it doesn't contain butter or flour). Still, the taste of caramel, fudge, and toffee is relatively similar, as they are all made from mostly sugar (as well as butter in the case of fudge and toffee).

What is butter toffee made of? ›

The ingredients that make up butter toffee include unsalted butter, granulated sugar, light corn syrup, water, vanilla, almonds, and dark chocolate. You can choose a different type of chocolate, but when I was working on this recipe, I found semi-sweet chocolate too sweet.

What is the meaning of butter toffee? ›

a brittle or chewy brown candy made of sugar or molasses boiled down with butter, often mixed with nuts.

What flavor is butter toffee? ›

The toffee has a rich, creamy, buttery flavor that combines well with the crunch of the almonds. The chocolate on top is the perfect balance to the decadent toffee.

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