Old-fashioned Classic Toffee

This classic old-fashioned toffee recipe is a holiday and family favorite. It is easy to make and results in the best sweet caramel flavor that toffee is.  Covered in semi-sweet chocolate and slivered almonds throughout make for the most amazing homemade toffee recipe.  Anyone that loves Health bars or Almond Roca will love this homemade toffee recipe.

Toffee is a great make-ahead candy that is easy to make and wonderful for giving as a holiday gift.  This recipe is a no-bake dessert that stores well for a long time so you can make it even weeks before serving or wrapping it up as a gift. Simply store it in an air-tight container in your refrigerator until you are ready to enjoy it.

 

Ingredients for Old-Fashioned Classic Toffee

This recipe is a simple dessert that only needs 4 ingredients.  You will need salted butter, white sugar, semi-sweet mini chocolate chips, and almonds.  It includes nuts in this toffee recipe but you can make this with no nuts.  Now it is only 3 ingredients for the best homemade toffee.

For the nuts, I am using slivered almonds. You can also use sliced almonds (both pictured below) but other nuts work as well. For this toffee recipe, you can use almonds, peanuts, cashews, pecans, or a combination of any of these nuts and it will be very tasty.

I like to use mini semi-sweet chocolate chips for this recipe. The mini size melts quickly over the hot toffee and spreads easily. Use your favorite brand or try one of the best melting chocolates in this recipe.

English Toffee vs Regular Toffee

I am sure you have heard the term English toffee before and have wondered what is the difference between that and just regular toffee.  What makes a recipe for English toffee?  The main difference is in the type of sugar used.  English toffee traditionally uses brown sugar and other toffee recipes, such as this one, use white granulated sugar for the candy base.

Also if it is dipped in chocolate and includes nuts, it is not English toffee.  It is what is also known as buttercrunch. So you can call this recipe toffee or buttercrunch, either way, it is not a traditional English toffee but it is so good whatever you want to call it.

For more check out the History of Toffee.

How to Make Homemade Toffee

The key to making any homemade candy, like toffee, is to have an accurate candy thermometer.  You will need to make sure the candy gets to the soft crack stage so that it sets when it cooks and has a brittle crunchy texture that you can still bite through easily.

In a large saucepan, melt butter and sugar over medium-high heat. Insert a candy thermometer into the side of your pot or have it handy for checking throughout the cooking. Allow it to come to a boil and stir.

Prep the Baking Sheet with Almonds

Just after all is melted and it is just beginning to heat up, prep the baking sheet. LIne a rimmed baking sheet with foil. Spread ¾ C of the sliver almonds evenly over the foiled baking sheet. Reserve the remaining almonds and chop them into smaller pieces - this will be for the top of the toffee later.

Cook to a Soft Crack with a Rich Medium-Brown/Amber Color

Stir continuously over the next 15-20 minutes. It will darken over time and once it is a medium-brown color with hints of brown/red (amber) check the reading on your candy thermometer. You want it at the SOFT CRACK heat which is 280-285°.  It should look similar to the photo below and be bubbling continuously and has risen in the pot as it expands and thickens.

As soon as it reaches 280-285°, safely pour the toffee evenly over the almonds on the prepared baking sheet.

Melt Chocolate & Add Toppings Over the Toffee Layer

Immediately sprinkle the mini chocolate chips over the layer of hot toffee. Make sure the chips cover the entire surface. Wait about a minute as the chocolate will melt from the heat of the hot toffee. It will then be easy to spread as it melts by using a rubber spatula as shown in the photos below. Spread the chocolate evenly in a thin layer.

The miniature size of these chocolate chips makes them so easy for melting. No double-boiler or heating in the microwave is needed for this chocolate-covered toffee. Use one of the best melting chocolates so the top of your toffee is smooth, shiny, & pretty.

Immediately sprinkle the finely chopped almonds over the chocolate layer. If you are also adding sea salt flakes, now is the time to sprinkle that on the top as well.

Cool and Chop the Finished Old-fashioned Classic Toffee

The deep dark semi-sweet chocolate layer over golden brown toffee is to die for. This is one brown-colored food that is anything but bland.

Store and Gift-Giving Homemade Toffee

Store in an air-tight container in your refrigerator. Toffee is great to make ahead for all those goodie bags, cookies, and candy plates that are delivered to neighbors, friends, and family.  Do not give it all away, keep some for yourself!!! 

This can last for months if stored correctly. The chocolate may begin to get a white hue to it as it is cold in the refrigerator but it is still delicious.

Another great holiday recipe that you will want to make every Christmas is my peanut butter balls.  They are no-bake and amazing for gift-giving any time of year. You must check out the recipe for OLD-FASHIONED PEANUT BUTTER BALLS.

While chopping, a lot of tiny bits end up in the pan or on the cutting board. SAVE THEM!  We love to munch on them and especially to sprinkle them on top of ice cream sundaes just like Ben & Jerry's Heath Bar Crunch ice cream.

Product Recommendations for this Recipe:

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