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You are here: Home / Recipes and Cooking Tips / Easy Homemade Toffee

Easy Homemade Toffee

September 28, 2015 by Alea Milham 28 Comments

This post may contain affiliate links. Read our disclosure policy here.
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How to Make Traditional Toffee - Recipe, Tutorial with pictures, and tips
How to Make Traditional Toffee Recipe and Tutorial with step by step pictures
how to make homemade toffee - easy traditional toffee recipe

My family loves my Homemade Toffee recipe. In fact, they like it so much that when I make Christmas candies to share with our friends the first batch of this toffee doesn’t make it out of the house.

How to Make Homemade Toffee Recipe and Tutorial with step by step pictures
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Toffee makes a great gift. It has the wow factor because everyone thinks it is difficult to make, but it is actually easier to make than most other candies (just don’t tell my neighbors). The only special equipment that you need is a candy thermometer. You also have the option of making a frugal version, a decadent version, or something in between; matching the candy to your budget.

Easy Homemade Toffee Recipe

There is a printable version of the traditional toffee recipe near the bottom of this post.

Ingredients:

  • 1 cup butter
  • 1½ cups sugar
  • 2 tablespoons water
  • 1 tablespoon corn syrup
  • 1 cup chopped nuts (optional)
  • 2 cups semi-sweet chocolate chips, divided
  • ½ cup finely chopped nuts (optional)

Directions:

Line a 12 x 9 pan with foil. Grease the foil.
In a medium pot, melt butter over medium heat.
Stir in sugar, water, and corn syrup. Increase heat to medium-high and attach a candy thermometer to the side of the pan.
Cook the mixture without stirring until it reaches 300 degrees.

Homemade Traditional Toffee Recipe - Boil the mixture until it reaches 300 degrees.
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After it has reached 300 degrees, you could pour it into the pan, but if you like nuts keep going. Stir in 1 cup of chopped nuts. Pour the toffee mixture into the prepared pan.

Pour toffee mixture into prepared pan.
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Let cool on a wired rack for 30 – 40 minutes. (You could skip to the last step, but if you like chocolate keep going.) Melt one cup of chocolate chips in a double boiler. Spread melted chocolate over the cooled toffee.

Spread melted chocolate over the cooled toffee.
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Let cool in the refrigerator until the chocolate is firm (You could skip to the last step, but if you really like chocolate and nuts, keep going.) Remove the toffee from the pan and flip it over onto a piece of waxed paper. Remove foil.

Remove the toffee from the pan and flip it over onto a piece of waxed paper.
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Melt one cup of chocolate chips in the double boiler and spread over the toffee. Immediately top with finely chopped nuts.

Melt one cup of chocolate chips in the double boiler and spread over toffee. Immediately top with finely chopped nuts.
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Grab the ends of the wax paper and place the toffee back in the baking pan. Place the toffee back in the refrigerator and allow it to cool until the chocolate is firm. Once the toffee is completely cool, break it into 2 –3 inch pieces. Store the toffee in an airtight container, place it in a pretty tin and give it to a neighbor, or bribe tech support for faster service. 🙂

Traditional Toffee Recipe with Chocolate and Nuts
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 Printable Recipe for Toffee

Print
5 from 2 votes

Traditional Toffee

A toffee recipe with a tutorial for making toffee step by step. This easy recipe has variations that can be made with chocolate and nuts.
Course Dessert
Author Alea

Ingredients

  • 1 cup butter
  • 1 1/2 cups sugar
  • 2 tablespoons water
  • 1 tablespoon corn syrup
  • 1 cup chopped nuts I use almonds or pecans
  • 2 cups semi-sweet chocolate chips divided
  • 1/2 cup finely chopped nuts I use almonds or pecans

Instructions

  • Line a 12 x 9 pan with foil. Grease the foil.
  • In a medium pot, melt butter over a medium heat.
  • Stir in sugar, water, and corn syrup. Increase heat to medium-high and attach a candy thermometer to the side of the pan.
  • Cook mixture without stirring until it reaches 300 degrees. Once it reaches 300 degrees, remove from heat and remove candy thermometer.
  • Stir in 1 cup of chopped nuts. Pour toffee mixture into prepared pan.
  • Let cool on a wired rack for 30 – 40 minutes.
  • Melt one cup of chocolate chips in a double boiler. Spread over cooled toffee.
  • Let cool in the refrigerator until the chocolate is firm.
  • Remove the toffee from the pan and flip it over onto a piece of waxed paper. Remove foil.
  • Melt one cup of chocolate chips in the double boiler and spread over toffee. Immediately top with finely chopped nuts.
  • Grab the ends of the wax paper and place the toffee back in the baking pan. Place the toffee back in the refrigerator and allow to cool until the chocolate is firm. Once the toffee is completely cool, break it into 2 –3 inch pieces.

 

More Homemade Candy Recipes:

Pumpkin Pie Fudge

Peanut Butter Fudge

Easy Homemade Fudge

Divinity Recipe

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About Alea Milham

Alea Milham is the owner of Premeditated Leftovers and the author of Prep-Ahead Meals from Scatch. She shares her tips for saving money and time while reducing waste in her home. Her favorite hobby, gardening, is a frugal source of organic produce for her recipes. She believes it is possible to live fully and eat well while spending less.

Comments

  1. Carol says

    December 11, 2022 at 7:24 pm

    5 stars
    Here in Colorado there is a company called Enstrom’s that is famous for its toffee. I would put my toffee up against theirs any day, and my recipe is almost identical to yours. Same ingredients, just slightly different amounts. Also, Enstrom’s and I put whole and coarsely chopped almonds in the toffee, and coat both side with milk chocolate and powdered almonds. OMG, it is so good. It used to sell for $10 a pound, now I see that this year (2022) it is going for $28 a pound. I am so glad I can make my own! I suspect that your recipe tastes as good as mine and Enstrom’s. And it is one of the easiest candies I have ever made! This week I will be making two batches to give away. Thank you for sharing your recipe, I know that if people try it, they will be so glad they did, and be amazed at how easy it is to make!

    Reply
  2. Alayna @AlaynasCreations says

    October 11, 2015 at 5:41 am

    Looks fantastic! I love toffee but have yet to try making it myself. Thanks for sharing with us at the #HomeMattersParty link party.

    Reply
  3. AnnMarie says

    October 6, 2015 at 5:14 pm

    Oh my, oh my! I love toffee and have been collecting recipes for what I call Barks. Thanks for a new one!

    Reply
  4. Ann says

    September 26, 2013 at 7:51 pm

    5 stars
    I made this toffee recipe with the chocolate and nuts and everyone loved it. Thanks!

    Reply
  5. Sue says

    September 25, 2012 at 8:30 am

    We have a recipe that is similar, but I’ve never flipped it over to add the chocolate to the other side. Will be doing that this holiday season! And, I’m not sure I’m feeling generous enough to share any of the first batch! 🙂

    Reply
  6. John says

    December 5, 2011 at 6:13 am

    I’ve just tried making this to the letter twice now and both times toffee seems to burn before getting to 300 degrees. Second time I tried on very low heat in case first run was too much heat too quickly, still burnt. Are you using a cast iron pot to make this?

    Reply
    • Alea says

      December 5, 2011 at 12:03 pm

      I use a Circulon pot for all my candy making. I cook it over a medium-high flame and it takes `11 – 13 minutes to reach 300 degrees and it does not burn. Have you calibrated your candy thermometer? The only time I have had problems with candy making is when my thermometer was off.

      Reply
      • Melissa says

        December 19, 2011 at 12:13 am

        I cook mine to 260, actually, I don’t use a the thermometer…I can just eye it up. When it starts turning a pretty medium brown, before the butter sepearates from the suger it is done

        Reply
  7. Katy says

    October 22, 2011 at 1:29 pm

    Wow! I never new that is how you made toffee. I can’t wait to try it.

    Reply
  8. Sharon says

    October 19, 2011 at 9:25 pm

    OMG…I’ve been looking for just this recipe, w/ chocolate, nuts, top & bottom! Cant wait to make for Christmas gifts!!! Yay!!! Thanx SO much!!!!

    Reply
  9. Dorothy says

    October 19, 2011 at 5:40 am

    my favorite candy and everytime I’ve tried to make it at home it fails in some way. Will definitely try this one for the holidays.

    Reply
  10. Lynn says

    October 18, 2011 at 8:10 am

    I’ve never made toffee before so fingers crossed it will turn out. What a perfect reason to finally go out and buy a candy thermometer.

    Reply
  11. April says

    October 17, 2011 at 9:20 pm

    Stumbleupon recommended this page to me, and omg am I glad it did!! I’ve never made toffee, never even considered it enough to look up a recipe, but I am definitely making some soon!! Thanks for sharing!

    Reply
  12. tara says

    October 13, 2011 at 12:43 pm

    wow. this is my toffee recipe, except i have never put nuts into the toffee part. besides that, this is the exact recipe my mom got from her childhood californian babysitter as a wedding present, years ago. I’ve never seen anyone else that did it this way. it makes me smile. and now i’m so trying the nuts thing.

    Reply
    • Alea says

      October 13, 2011 at 12:48 pm

      I love when I discover a recipe from my childhood, always brings back good memories. I’m glad I was able to take you on a trip down memory lane. 🙂

      Reply
  13. Anonymous says

    January 2, 2011 at 3:59 pm

    This is such a great resource that you are providing and you give it away for free. I enjoy seeing websites that understand the value of providing a prime resource for free. I truly loved reading your post. Thanks!

    Reply
  14. Anonymous says

    December 22, 2010 at 9:04 pm

    found your site on del.icio.us today and really liked it.. i bookmarked it and will be back to check it out some more later

    Reply
  15. Anonymous says

    December 15, 2010 at 7:13 am

    Terrific work! This is the type of information that should be shared around the web. Shame on the search engines for not positioning this post higher!

    Reply
  16. Debbi Does Dinner Healthy says

    December 10, 2010 at 8:05 pm

    My mother in law makes this every year! I never have though. It looks delicious!

    Reply
  17. 21st Century Housewife© says

    December 10, 2010 at 2:25 pm

    Oh I love toffee! I always thought something that yummy would be difficult to make, but your recipe makes it sound really do-able! Thank you so much for sharing it!!

    Reply
  18. Elsa says

    December 8, 2010 at 1:44 am

    Oh my, I LOVE toffee. I must make this. I always thought it was difficult to make as well, but I have all of the ingredients below. I think I can tackle it. 🙂

    Reply
  19. Christy says

    December 7, 2010 at 11:45 pm

    Alea, I am afraid to make this. Afraid that I would eat the whole thing myself. I know I would have no sense of temperance or self control. I love toffee and the fact you flip it over for more chocolate and nuts just rocks my world! Thanks for sharing this with the Hearth and Soul Hop!

    Reply
  20. Rebecca says

    December 7, 2010 at 10:20 pm

    We're headed out the door to get a haircut. AND a candy thermometer! This I must make!

    Reply
  21. Laura says

    December 7, 2010 at 8:38 pm

    Toffee is tops on my candy list – this is a great recipe. We are making candy this year for gifts, but will keep this one "just for us" this year! Thanks!

    Reply
  22. cheryl@scrapaddict4sure says

    December 7, 2010 at 6:26 pm

    My love for Toffee is right up there with chocolate thanks for sharing this

    Reply
  23. Melinda says

    December 7, 2010 at 5:36 pm

    I love how you flip it and put MORE chocolate on! Toffee is one of my all-time favorites! 🙂

    Reply
  24. tamilyn says

    December 7, 2010 at 3:53 pm

    I love toffee almost as much as I love caramel! This looks great. I need a quick recipe for a holiday party this weekend. I am making a cake I found on "Framed" for our cousin party, but this would travel well to the Cities for a mini-reunion with some high school chums. Yea!!

    Reply
  25. Melynda says

    December 7, 2010 at 12:10 pm

    What great timing you have! Toffee makes a great gift also, especially for those that you just don't know what to get!

    Reply

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Welcome. I'm Alea!

On Premeditated Leftovers I share simple recipes made with whole foods, practical shopping tips, time saving techniques, and meal planning strategies. I also share tips for minimizing food waste, so more of the food that is purchased ends up on the table.

While volunteering as a budget counselor, I realized that food is the element of most people’s budgets where they have the greatest control. I set out to develop low-cost recipes from scratch to prove it’s possible to create delicious meals on a limited budget. Eating well while spending less is about more than just creating recipes using inexpensive ingredients; it’s about creatively combining ingredients so you don’t feel deprived and are inspired to stick to your budget.

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