Easy, Easy English Toffee

"A friend at work passed this on to me. It is so easy that she proceeded to just "tell" me the recipe. I am one of those people that like to have it written down...she was kind enough to email it to me. As she was telling me how to make it, she said that you needed a jar of peanut butter. At first, I didn't understand why but after making it the first time, I found it is the most important part of making this toffee a success every time!!! ***IMPORATANT*** You turn the jar upside down and use the color of the peanut butter as a GUIDE as to what color the mixture should be when you pull it off the heat. The mixture will darken a bit after you take it off the heat so this little trick will help you NOT to burn the toffee. For preparation time, I put approx. 10 minutes active cooking (stirring) time and 1 hour for cooling/enrobbing in chocolate/refrigeration time."
 
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photo by Fireflylover photo by Fireflylover
photo by Fireflylover
photo by Tynk63 photo by Tynk63
Ready In:
1hr 10mins
Ingredients:
6
Serves:
24
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ingredients

  • 1 cup sugar
  • 1 cup salted butter
  • 2 tablespoons water
  • 34 cup slivered almonds
  • 8 ounces semi-sweet chocolate chips (equates to a little over 1/2 of a 12 oz. bag)
  • 34 cup sliced almonds
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directions

  • In a large skillet, melt SALTED butter on medium heat. Do not burn butter. It needs to stay yellow. (NOTE: I had many batches fail and separate until I figured out, upon investigation, that you MUST use SALTED butter. I think it has to do with a chemical reaction.).
  • **Tip** Bring out a jar of peanut butter and turn it upside down near the skillet to use ONLY as a color guide to know when the mixture is done.
  • Add sugar and stir until incorporated (sugar does not need to be "melted" into the butter, just no longer dry) Edited to add on 12/25/16, the temperature MUST STAY CONSTANT or the butter and sugar MAY separate during the final stages. Too high and your butter will burn, too low and you'll be stirring forever!
  • **At no time can you walk away at this point, you must keep stirring so that the butter will not burn. It's very crucial.
  • Add water, pouring it all over the pan. The butter/sugar will get bubbly and frothy -- keep constantly stirring -- stirring low and slow -- I use a rubber spatula. As you stir, angle your spatula down as low (level to the pan) as you can to have few air bubbles.
  • I timed it, as you are stirring the yellow, sugary, melted, bubbly butter, at the 4 minute mark add the slivered almonds. Keep stirring.
  • Stir continuously and slowly in a small circular motion bringing the outside mixture edges to the center as the sides will tend to cook faster than the middle. It will slowly begin to caramelize and toast up -- about 6 minutes more.
  • Cook this mixture until it is the color of the inverted peanut butter jar.
  • **Important** It will brown fast in the end, so don't let it get too dark or let the almonds get really burned).
  • Pour into a 9 X 13 pan. (you could use disposable aluminum pans also). with your rubber spatula, spread the mixture quickly to the edges before it starts to harden on you.
  • Let cool completely, remove from pan and pat off any extra butter from both sides with paper towels.
  • Place on wax or parchment paper.
  • Topping:

  • Microwave chocolate for 1 minute on high. (be mindful that every microwave is different and you must watch your chocolate closely so that it won't overcook). If a few seconds more are needed to melt completely, do so in small increments. You can also use a double boiler to melt chocolate -- I do prefer to do it this way.
  • Coat toffee with chocolate (like frosting) and top with slivered almonds. I only cover one side but you can do both if desired.
  • Lightly press down almonds to make sure they stick to the chocolate.
  • Cool on the counter for at least 30 minutes, then put the pan into the refrigerator for 2 hours (You can stack multiple batches on top of each other as long as the chocolate is pretty solid).
  • Break into pieces after it has hardened and store in a covered container.
  • Variations: Use different kinds of chips. (mint, white, dark, milk chocolate).

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Reviews

  1. This really was sooooo easy and yummy! I loved the peanut butter jar trick - I don't have a candy thermometer and this worked great! Made for PAC Fall 2012
     
  2. This was so easy!! I just followed her directions and its amazing! Husband cant stop eating it. I have a coworker who makes this every Christmas and sells it but instead of buying it this year I decided to try to make it myself! OMG..delicious!! Enjoy and Merry Christmas :)
     
  3. This recipe was so easy to make. I made a few changes -- instead of using chocolate baking chips, I used Wiltons candy melts. These are the ones you use for making candy that hardens after you spread it over the toffee. I also added 1 tsp of vanilla. I was so happy with the results, I uploaded a photo :)
     
  4. @Chef#1803506028 re: layers separating. When I make English Toffee I put the chocolate chips directly on the mixture after it has sat for just a few minutes. The warmness of the toffee melts the chips and then I spread it. I've never had a problem w/separation. Also, I pour the toffee onto chopped nuts and leave the top nut free. That doesn't have anything to do w/separation, just a little added info. This recipe was great for when you don't have a thermometer. English Toffee really doesn't take long even w/a thermometer recipe but the peanut butter trick is invaluable info as it never fails that I either lose my thermometer (don't ask) or I break the glass ones! This is one of the best homemade candies and the perfect gift!
     
  5. This tasted great but the chocolate layer and the bottom layer separated when I broke into pieces! Help! this is so much easier then the old fashioned way of stirring forever and using a candy thermometer. I followed the directions of cooling for 30 min then in the fridge for a few hours before breaking into pieces. Any suggestions?
     
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Tweaks

  1. This recipe was so easy to make. I made a few changes -- instead of using chocolate baking chips, I used Wiltons candy melts. These are the ones you use for making candy that hardens after you spread it over the toffee. I also added 1 tsp of vanilla. I was so happy with the results, I uploaded a photo :)
     

RECIPE SUBMITTED BY

I live and work in So. Cal. I'm so happy that I found The 'Zaar community because it has done nothing but improve the way I cook and entertain. Thank you everyone!!!! Passions: cooking and trying new recipes, planning vacations....if I ever take one, Karaoke, teaching, reading, collecting recipes on the 'Zaar. My little motto...... "Life is not a journey to the grave with the intention of arriving safely in a pretty and well preserved body, but rather to skid in broadside, thoroughly used up, totally worn out and loudly proclaiming.....WOW, What A Ride!!!!"
 
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