Description
This Melt In Your Mouth Toffee recipe creates a rich, buttery, and perfectly crunchy treat enhanced with a smooth layer of melted chocolate and optional toppings like nuts, sea salt, or festive sprinkles. Made on the stovetop with simple ingredients, this toffee offers a classic candy-making experience that results in an irresistible holiday dessert perfect for sharing or gifting.
Ingredients
Scale
Base Toffee
- 1 pound unsalted butter (4 sticks)
- 1 cup granulated sugar
- 1 cup light brown sugar (packed)
- 1 teaspoon kosher salt (or to taste)
- 1 to 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
Topping
- 2 cups chocolate chips (semi-sweet or milk chocolate if preferred)
- 1/2 to 1+ cup chopped walnuts or pecans (optional and to taste)
- Sea salt flakes (optional for sprinkling)
- Holiday sprinkles (optional)
Instructions
- Prepare the Pan: Line a 9×13-inch baking pan with parchment paper and set aside to ensure easy removal of the toffee later.
- Set up Thermometer: Attach a clip-on candy thermometer to a heavy, high-sided saucepan for accurate temperature monitoring. If you don’t have a clip, hold or place the thermometer in the pan securely.
- Combine Ingredients and Cook: Add unsalted butter, granulated sugar, light brown sugar, and kosher salt to the saucepan. Cook over medium-low heat, stirring constantly until the mixture begins to boil. Once boiling, stop stirring to avoid graininess.
- Boil to Hard Crack Stage: Allow the mixture to boil undisturbed until it reaches 290-300°F (hard crack stage). This typically takes about 20-25 minutes over medium-low heat. Remove from heat once the temperature is reached.
- Add Vanilla Extract: Carefully stir in the vanilla extract; the mixture will bubble up, so proceed with caution.
- Pour and Cool Slightly: Pour the hot toffee mixture into the prepared pan and let it sit for about 5 minutes. Check doneness by placing a chocolate chip on the surface; if it sinks, wait a few more minutes before adding chips.
- Add Chocolate and Melt: Evenly sprinkle the chocolate chips over the toffee. Cover the pan with foil and let sit for 5 minutes. Remove foil and smooth the melted chips with a spatula or offset knife. If chips haven’t melted enough, place the pan in a preheated 300°F oven for a few minutes until spreadable.
- Add Toppings: Optionally sprinkle chopped nuts, sea salt flakes, holiday sprinkles, or other desired toppings evenly over the chocolate layer.
- Cool and Set: Allow the toffee to cool completely, then refrigerate for at least 30 minutes until fully set. Break into pieces by hand or cut with a sharp knife before serving.
Notes
- Do not stir the mixture after it starts boiling to prevent grainy or crystallized toffee.
- Using a candy thermometer is crucial to reach the correct hard crack stage temperature for perfect texture.
- Adjust salt levels to taste, especially if using salted butter instead of unsalted.
- Allow chocolate chips to melt fully before spreading; use gentle oven warming if needed.
- Store toffee in an airtight container at room temperature or refrigerated for longer freshness.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 25 minutes
- Category: Dessert
- Method: Stovetop
- Cuisine: American
Keywords: toffee, homemade toffee, chocolate toffee, holiday candy, stovetop candy, easy candy recipe, buttery toffee
