Easy Homemade English Toffee (Yes, You Can Freeze It for Holiday Gifting!)

Ingredients You Need to Make Toffee

To make homemade toffee successfully, you’ll need just a few simple ingredients and some basic tools:

• Unsalted butter: The base of all great toffee is high-quality butter. I use unsalted butter and add flakes of sea salt to the top while it cools. Alternatively, you can use salted butter and omit the salt on top.
• White sugar (or cane sugar): The sweetness and the source of your toffee’s crunch.
• Vanilla extract: Adds a depth of flavor to your toffee.
• Chocolate chips: You can choose milk chocolate, or dark chocolate, or my favorite, bittersweet chocolate for the topping. 
• Nut toppings: I like to use a combination of ground almonds and walnuts in my toffee because it reminds me of the flavor of my favorite Almond Roca candy.

Tools for Making Toffee

Toffee isn't hard to make, but it does require a few special supplies. Here's what you need:

• Candy thermometer: This is a must for checking the exact temperature of your sugar mixture. You’ll need to reach the hard crack stage (300°F/150°C) to achieve the ideal texture.
• Wooden spoon or metal spoon: Something heat-resistant for stirring your sugar mixture.
• Baking sheet lined with aluminum foil: This prevents sticking and makes cleanup easy.
•  A heavy-bottomed saucepan: for even heating and to keep the sugar mixture from scorching.
• Offset spatula: To spread your melted chocolate smoothly.

Step-by-Step Toffee-Making Process

1. Prepare Your Workspace

Before you start, make sure you have everything ready. Toffee needs constant attention, so you won’t have time to walk away to grab ingredients. Line your baking sheet with aluminum foil, have your ingredients measured, and set out your candy thermometer.

2. Chop the Nuts

Using a food processor with the blade attachment, pulse ½ cup of walnuts and ½ cup of slivered blanched almonds until they are finely minced and no big pieces remain. Set aside. 

3. Melt the Butter and Sugar

In a saucepan, combine your unsalted butter, white sugar, vanilla and salt over medium heat. Stir the mixture constantly with a wooden spoon or metal spoon to avoid burning the sugar at the bottom of the pan. This step is crucial—never walk away! Keep stirring the entire time to prevent sticking.

4. Use Your Candy Thermometer

Once your sugar and butter mixture starts to bubble, it’s time to get precise. Clip your candy thermometer to the side of the pan,making sure the bulb is in the liquid but not touching the bottom. You want the mixture to reach the hard crack stage (300°F/150°C). At this temperature, the toffee will have a crisp, crunchy texture when cooled. It will look like the color of almonds when it's done. 

5. Pour and Spread

As soon as your mixture hits the desired temperature, pour it onto your prepared baking sheet. Spread it quickly with a metal spoon or an offset spatula to your desired thickness. Work fast, as toffee hardens quickly!

6. Add the Chocolate Layer

While the toffee is set but still hot, sprinkle chocolate chips over the surface. Let them sit for a minute to melt, then use your offset spatula to spread the melted chocolate evenly. Sprinkle the top with a little sea salt and the ground nut mixture. This creates the most delicious topping for your toffee. 

7. Cool and Break

Allow the toffee to cool completely, either at room temperature or in the fridge for a quicker process. Once cooled, break the toffee into pieces with your hands or a knife.

English Toffee

This rich, buttery English toffee is topped with melted milk chocolate and a sprinkle of ground almonds and walnuts. It's the perfect giftable holiday treat.

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Equipment

• 10 x 10-inch foil-lined baking sheet
• Heavy saucepan
• Wooden spoon
• Candy thermometer (optional)

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Ingredients

• ▢ 1 cup unsalted butter
• ▢ 1 cup granulated sugar
• ▢ ¼ teaspoon salt
• ▢ ½ teaspoon vanilla extract
• ▢ 12 ounces milk chocolate chips melted
• ▢ ½ cup whole raw unblanched almonds
• ▢ ½ cup finely ground walnuts

Instructions

Prepare the Nuts:

• Using a food processor with the blade attachment, pulse ½ cup of walnuts and ½ cup of slivered blanched almonds until they are finely minced and no big pieces remain. Set aside.

Cook the Toffee:

• In a heavy saucepan, combine the butter, sugar, salt, and vanilla extract. Cook over medium-high heat, stirring constantly with a wooden spoon until the butter melts completely. Bring the mixture to a rolling boil.

Boil the Mixture:

• Continue boiling and stirring constantly for an additional 5-7 minutes, or until the mixture reaches the color of almonds (around 300°F on a candy thermometer).

Pour the Toffee:

• Immediately pour the hot toffee mixture into the prepared baking sheet. Let it cool completely for about 20 minutes before topping with chocolate.The warmth of the toffee will melt the chocolate pieces. Spread the melted chocolate chips evenly over the top. While the chocolate is still soft, sprinkle the finely ground almonds and walnuts generously over the chocolate.

Let it Set:

• Allow the chocolate to fully set before cutting the toffee into pieces

Notes

Storage: Store the toffee in an airtight container at room temperature.
Shelf Life: Store at room temperature for up to 2 weeks, or in the freezer for up to 3 months.

How to Keep Your Toffee Fresh

Once you’ve made a good batch of toffee, you’ll want to store it properly to keep that buttery goodness as fresh as possible. Here’s how to do it:

Room Temperature Storage

Toffee can be stored at room temperature for a long time if kept in an airtight container. This prevents moisture from making the toffee sticky. Place it in a cool, dry place away from direct sunlight. Toffee stored this way can last a couple of weeks.

Can Your Freeze Toffee?

You might be wondering if you can freeze toffee, The good news is, yes, you can! While toffee does have a long shelf life at room temperature, freezing it helps it stay just as fresh and delicious as the day you made it—especially if you’re prepping ahead for the holidays. Freezing is a great option for long-term storage or if you’re dealing with warmer weather that could affect the texture.

I recommend freezing toffee in giftable bags. These are my favorite bags because they freeze beautifully and are ready for gifting once defrosted. For best results, I double bag the toffee inside a freezer-safe zip-top bag to keep moisture out.

Here’s how to freeze it step by step:

1. Place the toffee pieces in a giftable bag, then double bag it inside a freezer-safe zip-top bag.
2. Remove any excess air from the bag to prevent freezer burn.
3. Label the container with the date and store it in the freezer.

Frozen toffee can last up to three months. When you’re ready to enjoy it, just let it come to room temperature before serving, and it’ll still have that perfect, crunchy texture.

Toffee’s Shelf Life: How Long Does It Last?

Toffee stored properly can last a long time. If kept in an airtight container at room temperature, it should last for about two weeks. In the freezer, it can last up to three months without losing its delicious toffee flavor or texture.

Can You Freeze Toffee for Later?