Table of Contents
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In the world of candy making, toffee is the pinnacle. And English toffee is rich and buttery, has a good crispy snap, and yet is somehow easy to eat. The defining factor of English toffee is the thick layer of chocolate slathered on top with a generous dusting of toasted nuts. Hungry yet?
At its base, toffee is just a mixture of butter and sugar. And even though it seems like a simple ingredient, the amount of butter makes a huge difference and is what distinguishes a toffee from a brittle. There is more butter in toffee, which is what gives it its more pliable texture when compared to brittle.
The mixture is slowly cooked together until a hard crack temperature is reached, at 290°F. The ingredients are simple but the results can vary, depending on the execution.
Over the years, I’ve had lots of problems with toffee. The process is easy – how hard could a combination of butter and sugar that’s heated to a hard crack stage really be? But on the way to this temperature, I’ve often had the mixture separate. Soon after the butter and sugar would start to boil, the butter would separate from the sugar and the result would be an oily mess. No thank you!
For years this perplexed me! Sometimes it would work and other times it wouldn’t. After trial and error, I’ve discovered there are a few things that lead to toffee failure:
- One of the major culprits can be abrupt temperature changes. A constant, even heating environment leads to the best results.
- The use of a thin saucepan as opposed to a heavy-bottom variety. Thin pans do not heat evenly and do not cook the toffee well. I know it can seem trivial to read a recipe that urges the use of a heavy-bottom saucepan, but in the case of toffee, it’s very important.
After years of trying different tricks, the best thing I’ve learned is to add corn syrup. A little corn syrup doesn’t add moisture but does help stabilize the mixture. It helps the mixture heat up evenly and cook properly. Now, every time I make English toffee, it comes out perfect as long as I follow these three steps:
- use a heavy bottom saucepan
- heat it up slowly
- add a little corn syrup
Watch how to make this English toffee:
English Toffee
Ingredients
- 1 cup salted butter
- 1 cup granulated sugar
- 2 tbsp light corn syrup
- 6 oz dark chocolate chips
- 1 cup chopped toasted pecans
- 1 tsp vanilla extract
Instructions
- Butter a 9×13 baking sheet pan. Set aside.
- Have an instant-read thermometer ready or fit saucepan with a candy thermometer.
- In a heavy-bottom four-quart saucepan, combine butter, sugar, and corn syrup. Over low heat, bring to a boil, stirring slowly. Continue to boil until the mixture reaches 290°F, 15-20 minutes. It will be a light amber color and smell like caramel and butterscotch.1 cup salted butter, 1 cup granulated sugar, 2 tbsp light corn syrup
- Remove from heat, add in the vanilla, and pour into the prepared baking sheet pan. Let cool for one minute and sprinkle with ¼ cup chopped nuts over the entire mixture. Sprinkle with chocolate chips. Let sit until melted, about two minutes. Spread the chocolate evenly with an offset spatula. Sprinkle with remaining chopped nuts. Let cool completely, about four hours.1 cup chopped toasted pecans, 1 tsp vanilla extract, 6 oz dark chocolate chips
- Once cooled completely, break into desired pieces. Store in an airtight container in a cool place for up to one month. If in a warm climate, store in the refrigerator.
What brand name is your baking pan. I’ve made this for years…..never knew about the corn syrup!!
Thank you for that😍
Love all your recipes. Will be making this today and doubling it. Great idea about adding finely chopped pecans before the chocolate, I have never done that before. Merry Christmas to you and yours!
Thank you for the toffee recipe hope you have a great holiday loved the rolls you did with your mom that was very special I do not have mine any more she has passed and that brought back memories and remember moms are always right
Going to try this. I have not had much luck w/
English Toffee before but maybe the Corn Syrup is the trick.
I enjoy your videos and love your Farmhouse.
Will be making this for Christmas!! Looks real easy and good! Like your recipes. First time watching you and I like you. Keep putting recipe on face book. Thank you!!
Love toffee! 💗 Will be making this for Christmas to share along with homemade nut roll, spritz cookies and snowballs.
Love your recipes! Love your presentations. You’re helping me get through this strange times. Thanks!
I can’t wait to try…thank you. Merriest of Christmas!
I watched your video which was very good. The toffee looks yummy! The only question I have is the instructions say unsalted butter but you say in the video to use salted butter so which one is it?
Your show is educational and I can’t wait to make the recipes. You make it look so easy and delicious!
Thank you for sharing Your how to make toffee. I am slow to decorating for Christmas but I will plan on making toffee soon. Btw: love your farmhouse🌲Kathleen
This is the first time my toffee has not separated! Thanks very much
Hello. In your video you say to use dark chocolate chips, but in the written recipe , it says to use semi sweet. Could you please clarify and also if you could recommend if possible the brand you prefer I would really appreciate it.
Hello. In your video you say you use salted butter, but in the written recipe it says to use unsalted butter. Can you please clarify which to use? Thank you.
Sorry about the typo, the recipe is updated correctly! I write recipes that can be used for both salted or unsalted butter. If you chose to use unsalted then add salt to the recipe if you use salted omit any salt!
I’m making this today. It looks so easy and will make a great Christmas treat for friends! I absolutely love your videos and the way you present them. Love your farm, too. You have simplified life’s pleasures at a time when things are so crazy. Your recipes are wonderful and so are all of the other things you show us how to do – think Christmas wreath! You are my “go to” web site now, and I’m telling everyone I know about you. Move over Martha Stewart! You have competition!
Well thank you for making my day!! So glad you enjoy and are sharing me around! Merry Christmas!
I made this the other day…I’ve tried making it before and it was a disaster, but this was so easy. I purchased an instant read thermometer—-don’t know how I’ve managed so long without one. Delicious!!!
I really want to make this delicious looking toffee this weekend. However, my children are both allergic to nuts. I was thinking perhaps I could substitute pretzels? In that case I would use unsalted butter. What do you think?
Just made this toffee today! It’s still cooling so I haven’t tried it yet, but I cannot wait to try it! Thank you! I love your videos. Merry Christmas!🎄🎄🎄
I must say for first try at making homemade candy it came out pretty good. Very easy recipe all went just has your video lesson showed, my only problem was getting temp up to 290 it took longer then 20mins so not sure what I did wrong. I will definitely make again practice makes perfect. Really enjoying your recipes you make sure to explain clearly and all the extra tips make for successful results! Thank you for all you do I’m a big fan, watched your Rachel Ray demonstration, you are a natural! Keep up all you do I expect to see you with a cookbook and your own spot on food network someday ❤️
I’ve tried making toffee this Xmas and this will be my 5th attempt but this time using this recipe. Each time it’s gotten better but I seem to have the same problem that you have with it taking more than 20 min for it to reach 290 degrees. It will stay at 250 for awhile so I raise the heat thinking that’s what I’m supposed to do to do to get it to 290 because if I don’t it will take longer and I’m worried the toffee will be too hard
What brand of corn syrup do you use? I can only find high fructose corn syrup.
Where can I get an instant read thermometer like the one you use. Can’t wait to try this candy recipe. Love your videos.
I tried this recipe after seeing your video. It was great and I will be using this again. Thank you!
I just made this and had some difficulty but it still turned out great. The butter separated from the sugar before it came to a boil and it took almost 2 hours for it reached 290 degrees. I was able to mix the butter into sugar to save the recipe. For future attempts, how often should this be stirred? Should it be stirred continuously until butter/sugar/corn syrup are thoroughly combined? Should it be stirred periodically until it reaches the desired temperature? Any hints you have are greatly appreciated! I enjoy your videos and your spirit!
Perfectly easy and perfectly delicious!
I just tried this recipe and it turned out FABULOUS!! Thank you!
I made your English Toffee today after watching the video a few times and I must say that my husband and I think this is the best toffee ever. Going to do the peanut brittle tomorrow and then the sponges, That one is my favorite, Thank you for the reicpes
I love your recipes!!!
In your recipe details it says 290 but above that in your story it says 310. I followed the instructions for 2 batches at 290
Both batches are soft 😩
I too found 290 is not the right temp. It should be 300 to 310. Or better yet drop a little in cold water to do the hard crack test.
This recipe was FABULOUS! I couldn’t stop eating it. I had to because I didn’t want to break a tooth! Love your videos! You always make me laugh & smile! Thank you and keep making more!!❤️
Thank you what a great receipt Merry Christmas
I made English toffee today, but as soon as I poured it into the prepared cookie sheet the butter separated. It did harden, but it’s too thin and messy. I used an All Clad saucepan, but I have a glass electric stove, so after waiting for it to boil on low for more than 40 min, I raised the temp to med. Could that be the problem? Also, I used dark Karo syrup instead of light.
All your other recipes always turn out great. Help!
So sad…first try making toffee…the butter separated from candy. What did I do wrong???
Do you think tjis will work with plant based butter?? And what brand are your chocolate chips the don’t look like the average store brand. But yet smaller than the baking melts. I can’t have it but figured I’d start making some of your candies for my new neighbors
My friend told me about you and I’m so happy to now be following you. I will be making this toffee today with my daughter. My mom was a fabulous cook/baker. She passed when my daughter was 4months old. When I bake, I know my mom is with me. She would be proud. Thank you for sharing your love for your mom, grandma, your farm and of course cooking and baking♥️
Merry Christmas!
Pamela
Love this recipe! Thanks.
Everything was going well….until it wasn’t! Cooked on low for over an hour. We have same stove and pan Stirred entire time It took well over an hour to come to temp. Started to separate mid way through but I persevered! Needless to say it didn’t work, and just got worse . I will try again. Good thing I didn’t waste my nuts and chocolate on it. I’ve moved on to nuts! 🤞🏻
Tried it again today and SUCCESS! I rewatched the video and I think I was stirring too much. I let it sit a bit longer
Love this recipe!
This was sooo good and not difficult at all! We stirred the entire time it hit the heat; is that necessary?
The chocolate chips did not melt! So, I’ll try to melt the chips separately, then pour it over the cooled toffee and nuts that are still sitting in the pan, and hope for the best!
Excellent and easy recipe. It is amazing how fast this candy comes together.
I have made 4 batches of this toffee this season. I printed out the recipe as I will be making this every year! Family loved it! Thanks Kaleb and Merry Christmas!
Made This and It’s Perfection!!….so quick & easy…Thank You so Much for Sharing & Teaching Us. This is goint to be a traditional add to My Winter Treats for the family….{{hugs}}
First try and the butter separated. Followed all directions so maybe it was just a little too hot? Anyway still tastes great. I will try again
120 servings?? How small are they?
Made this for first time and turned out great!!! Now requests coming in for another batch. I love following you on facebook.
Are you sure the temp should be 290? Mine only got to 190ish and was burned…ugh
Watching your “How to Freeze Corn” video inspired me. I went right out to our local farmers market and got busy. Today, I watched the “Pepper Relish” video. Trust me when I say. I will be making relish tomorrow.
The toffee was amazing. I tried the Carmel recipe. I did not know at the time that high altitude (6,700 ft) that you need to lower the temperature as it will be hard not soft. My number 1 question on both recipes IS:
Is the butter at room temperature before you put it in the pan ( both recipes) or right from the fridge. Thank you for answering my question.
Is the butter room temperature or right out of the fridge. For this recipe and the Carmel’s
This has become my favorite English Toffee.
Have made it three times this year and will be making again in October to take to my family when I visit.
Hi Kaleb! Love your videos. And the English Toffee one was especially helpful. I just finished making a holiday test batch & it turned out perfect! After reviewing other recipes I decided on yours & will look no further. It was a little stressful preventing it from separating but it worked out. I did line my pan with non stick foil vs butter. I should have stock in that company. Use it often. And I gently melted a combo of chocolate chips in the microwave, using half semi sweet & half milk chocolate vs sprinkling. Thanks so much for your videos, great recipes & tips, and the entertainment. I look forward to more.
Alway enjoy your videos! Whether you in the garden or the kitchen you make me feel like I could be sitting right there with you! Blessings for your Holidays!
I haven’t made this recipe yet and can’t wait to try it out. Thank you.
I make English Toffee every year and give it away. Your recipe is very similar to mine. I make almond, pecan, walnut toffees. Thank you for sharing yours!!!
Hi Caleb! Love all you do from decorating, cooking, baking, gardening, and being with your Mom. I’m going to try your toffee and peanut brittle recipes. Can you recommend an instant read thermometer, please?
Thanks! 🙂
Help! I was so excited to see your tips. I have made toffee successfully before, but honest it separates just as often as it is a success. My recipe was exactly the same as yours except the omission of the corn syrup, so I thought I had found the Holy Grail. I followed all the tips, but NO, I can’t believe it happened again at the very end, around 285 on my thermapen. So sad! I live at 5,900 feet, do you think that could have something to do with it?
I think you’re a great cook and I would like to taste some of the stuff that you do cook but you are in Iowa and I’m in Mississippi but I would pay you for it
Easy and delicious!
Just made this. The house smells soooooo good. Now the hardest part!!!! Waiting for it to cool.
I made two batches of this english toffee today and it came out perfectly delicious! Your step by step video was very easy to follow and was spot on. I only hope that there will be some left to give away as gifts this Christmas! Thank you for sharing a wonderful recipe!
Love all your recipies. Thanks for sharing. Merry Christmas and Happy New Year.
Love the little tips that always make your recipes come out perfect!
Thank you so much! Glad you enjoy the recipes!
I almost gave up after two hours. But I stuck with it for an absolutely delicious outcome. Think what happened is my electric stove I had exactly on Low when maybe it needed to be between Low and Medium. It is perfect. Shared of course!
Fabulous!!! Your videos are what make it all possible for me.
You should have a TV show-yes you are that Good!
Oh my goodness that is so kind. Thank you!
Yes, you need your own show, Kaleb on the Farm! Where’s Martha Stewart to fund your show?? You are awesome!
Best ever!!!!
I’ve been making toffee since I got married at 18 yrs. I’m now almost 82 and I still make it. I have the same recipe as you and always use the syrup. It’s perfect every time. I also make home made fudge at Christmas Used to make over 60# every year and give it as gifts in a pretty tiny or box. I had 7 children and then took in a foster girl for over 8 yrs so it was a crazy house for a while. We had 6 teenagers at once 13 to 19. There were 5 boys and 3 girls as well as a German shepherd and a chihuahua. lol One yr after I told my son about all the fudge I’d made he asked if I’d make a couple batches more for him if he paid me. I asked why he wanted all that candy and he said it was the best he’d ever had so he wanted to treat the homeless people in St. Paul where he lived. That year I made over 100# of fudge. ha! Should have written to you long ago to thank you for your wonderful program. I must tell you I still learn new ways to do things. I had a lovely grandma who taught me how to cook everything from scratch. I still cook that way and now I seldom use a recipe. Granny didn’t measure much so I don’t either unless it’s new to me. She taught me to make potato bread from the water used to cook them and 2 ricers full of potato and a couple Tbls. of lard. I made 10 loaves twice a wk. if I had dough left I’d make a pan of rolls like granny did. They were called schnecken and had raisins sugar and cinnamon sprinkled on rolled out dough that was generously buttered. I’d roll it up and slice rolls which were put on top of Carmel in the pan. After baking the pan would be turned upside down on a cookie sheet so the Carmel was on top. I hope I’m not to long winded. Thanks again for your lessons and sharing.
What a wonderful grandma!! I can just smell your kitchen!
First time I watched his show and I am here for life. . He is simply great. He looks friendly and happy and that is so nice to see. He doesn’t talk like we are total idiots and don’t know what a cup of sugar is. Can u send me his official website so I can get more recipes.
Delicious. Perfect recipe. Simple directions and clear video helped so much. I was surprised how tender the toffee was. I thought it would be hard on the teeth but it wasn’t. Perfect gift in a holiday tin!
Finally English Toffee turned out! It wasn’t without some angst…. First, 2 1/2 hours to get it to 290!! I have an electric stove and the setting needed to be actually halfway between low and medium, but it took me a while to get it there because I was worried about heating it too rapidly. Next time I’m starting at that setting… I really wish there was an instruction as to how often to stir it because I stirred mine every few minutes and I noticed that my pan had a lot more residue on the sides than in the video… wish that was clearer… I just tasted it and it turned out so good.. perfect crunch… also, the chocolate did not melt in two minutes so I had to take another pan that was larger and flip it over so that I created a little oven in there to get it warmer and then it melted a little bit better so I could spread it… and thank goodness for the instant read thermometer…. In the end I’m just so grateful to have had it finally turn out….
I love toffee and this recipe is fantastic!!! I am making several batches to send to family and friends this Christmas.
Just made this. Only difference was semi-sweet chocolate chips and I ground the nuts. Spot on delicious!!
My son and his wife dropped by after I had made a batch of this English Toffee. He took one bite, and I felt obligated to send 98% of it home with them. An absolutely fantastic recipe which I followed to the letter (except I have an old fashioned glass candy thermometer). Such a hit with them, that I will now attempt to recreate it for Christmas gifts to friends.
THANK YOU so much for posting thus 🥰 English toffee was my mom’s favorite and when she passed I have tried to make it. Making her favorite recipes feels like she’s with me. With your tips I have finally been able to successfully make English toffee ❤️ thank you thank you thank you
Your trophies on my list to make for Christmas. Do you have a recipe for gingerbread to make gingerbread men /woman/ reindeer cookies along with a gingerbread house. Using the same recipe ? Is that possible or too much to ask?
Love watching your videos
Kaleb oh my…you are the best! Watching your videos are so inspiring and relaxing. Thank you for sharing. I love everything you do from yard work, decorating and cooking. You are very much appreciated.
Looks real good. Thank you.
Kaleb, your videos have given me the confidence to make all these candies that had intimidated me before! Thank you so much! This English toffee is AMAZING!
Kaleb, your videos gave me the confidence to start making candy! I had always been so intimidated! This English toffee is amazing and is a huge hit around here. Thanks! Merry Christmas!
Love your recipes! Making toffee today.
Perfectly easy and perfectly delicious!
I have made this toffee 3 times. The first time was a great success with buttery toffee that melted in my mouth. Beginners luck because the next batch was tooth breaking brittle. Third batch flavor was also delicious but same problem, too hard. What am I doing wrong? I know it is wonderful because the first batch turned out great. Any ideas what I could be doing wrong? Sure enjoy your videos!
I love your posts and watch them all. You are a very talented person. Thank you so much for sharing with public.
Made this English toffee for the first time. I have an electric glass cooktop stove which is hard to regulate the heat. It took about 45 minutes to come to 290F because I was afraid to increase the heat. However, the recipe turned out perfectly, and was so yummy! 😋 Thank you, Kaleb, for the extra 10 lbs I’ll be gaining!🤣
This English toffee is simply divine! It will certainly have a place on my cookie tray every year! It’s perfect, thank you!
I can’t get the chocolate to stay 😩 on the brittle. What am I doing wrong? Help please
Kaleb,
Many recipes for toffee contain baking soda to make the toffee crispy and airy. Can I add that? It easier for me to chew 😁
Thank you so much for this recipe, it’s perfection 🥰