Mouth-Watering English Toffee Recipe for Sweet Lovers

My dear foodies, imagine a buttery, crunchy and delectable toffee made with only the finest ingredients – sugar, butter, water and white corn syrup. An indulgent candy that can surprise you with an intriguing twist of English sophistication. A dessert that will leave you wanting more even when your belly is bursting! Here is my recipe for English Toffee Bars – a classic confectionery recipe that has been passed down from one generation to another. In this recipe article, I will be sharing with you all my tips and tricks to create the best toffee bars ever. Not to mention, I have also thrown in some substitutions, serving suggestions and make-ahead tips just for you! What are you waiting for? Let the baking begin!

Why You’ll Love This Recipe

Let me tell you, this Chocolate Bar English Toffee recipe is one that can satisfy anyone’s sweet tooth. This recipe is the perfect combination of chewy and crunchy textures with bold, rich flavors that linger in your mouth. Trust me, once you get a taste of it, you’ll want more.

What makes this recipe so special? Well, let me count the ways. Firstly, it requires only a few simple ingredients that are easy to find at any grocery store. You’ll need sugar, butter, white corn syrup, and water to make the toffee base. And for the chocolate topping, just milk chocolate chips or bars will do the trick.

Secondly, the English toffee bars created by this recipe are different from American toffee bars. While American toffee is generally harder and more brittle, the English toffee is where it’s at. The English version is softer and easier to bite into but still has a satisfying crunch.

Thirdly, you can customize this recipe according to your liking. If you’re a fan of nuts in your desserts, simply add some chopped pecans on top of the melted chocolate. Or switch up the chocolate by using dark or semi-sweet instead of milk chocolate.

Lastly, this recipe is not complicated to make and requires just a little extra effort than your usual baking routine. All you need is a candy thermometer and some patience while cooking the toffee mixture over medium heat until it reaches 300°F – 310°F.

But I promise you that all your hard work will pay off once you take that first satisfying bite. So give it a try and thank me later!

Ingredient List

Get ready for a crunchy, buttery, chocolatey dessert sensation with this Chocolate Bar English Toffee Recipe. Before we start with the recipe, let’s go through the list of ingredients.

List of Ingredients:

• White corn syrup – 1/4 cup
• Water – 4 tbsp
• Granulated sugar – 1 cup
• Unsalted butter – 1 cup
• Brown sugar – 2 cups
• Milk chocolate chips – 2 cups
• Heath or toffee bars – 8 oz (crushed)
• Vanilla extract – 1 tsp
• Salt – 1/2 tsp

Though you might find some common ingredients that are speculated (such as white corn syrup, water, sugar) in all toffee recipes. What makes this recipe different are those beautiful chunks of milk chocolate on top and the crunch of the heath bars mixed in. And trust me, getting the perfect taste without these ingredients would not be easy!

The Recipe How-To

Now that we have all of the ingredients ready, it’s time to start making the Chocolate Bar English Toffee Recipe. Follow these simple steps that I have laid out for you and you’ll make the absolutely delicious toffee bars recipe:

Step 1: Prepare the Ingredients

First, preheat your oven to 350°F (180°C).

In a saucepan, combine 1 cup of unsalted butter, 1 cup of granulated sugar, 1/4 teaspoon of salt, and 2 tablespoons of water.

Over medium heat, stir this mixture frequently until it comes to a boil.

Step 2: Boiling the Mixture

After it comes to a boil, attach a candy thermometer to the side of the saucepan and allow the mixture to boil without stirring until it reaches hard crack stage (300°F or 150°C). This process should take around 10-15 minutes.

Step 3: Adding Vanilla and Pouring Mixture

Once it reaches hard crack stage, immediately remove the saucepan from heat and stir in 1 teaspoon vanilla extract.

Pour this hot mixture onto an ungreased baking sheet.

Step 4: Cooling Mixture and Melting Chocolate

Allow it to cool for about five minutes before sprinkling 2 cups of milk chocolate chips on top. After the chocolate has melted, spread it evenly over the surface of the toffee with a spatula.

Step 5: Adding Toppings

Sprinkle on any additional toppings of your choice, such as chopped nuts or heath bar pieces.

Step 6: Cool and Break Apart

Finally, let your toffee rest at room temperature until it has hardened. Break the toffee into bite-sized pieces by hand or with a knife and enjoy!

That’s how easy it is to create this classic English toffee recipe.

Substitutions and Variations

Variety is the spice of life, and this recipe is no different. Here are a few substitutions and variations for our scrumptious Chocolate Bar English Toffee recipe:

– Brown sugar substitute: If you don’t have brown sugar on hand, use an equivalent amount of granulated sugar and add 1 tablespoon of molasses.

– Dark chocolate: Swap out the milk chocolate with dark chocolate chips for a richer, more intense flavor.

– Heath Bar substitution: Can’t find Heath Bars? Substitute with chopped up homemade toffee or almond toffee.

– Pecans substitution: Don’t like pecans? Try using sliced almonds or chopped walnuts instead.

– Keto-friendly: Replace the sugar with a keto-friendly sweetener like erythritol, and use unsweetened dark chocolate chips for a low-carb option.

– Cookie bars: Press the toffee mixture into a shortbread crust and bake for a cookie bar variation.

– Chocolate covered: After making the toffee, apply melted chocolate all over the top to make it into a chocolate covered treat.

What difference does it make whether you make American or English toffee? Not much, but it comes down to texture. English toffee has a harder bite than its American counterpart due to its higher butter content. However, we’ve found that adding a touch more corn syrup will result in slightly softer English toffee, so you can enjoy the best of both worlds.

Don’t hesitate to experiment with different flavorful twists on this classic recipe – the possibilities are endless!

Serving and Pairing

All right, folks! We’ve made it to the best part of any recipe — eating it! Now that your Chocolate Bar English Toffee is ready, let’s talk about the perfect way to serve and pair it.

Firstly, when it comes to serving, you can cut the toffee into bite-sized pieces or irregular shapes. As the toffee cools, it will become harder but still easy enough to break apart with your hands. If you want a bit of crunch in your dessert, sprinkle a handful of chopped pecans on top of your toffee bars.

When it comes to pairing, English Toffee pairs exceptionally well with coffee, tea, cider or cocoa. Pair it with a hot drink for the ultimate warm and cozy experience. Since this toffee packs quite a rich flavor punch on its own, I recommend serving small portions as an after-dinner treat.

If you’re feeling adventurous and want to experiment with toppings, consider drizzling some white or dark chocolate sauce over your toffee bars or sprinkling some sea salt on top for a savory twist.

No matter how you choose to serve and pair your Chocolate Bar English Toffee, I guarantee that every bite will delight your taste buds and leave you craving more. Happy nibbling!

Make-Ahead, Storing and Reheating

The Chocolate Bar English Toffee Recipe is perfect for those who are always on-the-go. You can prepare it ahead of time and store it in an airtight container for several days. A great tip to keep the toffee fresh is to separate each layer with a sheet of wax paper before placing them in the storage container.

When reheating, you can either use a microwave or an oven. For microwave reheating, place a single layer of Toffee on a microwave-safe plate and heat it for 30 seconds intervals until it is warm and gooey again. Meanwhile, for oven reheating, preheat the oven to 350°F (180°C), and then place the toffee on a baking sheet covered with parchment paper and bake it for about 5 minutes.

It is essential to note that overcooked or overheated toffee can become hard and brittle, so be mindful of your reheating time. If you find that your toffee has been overcooked, you can try placing a damp paper towel over it for several minutes to help soften it up. Though the texture may not be as perfect as freshly made ones, you can still enjoy its delicious taste.

Overall, this recipe’s make-ahead feature makes it a fantastic option for quick snacks or homemade gifts during holidays and other special occasions. Its storing and reheating suggestions make it easy for you to indulge in its irresistible goodness anytime you want!

Tips for Perfect Results

Getting the perfect English toffee can be tricky, as the process involves a delicate balance of ingredients and timing. But fear not, there are some tips and tricks that I have picked up over my years of making this recipe that will help you achieve the right texture and flavor every time.

1. Pay attention to your candy thermometer

Investing in a good candy thermometer is essential for making perfect English toffee. Make sure you use it properly and follow your recipe’s temperature requirements explicitly. If your thermometer is inaccurate, it could result in toffee that is too soft or too hard.

2. Know when the toffee is ready

It can be tempting to take the toffee off the heat too soon or too late, but both mistakes will leave you with less-than-perfect results. Take note of how long it takes for your mixture to reach the desired temperature and use your senses (color, smell) to determine if your batch has achieved the right stage.

3. Don’t stir too much

While stirring is necessary during certain stages of this recipe, excessive stirring can cause grains in your finished product. Once your sugar has dissolved, set the spoon or spatula aside and let the mixture do its thing.

4. Use high-quality ingredients

In any recipe, using excellent ingredients contributes significantly to getting great results. In this case, try to choose quality butter, sugar, and chocolate so that each component shines through. Making your candy with margarine or cheaper chocolates might make your end result seem average.

5. Add nuts wisely

If adding pecans or other nuts to the top of the candy, scatter them evenly across the surface while ensuring there are no dark spots by shuffling them around gently with a fork.

Following these straightforward guidelines will go a long way in ensuring you get the best possible outcome from our English toffee bars recipe every time!

FAQ

Now that you know how to make this mouth-watering Chocolate Bar English Toffee recipe, it’s time to answer some frequently asked questions (FAQ). Whether you are a seasoned chef or just starting in the kitchen, these FAQs will help you navigate any concerns or issues that may arise. Let’s dive into the most common FAQs about this recipe.

What is the difference between English toffee and regular toffee?

Toffee that is commonly known as English toffee in America differs from American toffee in that it does not contain any nuts, whereas American toffee is typically made with nuts like almonds.

How do you get chocolate to stick to English toffee?

In case the toffee hardens before you can put on the chocolate, a workaround is to sprinkle some cocoa powder onto the toffee before adding the chocolate. By doing so, you can prevent the chocolate from detaching from the toffee when it cools down.

Why do you put baking soda in English toffee?

To achieve a more satisfying crunch in your recipe, consider incorporating baking soda. The baking soda reacts with the sugary acid, producing an abundance of minute bubbles when combined with heat. These bubbles remain intact within the mixture as it cools, resulting in a toffee-like consistency that is crisp and firm but not overly hard. It’s comparable to the texture of American biscotti – not too dense or too brittle.

What is English toffee made of?

English toffee, or commonly known as toffee in America, typically consists of a blend of sugar and butter that is cooked slowly to form a hard candy. Once it turns brittle, it is then coated with chocolate and nuts for added crunch and flavor.

Bottom Line

In conclusion, this Chocolate Bar English Toffee recipe is one that you simply cannot resist. With its smooth and creamy texture, rich chocolate coating and indulgent flavor, it is sure to be a crowd-pleaser every time. The key ingredients like sugar, butter, and white corn syrup come together in perfect harmony to create a toffee that is both delicious and easy to make. Moreover, the substitution options let you tweak the recipe as per your preference while keeping the taste intact. Whether you’re looking for a quick snack or an impressive dessert for a special occasion, this recipe has got you covered.

So why not give it a go? With these helpful tips and tricks, you’ll have perfect Chocolate Bar English Toffee in no time. Trust me when I say this – once you’ve tasted this heavenly toffee, there’s no going back. So gather your ingredients and get ready to indulge in one of the best desserts out there!

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