Salted Chocolate English Toffee
Few things are as delicious as homemade English Toffee. Except maybe Salted Chocolate English Toffee with Toasted Almonds! It’s truly the best and a great gift; just be sure to save some for yourself!
I first published this recipe for Salted Chocolate English Toffee 10 years ago and while I love this toffee, and the product of that effort was as fantastic as I expected, I never really shared it much. Why? Well, it was in the period when I was between homes, living with a friend while my house was being completed and using a spare bedroom at my daughter’s for photography. Not ideal.
The toffee got warm on the way from one location to the next and ‘bloomed’ and I always hated the photos. Sure I explained what happened but seriously? These new photos have been needed for a long time; this looks more like it and now I’m happy to tell the world!
I have to say that I’ve loved English Toffee ever since I can remember…I mean I actually recall when my mom would take me to the neighborhood ‘five and dime’ and all I wanted (and begged for) was a Heath bar. Every. Single. Time.
True confessions? I took one once when she said no and put it in my pocket. I had no idea I was stealing from the store, I was only about 4; I just thought I was pulling one over on my mom. Ahem, didn’t work. Had to go back, apologize and return it. Saddest day of my young life.
I’ve always given Heath Bars credit for my first cavity too…a testimony of my love affair with English Toffee that started decades ago that has never waned.
When a friend offered some Salted Chocolate English Toffee that she had received as a gift; of course I was willing but was also unprepared for how good it would be in comparison to many other versions I’ve had. Was it the technique or the ingredients or just the mastery of that mom in the kitchen? Probably a bit of all three but I had to have the recipe!
My friend secured the recipe for this Salted Chocolate English Toffee and I knew to expect something would be different even before seeing the ingredients and I couldn’t wait to discover what it was.
The toffee was a lighter color and yet had been cooked enough to harden; beyond that it just had a softer bite. Barely discernible but I just felt it wasn’t quite as rock hard as so many toffees are. I was delighted to get the recipe and discover the secret…a bit of cream is used in this recipe in addition to butter and sugar; that must have been it!
Along with the recipe was a sweet note. The woman who had made the Salted Chocolate English Toffee was aware of ‘food blogging rules’ and even included in her email that the original recipe was from Sweet Confections: Beautiful Candy to Make at Home by Nina Wanat. Nina used to operate a very popular candy shop in Los Angeles call BonBonBar. While that store has now closed, I’m delighted to have experienced one of her confections and the book is in my Amazon shopping cart now…I want MORE!
As anyone who reads this blog might expect I had to switch it up a bit cause that’s what I do and if I say so myself the end result was pretty outstanding. The original recipe calls for plain toffee topped with chocolate and sliced almonds; stellar just as it was. BUT.
I only had whole almonds in the house and after one recent experience trying to slice them in my Cuisinart (can you say ‘almond dust?’) I decided that my almond component would be in the form of putting chopped pieces into the candy. Toasted ones. Oh yeah. We liked it so much I revised the recipe. I learned years ago that ‘toasted’ really means that ‘raw’ nuts are baked…and I’m onboard with how that one small step brings out such better flavor.
The salted thing? Does everything have to be ‘salted this’ or ‘salted that?’ No, it does not. While I love just a touch of salt with chocolate and/or caramel, the truth is if you don’t have a good finishing salt, I highly recommend you avoid this step.
I love Maldon Salt Flakes; they are less salty than table or kosher salt and are so pretty too that I highly recommend them but trying the same thing with table salt would be a mistake. So either use a good finishing salt or none at all; either way I know you will love this toffee. So will your children, husband, dad, sister, mom or brother. Or you can send some to me. Just kidding. No I’m not.
This Salted Chocolate English Toffee has become a part of our holiday traditions; I’ll be making a big batch this coming weekend when I get together with friends for some holiday baking. Along with this toffee, our plans include a nice assortment of other baked goodies. Which we will give away to neighbors, I can’t trust myself with many of these favorites; I’ll still eat enough toffee I worry about a cavity!
More Holiday Baking Favorites
- Pecan Butter Ball Cookies (ie Mexican Wedding Cookies, Russian Tea Cakes, etc…so many names, one great cookie!)
- Amish Sugar Cookies
- Peanut Butter and Butterscotch Haystacks
- Best Homemade Molasses Cookies
- Last Minute Fruitcake – YES it can be good…assorted nuts, craisins, and maraschino cherries. We LOVE it!
PIN IT! ‘ Salted Chocolate English Toffee’
Salted Chocolate English Toffee with Toasted Almonds
Ingredients
- 1 Tablespoon water
- 1 cup butter
- ¼ cup cream
- 1 cup sugar
- ½ teaspoon salt
- ½ teaspoon vanilla extract
- 6 ounce milk chocolate chopped or milk chocolate chips
- 1 cup almonds coarsely chopped and toasted
- Finishing salt I used Maldon
Instructions
- Line a baking sheet with parchment paper
- Boil water, butter, sugar, cream and salt over medium heat in a 3 qt saucepan. Stir slowly but constantly until it reaches 300 degrees. (See notes for high altitude)
- Remember to keep all kids and pets out of the kitchen
- Remove from heat and stir in the vanilla and chopped nuts.
- Pour onto parchment and spread to desired thickness.
- Sprinkle chocolate on top and let sit for a few minutes; it will melt and then you can spread it to cover.
- Sprinkle Maldon salt on top of the warm chocolate; using a light hand. Just a bit is enough!
- Put the tray in the refrigerator for about 45 minutes to cool completely and then break toffee into pieces; store in an airtight container.
I like to taste mix of different flavors. Great idea for Christmas time dessert.
How crazy! Your blog post came at the most perfect time! Just finished up making 2 types of candy to ship off to relatives. Had a recipe for 6 minute caramels and I didn’t want to fuss with wrapping them individually in parchment paper, so I gave up for the night. Opened up my email and…..Taaadaa! Guess what I’m making tomorrow? I’m almost tempted to drive to the store tonight to get cream but I think I can contain myself. Love the adjustments for high altitude, too. I’m just “down the road” from you in Denver Ãœ And…I bought the book on Amazon. Your halo is shining brightly!! Thanks for all you do ♥
Thank YOU Tracy! I am sharing what I love to do but it’s always nice to hear it’s appreciated and even more? That you’re making it! You’ll see…it is just the best.
I too love heath bars!!! Can’t wait to make this
Toffee is also my most favorite all-time candy (I can’t say I swiped one from the store, tho!) lol ; ) I can personally attest to this amazing toffee! Christa blessed Karen and myself on more than one occassion! It is something that only exists in the imagination! Christa is awesome and has great talent to tweak it just right. I certainly like the sound of your “tweaks” as well!
I know I was just bad to the bone wasn’t I (or just in that in between world of wanting but not really knowing I was doing something wrong by taking!).
It is wonderful; I’ve ordered the book it came from too; I might have to start a candy blog huh? I can not WAIT to tell Karen that a friend left a comment; I am working without success to get her to sit with me and even look at a browser…it will open up a whole world for her!! I have to go hunt her down now; think she’s on the phone…I mean that contraption that uses two cans and a string. 🙂
I am SO going to try to make this for my husband! I am not sure if I will get it made by Sunday as we are heading to the big smoke tomorrow … but by Sunday night for sure!
I promise you Mona that he will love you forever. Or even more than now, whichever is best. 🙂
Barb, this is fabulous toffee! I adore chocolate-covered toffee and that dash of Maldon flakes – or better yet, a dash of smoked salt – high quality, of course – would be perfect! Gosh how good is this? I haven’t made candy since I was a kid but this I would do. The dad in our family would love it (and would prefer slightly softer, too). Fun story about how you got the recipe.
It is so good Jamie…sort of glad I gave it away and yet have been craving some ever since!
Yum I want someone to make me a box of this!
You and I share a long standing love affair with Heath and all things toffee. How have I never attempted to make english toffee at home? I’m not sure but I do know that now I absolutely will be creating this recipe in my kitchen. Lovely recipe!! I can practically taste it.
You need to try it…it’s not hard and the results are outstanding but please promise you will adhere to my plea…kids and dogs out of the kitchen! Not just for the timing accuracy thing, this stuff gets too hot to take any chances. Hey keep them out after it’s done too…you will want to keep it all for yourself…mark my words! 🙂
Loved this story Barb and have bookmarked this recipe to make over the holidays! I got braces fairly early and so toffee was NOT on the approved foods list …. which perhaps explains why I too love it! Couldn’t agree more about the finishing salt! Ummm… adding cream? Oh yeah, that would totally make a difference … and a great one at that!!
The things we remember huh? About time for us to catch up…when you quit slacking and watching soaps all day maybe we could do that?!! 🙂
What a story on the making and the packaging of this wonderful toffee. It doesn’t surprise me that shoppers and clerks alike wanted to *assist* you with your tray! The packaging is great and the toffee looks amazing.
I admit I felt a bit weird taking a tray of these into stores but then I thought…don’t worry, no one will notice. Um…they ALL noticed; I’m lucky I got out without losing the goods! They were worth it…so good I sort of wish I had kept more for me! 🙂
Oh wow–this homemade chocolate looks amazing. What dad wouldn’t want this?
Sadly mine…just diagnosed recently with diabetes at 92; huge sweet tooth too but no more shipments of sweets; guess I need to figure out how to make sugar free toffee huh?
Haha! I did the same thing when I was a kid except it was with bubble gum! I also had to go back in the store, return the gum, and apologize.
Guess we have to learn sometime even if the hard way? Thankfully it did not turn me off of toffee!
What a gorgeous recipe! Why oh why didn’t I get myself a candy thermometer? I co owned a cookware store for a decade, but that was one thing I forgot to add to my kitchen drawer. On my list now!
I did not go into the ugly details but my digital one got packed and is in storage; I used a smaller one that fell into the candy and the heat melted the protective cover. OY huh? I had to go by color alone! It can be done but I’m getting a new thermometer anyhow; I’m of the ‘better safe than sorry’ camp Lizzy.
My goodness. You are dedicated. But that toffee looks worth it!
So worth it Abbe; of course I’ve been craving it ever since I gave it away. Means I have to make some more. Toffee party? 🙂
Love the backstory on this!!! I was on Foodzie with Bon Bon Bar, she is so very talented, it is wonderful that she came out with a book too, I was so surprised when she closed her shop. And so…I too love toffee and can’t wait to try this one Barb!
This was a new introduction for me; so glad for it too. I can’t wait to get her book!
Bloom or no bloom, I still want to eat it. All of it!
Next time I’ll offer it to you; maybe that will get you to drop by Denver? 🙂
Love this recipe and “gift from the kitchen” idea for Dads! That close-up pic is so enticing. Suddenly, I’m craving homemade candy! Cream and toasted almonds do make everything better, don’t they? And, I too, need to often protect myself from myself! Thanks for sharing your childhood story and fab recipe, B! xo
Most welcome Stacy; thanks for stopping by. I only wish I had squirreled some more away for me. What WAS I thinking??
What a great gift idea for Fathers Day, Barbara! This toffee looks so delicious and your packaging is adorable – awesome job!
Thank you Georgia; I had fun pulling it together and appreciate your kind comment…Barb
I am smiling picturing you shopping with your tray of toffee…fantastic! And I would eat this whole tray bloom or no bloom– it looks wonderful! Heath bars are at the top of my chocolate bar list and this toffee wouldn’t last long enough for me to share it with anyone. I hope to get around to making it but probably not in this heat this week. Hope your friends have AC and that you are all comfortable.
I wish I had some more…but I’m with you; no way no how in this heat. Why did I think this summer would be not as bad as last year???
Yes we have AC but they sure do not like to use it…haven’t turned it on yet! Thankfully some larger trees and good windows that keep a lot of that hot sun out but about ready to go jump in the car and cool down!
I love heath bars, and LOVE toffee. This looks so delicious, making toffee has always intimidated me but this recipe sounds doable. Thanks for posting this.
It really is not hard but that dog business (and kids)? Makes ALL the difference. Given your undivided attention it’s pretty simple to pull off. I say do it. No, I mean DO IT!!
Very good tip about avoiding table salt and using a finishing salt! I’ve tasted some things that were just inedible because the cook just didn’t understand salted caramel. (And I gotta say, good as it is, I’m about over it.) Anyway, this looks terrific! I do like a Health bar from time to time, although I’m more partial to having it in ice cream! But this looks to be a super recipe – truly good stuff! 😉 Thanks so much.
I hear you John; I could say I’m about over it too if for all the concoctions I’ve seen made that had to have it added…but when used in moderation (meaning just a touch!) it still ads a great component to the right dish. I’ll avoid the salted chocolate, browned butter with caramel Biscoff stuffed Oreo cookie though. 🙂
I’ve got a neighbor who brings this down every Christmas. She is the same neighbor that lets me have the cherries off of her tree. I love her. She gave me her recipe several years ago and now I make it at Christmas too. I’d make it more often but I can’t stay out of it. You’ve got me craving it now.
It is a great Christmas gift since it is always loved; this is most definitely my new go to recipe too. I should have kept a few pieces for myself doggone it!
I would eat that chocolate covered toffee in a New York minute 🙂 That’s pretty fast I think 🙂
I love toffee!
Yes, it is MUCH faster than a Denver minute…we like to savor out here in the wild west! 🙂