The BEST English Toffee

I don’t know about you, but one of my favorite Christmas recipes to make and enjoy during Christmas is English toffee. Rich, delicious and one of the indulgences allowed during the holidays. How about you?

Do you love English toffee?

Well, if you need a great recipe for it, I’m your new best friend. This one has been shared in the Vue, but, if you need a recipe card? I’m providing it today.

Now my husband isn’t a nut fan…so he prefers it without them. So if that happens in your family? Leave a section of the toffee without the pecans when you finish it.

Do you have a favorite choice of nuts, too?

And? I have recently found that adding ground almonds instead of pecans is loved, too…so you pick your choice of nuts.

In researching this recipe, there are different versions. Some say that toasting those pecans before adding them to the toffee top is paramount. Others prefer a dark chocolate layer over the toffee mixture. The dark chocolate will cut a bit of the sweetness to balance it out…but, I always prefer a good milk chocolate. Some recipes also call for unsalted butter; but, for me? I always use a salted butter in making the toffee mixture.

I always make this candy in December a couple of weeks before Christmas just to make certain that it is fresh and delicious. It’s always kept in tins with layers separated by a pretty Christmas parchment paper that I find at Hobby Lobby.

Just to monitor my indulging, I also break the toffee pieces in smaller sizes so that helps monitor my intake…because, if you are like me? This one may be the favorite indulgence to overdo.

Here’s the recipe, friends. Hope you make this one and enjoy!

English Toffee

A great English toffee that mixes a great toffee, chocolate and pecan layer for an indulgence favorite candy during the Christmas holiday.

5 from 1 vote

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Course candy

Cuisine English

Servings 1 pan

Equipment

• 1 heavy bottomed saucepan
• 1 set measuring cups/spoons
• 1 Baking Sheet baking pecans
• 1 Baking Sheet for toffee
• 1 cutting board/knife chopping pecans
• 1 instant read thermometer
• parchment paper

Ingredients

  

• 1 C salted butter
• 1 C sugar
• 2 T light corn syrup
• 1 T vanilla
• 6 oz chocolate chips- semi-sweet, dark or milk
• 1 C pecans, toasted and chopped

Instructions

 

• Preheat oven to 400°.
• Add pecans to a baking sheet with sides and toast for a few minutes in the preheated oven. Be careful not to brown too much. Remove from the oven and cool.
  
• When pecans are cool, coarsely chop and set aside.
  
• Butter another baking sheet with sides and line with parchment paper.

  Set aside.
• To a heavy bottomed, 4 qt saucepan, add butter, sugar and corn syrup.
• Warm mixture slowly on a medium heat until a caramel color and instant read thermometer measures 290°-(move thermometer around to make sure all parts of the mixture are the same temperature).

  NOTE: Be careful not to rush this process or the sugar and butter may separate and give issues to the finished product.
• Remove pan from heat and gently stir in vanilla.
• Pour toffee mixture into parchment lined pan and move until it is level and moved into corners, if there's enough toffee for the size of the pan.
  
• Sprinkle a layer of pecans over the surface of the toffee to help the chocolate adhere better.
  
• Top with an even layer of the chocolate chips and let sit for a minute.
  
• Once they have melted a couple of minutes, use a flat edged spatula and spread evenly across toffee.
  
• Finish with another layer of the coarsely chopped pecans over the top.
  
• Let set until the toffee has cooled completely and has hardened.
• Break apart into pieces and add to an airtight storage container with parchment paper between the layers.
  
• Store in a cool, dry place.

Notes

A delicious and indulgent English toffee that is perfect for the Christmas baking and enjoying.

Keyword Christmas English Toffee, Christmas English toffee candy, English toffee, Holiday baking English toffee

I’ll leave a bit of the next pan without pecans on one side to make those non-nut lovers happy.

This recipe makes the perfect gift, too, friends. Small tins hold plenty. Add a few tins under the tin for those unexpected guests who drop in…and for those who may be difficult to gift.

Fun making, enjoying and gifting! I’ll call that a win!

Here are a few other favorite Christmas recipes that will be added into holiday baking days:

• Confections
• Scottish shortbread
• Molasses cookies

I’d love to know what your favorite Christmas recipe is that you make in the comments. I’m always game to add more to the mix.

Happy Baking, friends!