Basic Toffee Food

HOMEMADE TOFFEE

Steps:

• Prepare a baking sheet by buttering or lining with parchment paper and set aside. Add the butter, sugar, water, and salt to a medium saucepan (with a heavy bottom).
• Heat the pan over medium-low heat, stirring frequently with a wooden spoon, until the butter has melted and the sugar has dissolved. Leave the spoon in the pot and then clip on a candy thermometer at this point if desired (being careful to not let it touch the bottom).
• Continue to cook over medium heat until the mixture has reached 285°F and has turned a rich caramel color. Only stir every so often at this point, you don't want to disturb the process too much. When it turns a caramel color immediately remove from heat and stir in the vanilla.
• Pour the mixture onto the prepared pan and allow it to spread. Let the toffee cool for 5 minutes, then sprinkle with the chocolate chips and allow to sit for 10 minutes.
• Spread the melted chocolate chips with an offset spatula and sprinkle with chopped pecans or almonds.
• Let the toffee cool completely, then break into pieces and enjoy.

BEST TOFFEE EVER - SUPER EASY

Steps:

• In a large heavy bottomed saucepan, combine the butter, sugar and salt. Cook over medium heat, stirring until the butter is melted. Allow to come to a boil, and cook until the mixture becomes a dark amber color, and the temperature has reached 285 degrees F (137 degrees C). Stir occasionally.
• While the toffee is cooking, cover a large baking sheet with aluminum foil or parchment paper.
• As soon as the toffee reaches the proper temperature, pour it out onto the prepared baking sheet. Sprinkle the chocolate over the top, and let it set for a minute or two to soften. Spread the chocolate into a thin even layer once it is melted. Sprinkle the nuts over the chocolate, and press in slightly. Putting a plastic bag over your hand will minimize the mess.
• Place the toffee in the refrigerator to chill until set. Break into pieces, and store in an airtight container.

EASY, EASY ENGLISH TOFFEE

Steps:

• In a large skillet, melt SALTED butter on medium heat. Do not burn butter. It needs to stay yellow. (NOTE: I had many batches fail and separate until I figured out, upon investigation, that you MUST use SALTED butter. I think it has to do with a chemical reaction.).
• **Tip** Bring out a jar of peanut butter and turn it upside down near the skillet to use ONLY as a color guide to know when the mixture is done.
• Add sugar and stir until incorporated (sugar does not need to be "melted" into the butter, just no longer dry) Edited to add on 12/25/16, the temperature MUST STAY CONSTANT or the butter and sugar MAY separate during the final stages. Too high and your butter will burn, too low and you'll be stirring forever!
• **At no time can you walk away at this point, you must keep stirring so that the butter will not burn. It's very crucial.
• Add water, pouring it all over the pan. The butter/sugar will get bubbly and frothy -- keep constantly stirring -- stirring low and slow -- I use a rubber spatula. As you stir, angle your spatula down as low (level to the pan) as you can to have few air bubbles.
• I timed it, as you are stirring the yellow, sugary, melted, bubbly butter, at the 4 minute mark add the slivered almonds. Keep stirring.
• Stir continuously and slowly in a small circular motion bringing the outside mixture edges to the center as the sides will tend to cook faster than the middle. It will slowly begin to caramelize and toast up -- about 6 minutes more.
• Cook this mixture until it is the color of the inverted peanut butter jar.
• **Important** It will brown fast in the end, so don't let it get too dark or let the almonds get really burned).
• Pour into a 9 X 13 pan. (you could use disposable aluminum pans also). with your rubber spatula, spread the mixture quickly to the edges before it starts to harden on you.
• Let cool completely, remove from pan and pat off any extra butter from both sides with paper towels.
• Place on wax or parchment paper.
• Topping:.
• Microwave chocolate for 1 minute on high. (be mindful that every microwave is different and you must watch your chocolate closely so that it won't overcook). If a few seconds more are needed to melt completely, do so in small increments. You can also use a double boiler to melt chocolate -- I do prefer to do it this way.
• Coat toffee with chocolate (like frosting) and top with slivered almonds. I only cover one side but you can do both if desired.
• Lightly press down almonds to make sure they stick to the chocolate.
• Cool on the counter for at least 30 minutes, then put the pan into the refrigerator for 2 hours (You can stack multiple batches on top of each other as long as the chocolate is pretty solid).
• Break into pieces after it has hardened and store in a covered container.
• Variations: Use different kinds of chips. (mint, white, dark, milk chocolate).

HOMETOWN TOFFEE

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 375 degrees F.
• Tip the almonds, sunflower seeds and pumpkin seeds onto a baking sheet. Toast until they begin to color, 10 to 12 minutes. Allow to cool.
• Melt the chocolate in a glass bowl over a pan of simmering water (or in the microwave for 1 to 2 minutes) and stir until smooth and glossy. Set aside.
• Spray a 9-by-12-inch baking sheet with nonstick cooking spray.
• Add the granulated sugar, butter, brown sugar, kosher salt and 2 tablespoons of water to a heavy-bottomed saucepan fitted with a candy thermometer. Cook over medium-high heat, swirling the pan occasionally, until the thermometer registers 300 degrees F, 5 to 8 minutes. Remove from the heat and stir in the vanilla. Sprinkle in the baking soda and mix. Pour onto the prepared baking sheet and tip the baking sheet to spread the toffee evenly. Let it cool and set, about 6 minutes.
• Drizzle the melted chocolate over the toffee. Scatter the toasted nuts and seeds, raisins and mini chocolate candy over the melted chocolate and sprinkle with the sea salt. Let set for 2 hours, then break the toffee into shards.

BASIC TOFFEE RECIPE

Steps:

• Spray rimmed baking sheet with cooking spray; cover with parchment.
• Bring butter, sugar, water, corn syrup and salt to boil in large saucepan on medium-high heat, stirring constantly. Boil gently, without stirring, 10 to 12 min. or mixture is thickened and reaches 300°F when tested with candy thermometer. (Mixture will be done when 1/2 tsp. of the cooked sugar mixture will form a hard brittle thread when dropped into 1 cup cold water.)
• Pour immediately onto prepared baking sheet; spread to 1/4-inch thickness.
• Melt chocolate as directed on package; spread over toffee layer. Let stand at room temperature until chocolate is firm. Break into small pieces to serve.

ENGLISH TOFFEE

Steps:

• Melt the butter in a large pot over medium heat. (Use a pot larger than you think you need, because the caramel will eventually expand quite a bit.) While the butter is melting, crush unsalted peanuts in a bowl with the end of a rolling pin. Once the butter has melted, stir in sugar and water with a heat-resistant spatula. Add a pinch of salt. Bring the mixture to a boil, then add corn syrup. Clip a candy thermometer to the side of the pot and continue cooking until it reads 310 degrees F.
• When the caramel is golden and the thermometer registers 310 degrees F, remove the thermometer, add the baking soda, and stir in peanuts. Cook until temperature reads 320 degrees F, then pour the mixture onto a Silpat baking liner and lay another Silpat on top. Use a rolling pin to roll the mixture out to desired thickness and then transfer to a baking sheet. Let cool for 45 minutes.
• Melt 2/3 of the chocolate over a saucepan of simmering water. If it begins to feel too thick, add a few drops of canola oil to loosen it up. Check the temperature of the chocolate by testing it on your bottom lip; it should feel warm, but not too hot. Once the chocolate is melted, stir in the remaining 1/3 of chocolate to cool it down. Wipe toffee with a paper towel to remove any excess fat. Pour about half of the melted chocolate over the toffee and spread with an offset spatula. It doesn't have to be perfectly smooth; you want it to have a bit of a rustic look. Before the chocolate sets, sprinkle with chopped peanuts and transfer to the fridge just until the chocolate has crystallized, 2-3 minutes. Remove from the fridge. Lay another Silpat and baking tray on top of the toffee and flip in one quick motion. Peel off the Silpat and repeat with chocolate and peanuts. Return to the fridge for another 2-3 minutes.
• Remove toffee from the fridge and transfer to a cutting board. Break into large or small pieces, pack in a bag, and finish with a bow.

4 INGREDIENT TOFFEE

Steps:

• Heat sugar, butter and water to boiling in heavy 2-quart saucepan, stirring constantly; reduce heat to medium. Cook about 13 minutes, stirring constantly, to 300°F on candy thermometer or until small amount of mixture dropped into cup of very cold water separates into hard, brittle threads. (Watch carefully so mixture does not burn.)
• Immediately pour toffee onto ungreased large cookie sheet. If necessary, quickly spread mixture to 1/4-inch thickness. Sprinkle with chocolate chips; let stand about 1 minute or until chips are completely softened. Spread softened chocolate evenly over toffee. Sprinkle with pecans.
• Let stand at room temperature about 1 hour, or refrigerate if desired, until firm. Break into bite-size pieces. Store in airtight container.

ENGLISH TOFFEE

Steps:

• Grease a 15x10x1-in. pan with 1 tablespoon butter; set aside. In a large heavy saucepan, melt the remaining butter. Add the sugar, corn syrup and salt; cook and stir over medium heat until a candy thermometer reads 295° (hard-crack stage). Quickly pour into prepared pan. Let stand at room temperature until cool, about 1 hour. , In a microwave, heat chocolate chips for 30 seconds; stir. Repeat until chocolate is melted and smooth. Spread over toffee. Sprinkle with pecans. Let stand until chocolate is set, about 1 hour. Break into bite-size pieces. Store in an airtight container at room temperature.

MICROWAVE BASIC TOFFEE

Steps:

• Place all the ingredients into a large bowl.
• Heat on high for 2-3 minutes.
• Remove and stir to dissolve the sugar.
• Return to micro and boil on high for 6-7 minutes or until the mixture is golden and at hard boil stage.
• Remove and let bubbles to settle, then pour into individual cup cases or into a shallow tray to set.