Chocolate Molasses Maple Toffee Food

CHOCOLATE-COVERED TOFFEE

Steps:

• Prepare a baking sheet with a silicone baking mat or greased parchment or wax paper.
• In a large sized heavy-bottomed sauce pan, with a candy thermometer attached, bring all the ingredients, excluding the chocolate, to a boil over medium low heat.
• Continue to cook and stir the mixture until it reads 275 degrees F on the candy thermometer.
• The mixture will be much thicker. Stir constantly until it reaches 315 degrees F, which will happen pretty quickly. Remove it from the heat and stir until very smooth, just a few seconds.
• Pour the toffee onto the prepared baking sheet.
• Using a spatula, spread the toffee out, working quickly because the toffee will set fast.
• Using a pastry wheel or pizza cutter, VERY GENTLY (you don't want to cut so deep that it actually reaches the bottom or you may destroy your silpat) score the toffee into bite sized pieces.
• You should get about 72 pieces. Again work quickly so the toffee doesn't set before you are done.
• Allow the toffee to sit until it is room temperature and then break apart the pieces.
• Melt the chocolate over a double boiler until perfectly smooth. Remove from the heat and allow to cool to just above room temperature. If the chocolate is too hot it will run off the toffee and not give you a nice coating, if it is too cold it will be too thick to work with.
• Set up a second baking sheet with a sheet of parchment or wax paper.
• Drop a piece of the toffee into the chocolate. Use a fork to flip the toffee over to coat the other side.
• Lift the covered toffee from the chocolate and shake gently to allow the excess to fall away.
• In order to get a nice smooth bottom, you want to scrape the bottom of the fork on the edge of the bowl, before laying it on the parchment to harden.
• If you want to sprinkle with toasted nuts and sea salt, this is the time.
• Continue dipping until they are all covered in chocolate. Allow them to sit out in a cool spot to set up or you can set them in the refrigerator for a few minutes until they are firm.
• Fill decorative bags as gifts for Valentine's Day.

CHOCOLATE TOFFEE

Steps:

• Line a sided sheet pan with a silicone baking mat, or oil it well with vegetable oil (or use a heavyweight nonstick sheet pan).
• Pour the sugar into the center of a saucepan fitted with a candy thermometer. Pour the water around the edge of the pan and wait to allow the water to moisten the sugar. (You can draw a clean finger through the center of the pan to allow some water to seep in.) Add the corn syrup and bring to a boil. Add the butter and boil until the mixture reaches 300 degrees F.
• Turn off the heat and whisk in the cocoa; then stir in the nuts. Quickly pour the mixture onto the center of the prepared pan and let it spread out - it may not reach the sides of the pan. Set aside to cool at room temperature until hard. Using your hands (I wear gloves to avoid fingerprints), pry the toffee out of the pan and break into large pieces. Store in an airtight container. The toffee will keep well for up to 2 weeks in an airtight container.

ESPRESSO CHOCOLATE TRUFFLES WITH TOFFEE

Steps:

• Chop the chocolate and put in a heatproof bowl. Bring the heavy cream, butter and salt to a simmer in a saucepan over medium heat; pour over the chocolate and let sit until completely melted, about 10 minutes. Stir with a rubber spatula or whisk until smooth. (If necessary, microwave in 20-second intervals until the chocolate melts.)
• Whisk in the vanilla extract, then the espresso. Stir until the ganache is smooth and shiny. Pour into a shallow baking dish and refrigerate until firm, at least 3 hours or overnight.
• Roll tablespoonfuls of the ganache into 18 to 24 balls, then roll in crushed toffee bars. Transfer to a parchment-lined baking sheet, cover with plastic wrap and refrigerate until firm, at least 1 hour or overnight. (To make these in advance, roll into balls but do not coat; cover and freeze up to 2 weeks. Let sit at room temperature for 20 minutes before uncovering, then roll in coating.)

BUTTERCRUNCH TOFFEE

Steps:

• In a saucepan melt butter over low heat. Add sugar and lecithin and stir constantly with a wooden spoon over medium heat. When mixture comes to a boil, add the corn syrup and continue stirring constantly to prevent burning until temperature reaches 300 degrees F on a candy thermometer.
• After mixture reaches 300 degrees F, remove from heat and add salt and chopped almonds, if using, and mixing gently. Pour into a well buttered shallow pan. Depth of toffee should be approximately 1/4-inch.
• Before toffee sets, score with a knife into uniform pieces. Toffee should be stored in an airtight container.

MAPLE LEAF SHAPE CHOCOLATE CROUTONS

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 300 degrees F.
• In a shallow pan, melt butter slowly. Using your preferred cookie cutter, cut shapes from the white bread and brown in the butter. Be sure to lightly brown both sides. Remove and place croutons on a cookie sheet. Once all shapes are done, place cookie sheet into oven and "dry" thoroughly, making sure that the croutons are no longer soft in the middle. Melt the chocolate in the microwave, according to package instructions, and dip shapes into the chocolate. Place them on a piece of waxed paper to dry.

ENGLISH TOFFEE

Steps:

• Butter a 12-by-18-inch baking pan. Cover two large cutting boards or cardboard pieces with parchment paper. Set aside.
• In a medium saucepan, melt butter. Remove from heat, and stir in sugar, corn syrup, and 3 tablespoons water. Cook, stirring occasionally, until the mixture reaches 300 degrees on a candy thermometer. Remove from heat, stir in 1 cup almonds, and pour out into prepared pan, spreading the mixture with the back of a spoon to fill the pan.
• Before candy hardens, but when it is firm enough to handle, turn it out onto parchment-lined board. Allow to cool completely.
• Wipe the surface of candy with a damp paper towel to remove excess butter, and allow to dry.
• Using a small offset spatula, quickly spread half the chocolate over candy. Scatter 1/2 cup of the remaining almonds over chocolate. Cover with parchment paper, and place second cutting board on paper. Turn candy over onto second surface. Remove top board and paper, quickly spread candy with remaining chocolate, and scatter with the remaining 1/2 cup almonds. Refrigerate for 20 minutes to set chocolate.
• Break candy into 2-inch pieces. The candy may be stored in an airtight container at cool room temperature for up to 1 week; use parchment paper to separate layers.