Easy 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.

STICKY TOFFEE PUDDING

Steps:

• For the pudding: Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F.
• Add the dates and 3/4 cup water to a small saucepan and heat over medium-high heat until boiling. Turn the heat down to low and simmer until the water has slightly reduced and the dates are beginning to soften, about 3 minutes. Turn off the heat, then cover the saucepan and let sit for 10 minutes.
• Transfer the dates and liquid to a food processor fitted with the blade attachment. Process until smooth. Pour the date mixture into a bowl and cool to room temperature.
• Add the flour, baking powder and salt to a mixing bowl. Whisk to break up any lumps of flour. Set aside the dry ingredients. Add the brown sugar and butter to the bowl of a stand mixer fitted with the paddle attachment. Cream the butter and sugar together, scraping down the bowl as needed, until fluffy and lighter in color, 1 to 2 minutes. Add the egg and beat until it is evenly combined. Add the orange zest and vanilla and mix until incorporated. Add half of the flour mixture to the butter mixture. Mix until incorporated, then add the date mixture. Mix until well combined, then add the remaining flour mixture. Mix until just combined.
• Spray 8 of the cups in a 12-cup muffin pan with the cooking spray. Fill the greased cups with 1/3 cup batter each. Bake until puffed and golden brown, about 20 minutes.
• For the whiskey toffee sauce: Meanwhile, add the heavy whipping cream, brown sugar, butter, vanilla and salt to a small saucepan and heat over medium-high heat. Stir the mixture continuously until the butter is melted. Bring the mixture to a boil, then turn the heat down to medium-low and simmer, stirring occasionally, for 2 minutes. Add the whiskey and continue to simmer until the sauce has slightly darkened in color, an additional 2 minutes. Turn the heat off and keep covered until ready to serve.
• Cool the puddings in the pan on a wire rack for 5 minutes. Once the puddings are cool enough to handle, remove them from the muffin pan using an offset spatula. Trim the domed tops from the puddings and set them on serving plates, cut-side down. Pour the warm whiskey toffee sauce over the puddings and serve immediately.

EASY STICKY-TOFFEE DESSERT

Steps:

• For the cake: Preheat the oven to 375 degrees F and butter a 1 1/2-quart capacity baking dish.
• Combine the sugar with the flour in a large bowl. Pour the milk into a measuring cup, beat in the egg, vanilla and melted butter and then pour this mixture over the sugar and flour, stirring with a wooden spoon to combine. Fold in the dates then scrape into the prepared baking dish. Don't worry if it doesn't look very full; it will by the time it cooks.
• For the sauce: Sprinkle the sugar over the cake mixture and dot with butter. Pour over the boiling water (yes really!) and transfer to the oven. Set the time for 45 minutes, though you might find the dessert needs 5 or 10 minutes more. The top of the dessert should be springy and spongy when it's cooked; underneath, the butter, dark brown sugar and boiling water will have turned into a rich, sticky sauce. Serve with vanilla ice cream, creme fraiche or heavy or light cream, as you wish.

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.

CHEWY TOFFEES

Steps:

• Neatly line the base and sides of a 20x30cm baking tin with baking parchment. Tip the sugars, cream and butter into a large heavy-based deep saucepan and heat gently, stirring occasionally until all the ingredients have come together and the sugars and butter have melted. Place a sugar thermometer or digital cooking thermometer in the pan, turn up the heat and boil everything together vigorously without stirring until the temperature reaches 125C. Remove from the heat and stir in the vanilla. Leave for a moment for any bubbles to settle, then carefully pour the molten toffee into the prepared tin, swirling the tin until the toffee covers the base. Leave the toffee for at least 2hrs to set - overnight is ideal.
• Use the parchment to lift the set toffee out of the tin and cut into squares or fingers. If the toffee is sticking to the knife, lightly oil the blade. Wrap the toffees in waxed paper and store in a jar for up to two weeks at room temperature or a month in the fridge.

AUNT ROSE'S FANTASTIC BUTTER TOFFEE

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350°. In a shallow baking pan, toast almonds until golden brown, 5-10 minutes, stirring occasionally. Cool. Pulse chocolate in a food processor until finely ground (do not overprocess); transfer to a bowl. Pulse almonds in food processor until coarsely chopped. Sprinkle 1 cup almonds over bottom of a greased 15x10x1-in. pan. Sprinkle with 1 cup chocolate., In a heavy saucepan, combine butter, sugar and water. Cook over medium heat until a candy thermometer reads 290° (soft-crack stage), stirring occasionally., Immediately pour mixture over almonds and chocolate in pan. Sprinkle with remaining chocolate and almonds. Refrigerate until set; break into pieces.

EASY TOFFEE

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 325 degrees F (165 degrees C). Grease a baking sheet. Line baking sheet with saltine crackers, edges touching.
• In a medium saucepan, combine butter and brown sugar and cook until mixture reaches 235 degrees F (112 degrees C) or a small amount of mixture dropped into cold water forms a small ball that flattens when placed on a flat surface. Pour mixture over crackers and spread evenly.
• Bake in preheated oven 15 minutes. Sprinkle chocolate chips over hot toffee. When chips turn glossy, spread evenly with spatula. Sprinkle with almonds. Freeze 20 minutes before serving.

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.

EASY BUTTER TOFFEE

Steps:

• Rub the top of a microwavable mixing bowl with (extra) butter. Place butter into bowl. Pour sugar directly on butter. Add salt and water.
• Cook approximately 7-8 minutes (sometimes I have seen some microwaves take up to 12 minutes). Start watching at this point so as not to overcook. Candy is done when it's the color of a Heath bar or brown sugar.
• Pour mixture over sliced almonds on a buttered cookie sheet. Don't scrape the bowl! Cool!
• Top with melted chocolate (and more almonds if you wish) and let cool some more.
• Break into pieces and serve. (I use a regular table knife -- just be sure not to cut into your cookie sheet!) Enjoy!