Classic Christmas Toffee

This Classic Christmas Toffee is a holiday staple for a reason. It’s an incredibly addictive, buttery, and crisp confection that’s surprisingly simple to make with just a few basic ingredients. A rich, golden toffee base is cooked to perfection, poured thin, and then topped with a layer of smooth melted chocolate and a sprinkle of chopped nuts.

Making homemade toffee can seem intimidating, but this recipe breaks it down into easy, foolproof steps. The key is using a candy thermometer to ensure you reach the perfect “hard crack” stage, resulting in that signature snap. It’s the perfect homemade gift for neighbors and friends or a must-have treat for your holiday dessert platter.

this recipe

Why You’ll Love This Recipe

• Simple Ingredients: You only need butter, sugar, chocolate, and nuts to create this amazing treat.
• Perfect for Gifting: It looks impressive, packages beautifully, and everyone loves receiving homemade candy.
• Utterly Addictive: The combination of buttery toffee, rich chocolate, and crunchy nuts is irresistible.
• Foolproof Method: Using a candy thermometer guarantees perfect, never-grainy toffee every time.

Ingredients

• 1 cup (2 sticks) Unsalted Butter, cut into pieces
• 1 cup Granulated Sugar
• 1 tablespoon Water
• 1/4 teaspoon Salt
• 1 cup Semi-Sweet Chocolate Chips
• 1/2 cup Finely Chopped Pecans or Almonds, toasted

Step-by-Step Instructions

1. Prep Your Pan: Line a baking sheet with parchment paper or a silicone baking mat. Sprinkle the chopped nuts evenly over the prepared pan.
2. Combine Ingredients: In a heavy-bottomed saucepan, combine the butter, sugar, water, and salt.
3. Cook the Toffee: Place the saucepan over medium heat, stirring constantly with a wooden spoon or heatproof spatula until the butter is melted and the sugar has dissolved.
4. Bring to Temperature: Attach a candy thermometer to the side of the pan. Continue to cook, stirring frequently, until the mixture reaches 300°F (150°C), which is the “hard crack” stage. The mixture will be a deep amber color. This can take 10-15 minutes.
5. Pour the Toffee: Immediately and carefully pour the hot toffee mixture over the chopped nuts on the prepared baking sheet. Use the spatula to spread it into a thin, even layer.
6. Melt the Chocolate: Let the toffee sit for 1-2 minutes, then sprinkle the chocolate chips evenly over the top. The residual heat from the toffee will melt the chocolate.
7. Spread and Garnish: After another minute or two, use an offset spatula to spread the melted chocolate into a smooth layer. If desired, you can sprinkle more chopped nuts on top of the chocolate.
8. Cool and Break: Let the toffee cool completely at room temperature for at least 2 hours, or until fully hardened. Once set, break the toffee into irregular pieces.

Tips & Variations

• Pro Tip: Do not walk away from the stove while the toffee is cooking. It can go from perfect to burned very quickly once it gets close to 300°F.
• Nut Variations: Feel free to use walnuts, pistachios, or even toasted coconut instead of pecans or almonds.
• Chocolate Swirl: Use a mix of dark and white chocolate chips for a beautiful marbled effect.
• Add Sprinkles: For a festive touch, add some holiday-themed sprinkles over the melted chocolate.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

• Why is my toffee grainy?
  • Graininess is usually caused by sugar crystals that didn’t fully dissolve. Make sure to stir constantly at the beginning until the sugar is completely melted and smooth.
• Why did my toffee separate?
  • This can happen if the heat is too high or if the mixture is stirred too vigorously. Cook over steady, medium heat and stir gently and consistently.
• How do I store homemade toffee?
  • Store the toffee in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 2 weeks. Keep layers separated with parchment paper to prevent sticking.

Serving Suggestions

• Break the toffee into pieces and arrange it on a holiday dessert platter alongside cookies and other candies. It’s also perfect for packaging in festive tins or cellophane bags to give as a thoughtful homemade gift.

Abby

Best Christmas Toffee

This buttery, crunchy Christmas Toffee is layered with melted chocolate and topped with chopped nuts. A festive and easy holiday candy that makes the perfect edible gift or party treat!

Print Recipe Pin Recipe

Prep Time 5 minutes mins

Cook Time 25 minutes mins

Total Time 30 minutes mins

Servings: 24 people

Course: Candy, Dessert

Cuisine: American

Calories: 100

Ingredients Equipment Method Notes

Ingredients

  

• 1 cup pecans or walnuts, chopped
• 1 cup unsalted butter
• 1 cup granulated sugar
• 1/2 tsp kosher salt
• 1 tsp vanilla extract
• 1 cup milk chocolate chips
• 1 cup semi-sweet chocolate chips

Equipment

• Large saucepan
• 9×13 baking dish
• Parchment Paper
• Candy thermometer
• Rubber spatula

Method

 

1. In a large saucepan, combine butter, sugar, and salt. Cook over medium heat, stirring constantly until melted and combined (about 5 minutes).
2. Line a 9×13 baking dish with parchment paper, leaving overhang for easy removal.
3. Allow mixture to boil, stirring 2–3 times. Cook until dark amber and candy thermometer reads 285°F (20–25 minutes).
4. Pour toffee into the prepared dish. Sprinkle chocolate chips on top, let soften, then spread into a smooth chocolate layer.
5. Sprinkle chopped nuts on top. Refrigerate 1–2 hours until hardened.
6. Once hardened, lift out by parchment and break into pieces. Serve or package as gifts!

Notes

Use parchment paper for easy removal. Cook until the toffee reaches 285°F and turns dark amber. Wrap in cellophane bags tied with ribbon for gifting. A candy thermometer is highly recommended for accuracy.