Babelutte (Belgian Butter Toffee)

Nov 3, 2026 · By VanillaGoods

Dessert Candy confections Vanilla: Extract Medium

A chewy, buttery Belgian coastal toffee wrapped in paper squares. Our version uses brown sugar, cream and butter and a candy thermometer. Makes 40 pieces in about 1 hr 10 min.

Prep 15 min

Cook 25 min

Cooling 30 min

Total 1 hr 10 min

Yield 40 pieces

Diet Gluten free

Ingredients

Adjust yield

pieces

1 cup (200 g)light brown sugar
½ cup (100 g)sugar
⅓ cup (80 ml)light corn syrup
½ cup (120 ml)heavy cream
½ cup (100 g)unsalted butter, cubed
¼ tsp (2 g)fine sea salt
½ tsp (3 ml)vanilla extract

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Instructions

Line an 8-inch (20 cm) square pan with buttered parchment.
In a heavy 3-quart pot, combine both sugars, the corn syrup and the cream. Stir over medium heat until the sugar dissolves, then stop stirring.
Add the butter and salt. Bring to a boil and cook, stirring only occasionally, until a candy thermometer reads 250 F (121 C), about 15 to 20 minutes.
Remove from the heat and carefully stir in the vanilla; the mixture may bubble up.
Pour into the prepared pan and let cool 30 minutes, until just firm but not hard.
Lift out, cut into small rectangles with an oiled knife, and wrap each piece in wax paper or parchment.

Tips

Cooking to 250 F (121 C) gives a chewy, sticky toffee; go to 270 F (132 C) for a harder one.
Use a pot with high sides; molten sugar foams up.
Wrap pieces quickly, as they absorb moisture and turn sticky.
Sugar syrup at 250 F (121 C) causes severe burns; use a thermometer, keep children away and use a deep pot.

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Recipe FAQ

How long does it take to make babelutte (belgian butter toffee)?

Plan on 15 minutes of prep and 25 minutes of cooking, plus 30 minutes to chill. The recipe makes 40 pieces.

How should I store babelutte (belgian butter toffee)?

Keep wrapped in an airtight tin at cool room temperature up to 2 weeks.

Can I make babelutte (belgian butter toffee) ahead?

It is at its best the day it is made; prepare it a few hours before serving.

Can I use a different form of vanilla?

Yes. This recipe uses 0.5 tsp vanilla extract (3 ml). Each teaspoon of pure vanilla extract can be swapped for 1 teaspoon of vanilla bean paste, the seeds of half a vanilla bean, or 1/2 teaspoon of vanilla powder. Paste and seeds add the classic dark specks.

A butter toffee of the Belgian North Sea coast, first sold to holidaymakers in the late 1800s and linked to a woman remembered as Mere Babelutte. Serve it with coffee.

Estimated · per serving

Nutrition

Per serving = 1 of 40 servings this recipe makes.

65 Calories / serving

3.1g Fat

9.6g Carbs

0.1g Protein

8.3g Sugar

Whole recipe (40 servings): ~2600 cal · 124g fat · 384g carbs · 4g protein · 332g sugar

Estimated values per serving, calculated from standard ingredient data. Not verified Nutrition Facts; actual values vary with brands, measurements, and preparation.