English Toffee

Jul 3, 2026 · By VanillaGoods

Dessert Candy confections Origin: Madagascar Vanilla: Extract Advanced

Crunchy, buttery English toffee that shatters into shards. Best with Madagascar vanilla (rich, creamy, classic); any pure vanilla works. Makes about 1 1/2 pounds (32 pieces).

Prep 15 min

Cook 20 min

Set 2 hr

Total 2 hr 35 min

Yield 32 pieces

Diet —

Ingredients

Adjust yield

pieces

1.0 cup (227.0 g)unsalted butter, 2 sticks, cut into pieces
¾ cup (150.0 g)granulated sugar
¼ cup (53.0 g)light brown sugar, packed
2.0 tbsp (30.0 ml)water
1.0 tbsp (20.0 g)light corn syrup
½ tspfine sea salt
6.0 oz (170.0 g)milk chocolate, finely chopped
¾ cup (82.0 g)pecans, toasted and finely chopped
1.0 tsp (5.0 ml)VanillaGoods pure vanilla extract

Make it at home

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Instructions

Line a rimmed baking sheet with a silicone mat or buttered parchment.
In a heavy 3-quart saucepan, stir the butter, granulated sugar, brown sugar, water, corn syrup, and salt over medium heat until the butter melts and the sugar dissolves.
Clip on a candy thermometer and cook, stirring gently and often, until the toffee reaches 300°F and is the color of peanut butter, 15 to 20 minutes. If it separates, whisk briskly.
Remove from the heat, stir in the vanilla, and pour onto the sheet, spreading about 1/4 inch thick.
Scatter the milk chocolate over the hot toffee, wait 3 minutes, then spread it smooth.
Sprinkle with the pecans.
Let set at room temperature until completely hard, about 2 hours, then break into pieces.

Tips

Test your candy thermometer in boiling water first; it should read 212°F at sea level. If it's off, adjust the target temperature by the same amount. Above 1,000 feet, lower every target by about 2°F per 1,000 feet.
Hot sugar causes serious burns; keep children and pets away from the stove while it cooks.
Vanilla swap: use vanilla bean paste 1:1 in place of the extract for visible specks, or the seeds of 1 vanilla bean for each tablespoon of extract.
Best vanilla for this: Madagascar (rich, creamy, classic), or Mexican (spiced, warm, woodsy). Any pure vanilla works.
Storage: Store airtight at room temperature for up to 2 weeks.

Recipe FAQ

How long does it take to make english toffee?

Plan on 15 minutes of prep and 20 minutes of cooking, plus 2 hours to set. It makes about 1 1/2 pounds (32 pieces).

How should I store english toffee?

Store airtight at room temperature for up to 2 weeks.

Can I use a different form of vanilla?

use vanilla bean paste 1:1 in place of the extract for visible specks, or the seeds of 1 vanilla bean for each tablespoon of extract.

Crunchy, buttery English toffee that shatters into shards. Best with Madagascar vanilla (rich, creamy, classic); any pure vanilla works. Makes about 1 1/2 pounds (32 pieces).

Estimated · per serving

Nutrition

Per serving = 1 of 32 servings this recipe makes.

124 Calories / serving

9.2g Fat

10.3g Carbs

0.7g Protein

9.4g Sugar

Whole recipe (32 servings): ~3968 cal · 294g fat · 330g carbs · 22g protein · 301g sugar

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

Per serving · 124 calories

What it takes to burn one serving

Brisk walking 23 min·1.3 mi·~2700 steps
Walking uphill or incline treadmill 17 min·0.9 mi·~1700 steps
Moderate cycling 13 min·2.6 mi
Swimming laps 17 min
Jogging 12 min·1.0 mi·~1900 steps
Stair climbing 11 min·~1000 steps
Dancing 20 min
Bodyweight circuit training 13 min
Cleaning, errands, or playing with the dog 29 min

Rough estimates for one serving, based on standard MET values at about 155 lb. Your own burn depends on body size, effort, and fitness. Shown for context only — food is not something you have to earn.