Tameletjie (South African Nut Toffee)

Nov 3, 2026 · By VanillaGoods

Dessert Candy confections Medium

A hard, sticky toffee of cooked brown sugar studded with toasted almonds and pine nuts. It is firm enough to snap but chews as you eat it. We cook it to a slightly lower stage than brittle. Makes 30 pieces in about 1 hr 35 min.

Prep 15 min

Cook 20 min

Cooling 1 hr

Total 1 hr 35 min

Yield 30 pieces

Diet Gluten free

Ingredients

Adjust yield

pieces

2 cups (400 g)light brown sugar
½ cup (120 ml)water
2 tbsp (30 g)unsalted butter
1 tsp (5 ml)white vinegar
¾ cup (100 g)whole almonds, toasted and coarsely chopped
7 tbsp (50 g)pine nuts, toasted

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Instructions

Oil a baking sheet or line it with a silicone mat. Toast the almonds and pine nuts in a dry skillet over medium heat until golden, about 4 minutes.
Combine the sugar, water and vinegar in a heavy saucepan and stir over low heat until the sugar dissolves.
Raise the heat to medium and boil without stirring until the thermometer reads 270 F (132 C), the soft-crack stage, about 12 to 15 minutes.
Remove from the heat and stir in the butter until melted, then fold in the nuts quickly.
Spread onto the prepared sheet about 1/3 inch (8 mm) thick.
Cool for 5 minutes, then score into squares with an oiled knife.
When completely firm, snap along the lines.

Tips

For a hard brittle snap, boil to 300 F (149 C); for a chewier toffee, stop at 260 F (127 C).
Brush down the sides of the pan with a wet pastry brush if crystals form.
Wrap the pieces individually; they turn sticky in humidity.
Cooked sugar at 270 F (132 C) causes severe burns; handle with care.

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Recipe FAQ

How long does it take to make tameletjie (south african nut toffee)?

Plan on 15 minutes of prep and 20 minutes of cooking, plus 1 hour to chill. The recipe makes 30 pieces.

How should I store tameletjie (south african nut toffee)?

Wrap pieces in wax paper and store airtight at room temperature for up to 2 weeks.

Can I make tameletjie (south african nut toffee) ahead?

Yes. It needs time to chill and set, so it is a good one to make the day before you serve it.

A traditional South African toffee, classically studded with pine nuts or almonds. Serve it with rooibos tea.

Estimated · per serving

Nutrition

Per serving = 1 of 30 servings this recipe makes.

87 Calories / serving

3.4g Fat

14.2g Carbs

1.1g Protein

13.1g Sugar

Whole recipe (30 servings): ~2610 cal · 102g fat · 426g carbs · 33g protein · 393g sugar

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