Toffee Sauce

Oct 9, 2026 · By VanillaGoods

Pantry Sauces syrups glazes Vanilla: Extract Easy

A small jug of glossy, deep brown toffee sauce being drizzled over whipped cream on a latte

British sticky toffee sauce: butter, dark brown sugar and a spoonful of molasses cooked with heavy cream until dark, glossy and buttery-rich.

Prep 5 min

Cook 12 min

Cooling 10 min

Total 27 min

Servings 12

Diet Gluten free

Ingredients

Adjust yield

servings

½ cup (113.0 g)unsalted butter
¾ cup (160.0 g)dark brown sugar, packed
1.0 tbsp (20.0 g)molasses or black treacle
⅔ cup (160.0 ml)heavy cream, divided
¼ tsp (1.5 g)fine sea salt
1.0 tsp (5.0 ml)pure vanilla extract

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Instructions

Combine the butter, brown sugar and molasses in a medium saucepan over medium-low heat and stir until the butter melts and the sugar dissolves, 3 to 4 minutes.
Whisk in half of the cream and bring to a boil.
Simmer, stirring, for 3 to 4 minutes, until darker and glossy.
Whisk in the remaining cream and simmer for 1 minute more.
Remove from the heat, stir in the salt and vanilla and cool for 10 minutes.

Tips

Molasses gives the deep, slightly bitter edge that separates toffee sauce from caramel.
If the sauce splits when reheated, whisk in a splash of cream over low heat.

Recipe FAQ

How long does it take to make toffee sauce?

Plan on 5 minutes of prep and 12 minutes of cooking, plus 10 minutes to rest. The recipe makes about 1 1/2 cups (12 servings).

How should I store toffee sauce?

Refrigerate in an airtight jar for up to 2 weeks. It thickens when cold; warm it for 10 to 15 seconds in the microwave or in a pan of warm water and stir before using.

Can I make toffee sauce ahead?

Make it up to 2 weeks ahead.

Can I use a different form of vanilla?

Yes. This recipe uses 1 tsp pure vanilla extract (5 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.

British sticky toffee sauce: butter, dark brown sugar and a spoonful of molasses cooked with heavy cream until dark, glossy and buttery-rich.

Estimated · per serving

Nutrition

Per serving = 1 of 12 servings this recipe makes.

169 Calories / serving

12.4g Fat

14.7g Carbs

0.4g Protein

14.6g Sugar

Whole recipe (12 servings): ~2028 cal · 149g fat · 176g carbs · 5g protein · 175g sugar

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

Per serving · 169 calories

What it takes to burn one serving

Brisk walking 32 min·1.9 mi·~3750 steps
Walking uphill or incline treadmill 23 min·1.2 mi·~2300 steps
Moderate cycling 17 min·3.4 mi
Swimming laps 24 min
Jogging 17 min·1.4 mi·~2700 steps
Stair climbing 16 min·~1450 steps
Dancing 27 min
Bodyweight circuit training 17 min
Cleaning, errands, or playing with the dog 39 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.

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