Toffee
December 13th, 2011
I recently had the treat of receiving and delighting in the read Sweet Confections: Beautiful Candy to Make at Home, by Nina Wanat.
I am a sucker for sweets, (I am pretty sure that is not shocking to anyone reading this.) But truth be told, there is always something kind of intimidating to me about making candy. It seems confusing, difficult and somewhat magical! (keep in mind this is an honest confession of someone who worked as a professional pastry chef!) Well, in a warm and lovely way, Nina Wanat makes candy making a simple and friendly process.
After drooling through the pages and pages of beautiful recipes, I settled on Toffee. If you know me well- that was a totally predictable choice. I freaking love toffee. I mean, its rally just crunchy caramel, right? Uh, add some chocolate, toasted almonds and sea salt and I was done.
It was shockingly easy to make, and was quickly scarffed up at my house! (I shared Nina’s recipe below)
But the great news is, that I get to give a copy away to one of you to enjoy too!
More about Sweet Confections:
Sweet Confections is a photo-rich how-to guide and collection of 40 delicious candy recipes: from traditional favorites to innovative new twists on the classics, readers will enjoy creating handmade sweets in their own kitchen. Nina’s friendly, personable voice is perfectly suited to walking readers through the ins and outs of candymaking: her explanation of readily available ingredients and tools, as well as basic techniques such as tempering chocolate, hand-rolling truffles, and cooking sugar syrup make the art of handmade candy approachable for everyone. With photography by Diane Cu and Todd Porter, the amazing White on Rice Couple, the book is a visual delight: envision stacks of golden, crunchy peanut brittle; rows of billowy meringues; silky blueberry coconut nougat; a slab of roasted almond and dark chocolate toffee; and creamy wedges of vanilla cheesecake fudge. What a treat!
If you want to win a copy of this book, enter for chances below in SEPARATE comments:
1) What’s your favorite candy?
2) Follow Heather Christo on Facebook
3) Subscribe to HeatherChristo.com here
4) Follow me on twitter @heatherchristo
This contest will run until Thursday, December 15th at 11:59 PT. Good Luck!
Toffee, makes 1 ½ lbs
-1 Tbs water
-1 cup butter
-1/4 cup cream
-1 cup sugar
½ tsp salt
½ tsp vanilla
5 ounces dark chocolate
1 cup toasted almonds, chopped
Flakey Sea Salt for sprinkling
1) Line a baking sheet with parchment paper
2) Boil the water, butter, cream, sugar, and salt over medium heat in a 3-quart saucepan. Stir slowly and constantly with a heatproof spatula until the syrup reaches 300 F. (Use a candy thermometer.)
3) Remove the mixture from the heat, and stir in the vanilla
4) Pour onto the parchment paper. Let stand 1 minute, then sprinkle chocolate on top of the toffee- wait 3-5 minutes for the chocolate to melt, then spread it evenly over the toffee with an offset spatula.
5) Sprinkle on the almonds, followed by the sea salt, if using.
6) Refrigerate the toffee until the chocolate is set, about 45 minutes.
7) Break into pieces and store in an airtight container.
This looks delicious! My favorite candy is a toss up between Reese’s cups and Heath bars.
8:47 pm on December 13th, 2011
I already follow you on facebook!
8:48 pm on December 13th, 2011
I already follow you on Twitter!
8:49 pm on December 13th, 2011
Wow – not only does the toffee look amazing, but your pictures are incredible! Best ever!
My favorite candy is – peanut butter cups! Chocolate and peanut butter are irresistible to me! Thanks for a GREAT giveaway!
8:55 pm on December 13th, 2011
I already follow you via email!
8:55 pm on December 13th, 2011
I’ve “Liked” your Facebook page….I can’t believe I missed it!
8:58 pm on December 13th, 2011
I already follow you on twitter (@AnnHolly). Thanks again for a great giveaway!
8:59 pm on December 13th, 2011
peanut butter cups make me weak in the knees!
9:28 pm on December 13th, 2011
follow on twitter saramama
9:28 pm on December 13th, 2011
I love toffee/almond roca-type candy, but have never made caramels and would love a good recipe for those. I would love to win this book!
9:38 pm on December 13th, 2011
I already subscribe!
9:38 pm on December 13th, 2011
looooove toffee. i can eat an entire batch all by myself. I bet I can eat TWO batches of this!!!
9:54 pm on December 13th, 2011
Toffee is my absolute all time favorite candy treat! Too bad my rear end doesn’t like it very much, but my stomach sure does! xo
10:16 pm on December 13th, 2011
YUM! The sea salt is a excellent compliment to the chocolate and toffee.
10:34 pm on December 13th, 2011
Favorite candy: chocolate peanut butter cups, red and black licorice is a close 2nd!
10:36 pm on December 13th, 2011
I follow HC on FB
10:37 pm on December 13th, 2011
I subscribe to HC.
10:37 pm on December 13th, 2011
Anything that contains chocolate would be considered my favorite candy!
1:08 am on December 14th, 2011
My favorite candy is See’s candy. Scotchmallow…yummy
1:53 am on December 14th, 2011
Reese cup or Almond Joy!
3:32 am on December 14th, 2011
This toffee sounds so yummy!
3:59 am on December 14th, 2011
Dark chocolate and coconut.
4:21 am on December 14th, 2011
Favorite candy..a Chocolate Snowball… fudgy center, coated in coconut! YUM!
4:33 am on December 14th, 2011
I would have to agree that toffee is my favorite, and I really should make it myself so that I can leave out the almonds, which sometimes cause an allergic reaction for me.
5:04 am on December 14th, 2011
I subscribe and get your e-mails.
5:05 am on December 14th, 2011
i know it sounds weird, but my favorite candy EVER is sour punch straw BITES. heaven. i’m drooling just thinking about them!
5:14 am on December 14th, 2011
what!? what are those?
5:17 am on December 14th, 2011
Vicki- anybody who truly loves chocolate and coconut has to experience the best candy of all time. You MUST go to Frans, a local Seattle company for their coconut gold bars. https://www.franschocolates.com/store/home.php?cat=21 TO DIE FOR!!
5:20 am on December 14th, 2011
My favorite candy is an Almond Joy. YUM! And I have to ask because I am on the hunt for a good toffee recipe. Is the caramel on this one really really hard? Like it might break your teeth hard or does it have some give? Thanks!
5:21 am on December 14th, 2011
that is VERY nostalgic! I have a dear friend who can take down a whole box of those!
5:22 am on December 14th, 2011
I already follow you on Facebook!
5:22 am on December 14th, 2011
marianne- my sentiments exactly!
5:22 am on December 14th, 2011
And I subscribe to your email! (ps made the white chicken chili for a third time last Sunday. Dang that stuff is good and makes so much you have enought to share!)
5:23 am on December 14th, 2011
a bit of give for sure. Then I have realized, if left out, it gets softer. I bet if you let it go for longer at 300, or just slightly higher, then you would get a crunchier toffee…
5:24 am on December 14th, 2011
Salted nut rolls.
5:42 am on December 14th, 2011
Toffee, actually, is my favorite candy. And I, too, made a huge batch of Nina’s toffee and couldn’t stop eating it.
5:58 am on December 14th, 2011
I dont need to win, I had the book… but I have to say, isnt it fabulous? GREAT recipes! And beautiful toffee girl!
6:09 am on December 14th, 2011
My favorite kind of candy is anything sour. Especially sour patch kids!
6:09 am on December 14th, 2011
I also follow you on Facebook. Thanks for the giveaway!
6:09 am on December 14th, 2011
yes! gorgeous!
6:11 am on December 14th, 2011
HOMEMADE peanut butter fudge!
6:13 am on December 14th, 2011
I LOVE truffles!
6:14 am on December 14th, 2011
You picked my favorite candy! Toffee, hands down.
6:29 am on December 14th, 2011
I am also a nut for toffee! when i saw this post i went crazy and can’t wait to try it!
6:37 am on December 14th, 2011
Peanut brittle recipient handed down from my great aunt. I have enjoyed learning about the world of candy making, no thermometers allowed! :o)
6:40 am on December 14th, 2011
that is WAY too intimidating to me! (but very impressive!)
6:49 am on December 14th, 2011
I love hersheys bar with almonds!
7:04 am on December 14th, 2011
I already like you on facebook!
7:05 am on December 14th, 2011
My favorite candy is toffee as well. And the addition of the sea salt was not only inspired – but equally required. The sweet and salty combo gets me every time.
7:28 am on December 14th, 2011
I follow you on Facebook :)
7:29 am on December 14th, 2011
I follow you on the Twittersphere!
7:29 am on December 14th, 2011
And I have subscribed via e-mail.
7:30 am on December 14th, 2011
Toffee!
7:38 am on December 14th, 2011
I love toffee! always a favorite! Yours is gorgeous!
7:59 am on December 14th, 2011
Toffee is my favorite. Gorgeous photos!
8:27 am on December 14th, 2011
What an amazing recipe and an amazing looking book. Todd & Diane had told me about it, they’re so talented!
9:04 am on December 14th, 2011
Can’t wait to try looks great. Toffee is my all time favorite!
9:21 am on December 14th, 2011
LOVE this toffee for gifts & I want this beautiful book too :)
9:34 am on December 14th, 2011
I am a Facebook fan :)
9:35 am on December 14th, 2011
Anything chocolate. Add nuts and it’s even better!
9:57 am on December 14th, 2011
I follow you,
9:58 am on December 14th, 2011
I like you on fb
9:58 am on December 14th, 2011
Follow you via e-mail, love your recipes!! My fav candy is actually a chocolate bar here in Canada called a big Turk. Has a jujube type innards covered with milk chocolate! Weird but I love it. Peppermint patties are a very close 2nd!!
9:58 am on December 14th, 2011
I seriously love toffee with dark chocolate, but I think if it counts, fudge would be my absolute favorite. Just made some, in fact. *sigh*
12:11 pm on December 14th, 2011
Peppermint bark. =)
1:45 pm on December 14th, 2011
I love and appreciate all your recipes but would love another great book to add more delicious treats in my life….I follow you on Facebook and your website
3:42 pm on December 14th, 2011
My favorite candy to eat and to make are chocolate truffles rolled in bitter cocoa powder. The bitter, then the sweet…. ahhhh.
5:49 pm on December 14th, 2011
Ever since I tasted a Heath bar many years ago, it has been my favorite candy.
8:10 pm on December 14th, 2011
I follow Heather Christo on Facebook.
8:17 pm on December 14th, 2011
Toffee is probably my favorite holiday candy, right up there with chocolate bark and fudge.
9:29 pm on December 14th, 2011
I follow you on twittter.
10:04 pm on December 14th, 2011
i follow you on FB.
10:05 pm on December 14th, 2011
I have subscribed and love my daily recipe.
10:05 pm on December 14th, 2011
Love, love, love toffee and make it only at Christmas time because it is so yummy! I will try your recipe this weekend.
10:07 pm on December 14th, 2011
chocolate!
11:19 am on December 15th, 2011
I follow you on Facebook :)
11:20 am on December 15th, 2011
my favorite candy is almond joy
1:17 pm on December 15th, 2011
Almond Roca
1:53 pm on December 15th, 2011
Should I admit? A snickers bar.
7:52 pm on December 15th, 2011
Favorite candy is m&ms of course
9:57 pm on December 15th, 2011
It had to be toffee!!
3:36 pm on December 17th, 2011
It has to be toffee!!
3:43 pm on December 17th, 2011
I just made this recipe and it was not only easy, but delicious and addictive. Thanks for posting it and making it look so easy!
12:28 pm on December 22nd, 2011
Dark chocolate peanut butter cups!
12:45 pm on December 24th, 2011
[...] Web: Sponge Candy-Honeycomb – Bite My Thumb Homemade Dulce de Leche – The Urban Baker Toffee – Heather Christo Cooks Almond Joy – The Urban [...]
10:51 pm on February 12th, 2012
can you PLEASE post a recipie for making fondant? I really need an easy (If possible) recipie…… ps I made Yogurt Parfait and the granola and it was delish!
9:15 pm on April 11th, 2012