To make toffee, follow the directions above to make butterscotch. In addition, you’ll want to use a candy thermometer to track when your butterscotch reaches the hard crack stage, which is around 300 degrees Fahrenheit. Toffee is often combined with nuts such as almonds and semi-sweet chocolate to create classic English toffee. This is done by spreading the hot toffee out flat on a sheet pan, and topping it with semi-sweet chocolate chips. Allow the chips to melt for about 30 seconds and carefully use the back of a spoon to spread the chocolate over the entire top of the toffee. Top with chopped or slivered almonds. Allow the English toffee to cool for about 3 hours before breaking it into small pieces. Tips for Making Caramel, Butterscotch, and Toffee While the three may differ in taste and texture, the methods used to cook them are similar. To produce decadent-tasting sugars, be sure to keep the following tips in mind: Never step away from the sugar when it’s cooking. It only takes a few seconds of neglect for sugar to burn. Do not try to touch or taste the sugar while it’s cooking, it will be extremely hot and sticky. Cook your mixture in a larger pot than you think is necessary because the sugar can produce large bubbles as it turns into a liquid or additional ingredients are added. Opt for a stainless steel pot to best handle the high temperatures. Some non-stick coatings may be affected by the hot sugars. When making caramel, wait to add ingredients such as cream and butter until after the caramelization process has occurred. Squeezing a small amount of lemon juice into your sugar while it’s cooking can help prevent crystallization. Keep ice water on hand in case you accidentally come into contact with the hot sugar. While some may think caramel, butterscotch, and toffee taste the same, any candy connoisseur knows each of these delectable sweets has its own unique flavor, texture, and consistency. And now that you know the difference, you can confidently create and serve customers the best sugar candy to top their hot fudge sundae, decadent cheesecake, or classic cupcake.
