Brown Sugar Toffee With Nuts

By
Elizabeth LaBau
Sweet Book of Candy Making Elizabeth LaBau
Elizabeth LaBau
A professional pastry chef, cookbook author, and writer, Elizabeth LaBau has published more than 600 articles on baking and candy making.
Learn about The Spruce Eats' Editorial Process
Updated on 09/8/22
Brown sugar toffee with nuts

The Spruce Eats / Christine Ma
Prep: 15 mins
Cook: 20 mins
Cooling Time: 60 mins
Total: 95 mins
Servings: 14 servings
Nutrition Facts (per serving)
202 Calories
15g Fat
19g Carbs
1g Protein
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Nutrition Facts
Servings: 14
Amount per serving
Calories 202
% Daily Value*
Total Fat 15g 19%
Saturated Fat 5g 24%
Cholesterol 17mg 6%
Sodium 105mg 5%
Total Carbohydrate 19g 7%
Dietary Fiber 1g 4%
Total Sugars 17g
Protein 1g
Vitamin C 0mg 1%
Calcium 24mg 2%
Iron 0mg 2%
Potassium 70mg 1%
*The % Daily Value (DV) tells you how much a nutrient in a food serving contributes to a daily diet. 2,000 calories a day is used for general nutrition advice.
(Nutrition information is calculated using an ingredient database and should be considered an estimate.)

Brown sugar toffee has a deep, caramelized taste that is a little richer than most toffee recipes. A generous helping of nuts adds toasted flavor and crunch, creating a delicious, crispy toffee your family is sure to love. There is even a variation that adds chocolate to make it even more indulgent.

Homemade toffee is not difficult to make, and this recipe is great for beginners. You will need a good candy thermometer that is calibrated to ensure it reaches the proper temperature. With that tool, simply follow the directions carefully and your toffee will be a success.

Ingredients

  • 1 1/2 cups pecans, or almonds, toasted

  • 1 1/4 cups light brown sugar, packed

  • 2 tablespoons water

  • 1/2 cup unsalted butter, cubed

  • 1 tablespoon light corn syrup

  • 1/2 teaspoon salt

  • 1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract

  • 1/4 teaspoon baking soda

Steps to Make It

  1. Gather the ingredients.

    Ingredients for brown sugar toffee with nuts recipe gathered

    The Spruce Eats / Christine Ma

  2. Prepare a baking sheet or 9 x 13-inch pan by lining it with aluminum foil and spraying the foil with nonstick cooking spray.

    Aluminum foil on a baking sheet

    The Spruce Eats / Christine Ma

  3. Coarsely chop the toasted nuts, then scatter them in an even layer all over the foil-covered pan.

    Chopped nuts on a baking sheet

    The Spruce Eats / Christine Ma

  4. In a medium saucepan on medium heat, combine the brown sugar, water, cubed butter, corn syrup, and salt.

    Combine the brown sugar, water, cubed butter, corn syrup, and salt in a saucepan

    The Spruce Eats / Christine Ma

  5. Stir until the sugar and butter dissolve, then wipe down the sides with a wet pastry brush to prevent sugar crystals from forming. Insert your candy thermometer.

    Candy thermometer in a sugar mixture in the saucepan

    The Spruce Eats / Christine Ma

  6. Cook the candy, without stirring, until the thermometer reads 285 F / 140 C. Once it hits the desired temperature, immediately remove the pan from the heat.

    Candy cooking in a saucepan

    The Spruce Eats / Christine Ma

  7. Add the vanilla extract and the baking soda. Stir until the baking soda causes the toffee to foam up and become a lighter, opaque color.

    Add the vanilla extract and the baking soda to the candy in the saucepan

    The Spruce Eats / Christine Ma

  8. Pour the toffee in an even layer over the nuts on the prepared pan. Try not to spread it too much with a spatula. The more you work it, the more you will eliminate the air bubbles that give it a light and crispy texture.

    Candy poured over the nuts on the baking sheet

    The Spruce Eats / Christine Ma

  9. Let the toffee cool completely at room temperature, for at least 1 hour.

    Toffee with nuts on a baking sheet

    The Spruce Eats / Christine Ma

  10. Once cool and set, break the toffee into small pieces by hand.

    Brown sugar toffee with nuts on a baking sheet

    The Spruce Eats / Christine Ma

Recipe Variations

  • If you want to add chocolate to the toffee, have 1 cup of chopped chocolate prepared. Once you have poured the toffee over the nuts, let it sit for 1 minute, then sprinkle the top with the chopped chocolate. Allow it to sit for another minute while the heat of the toffee melts the chocolate, then use a spatula to carefully spread the chocolate into an even layer over the entire surface. Let the toffee and chocolate cool and harden completely before breaking into pieces as described in the recipe.
  • You can also sprinkle the top of the chocolate with more chopped nuts.

Tips

  • If you prefer or are concerned about nut allergies, skip the nuts. You'll still have a delicious brown sugar candy to enjoy.
  • Store the brown sugar toffee in an airtight container at room temperature for up to a week. If you live in a humid environment, it might get soft and sticky after a few days.