Back when I was first getting into cooking, my aunt gave me a board game for foodies. Imagine Cranium except every category has to do with food. One card category involves listing out ingredients one by one while the other team guesses what dish they make up. Now that I cook more often, I’m pretty sure none of these ingredient lists would make an edible dish. Plus, a disproportionate of the cards begin with 1/2 cup of mayonnaise. Whatever you’re making – start with half a container of mayonnaise. No thank you.
Find a recipe that starts with 2 sticks of butter, however, and I’m certain it’s something fantastic. Basically: “this recipe starts with two bricks of gold.” That’s exactly how my mom’s almond English toffee recipe starts and it’s the stuff my dreams are made of.
This is a cherished family recipe that my mom makes over a dozen batches of every Christmas to give to all of her friends, family, and neighbors for the holidays. Pro-tip #1: get on my mom’s good side. It’s her signature holiday treat and everyone looks forward to their bag each December. If there’s one thing you can always count on, it’s mom’s almond toffee for the holidays.
Even though she’s been making this toffee for years, she never taught me how to make it. She was so shocked that I didn’t already have the recipe when I asked for it this year that she dropped everything to drive 3 hours to teach me how to make it (those are her delicate hands modeling the recipe).
Actually she first texted me a picture of the recipe, with scratched out notes written all over it and a glob of peanut butter right in the middle. According to her recipe, you know it’s done when “the mix is EXACTLY the color of Peanut Butter.” Underlined as if it’s one of the ingredients (to be clear: it’s not).
Until this year, I assumed peanut butter was a primary ingredient because she kept the giant jar on the counter during the holidays for color matching. So I texted back a list of questions, the first of which was, “what brand of peanut butter, mom?” (“What’s the Pantone number of the peanut butter?!”)
It’s Jif peanut butter, in case you’re wondering.
Instead of asking you to buy a specific jar of peanut butter to make mom’s toffee, I translated her process into temperature measurements while she made the first batch. Then I made four more batches because…do you really need a reason? IT’S EDIBLE GOLD.
Now that I’ve got the recipe, I’m giving homemade toffee as gifts to all my friends and bringing it to every party, starting with Alanna’s birthday (Pro tip #2: this is how you make friends).
This recipe is a highly addicting, deeply buttery toffee crunch with roasted almonds scattered throughout and a layer of chocolate and walnuts on top. Imagine almond roca, but even better because it’s made with love (and simple ingredients).
I’ve made batches with semi-sweet chocolate and with dark chocolate, and even a batch without chocolate. And if walnuts aren’t your thing, feel free to add chopped almonds on top. This last time, I absent mindedly flip-flopped the almonds and the walnuts for a walnuty toffee with a salted chocolate almond topping and I’m still eating it like crack. Whatever you do, plan to make more than one batch (and wear stretchy pants).
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- ⅓ cup of water
- 1 cup of unsalted butter (2 sticks), sliced into 5-8 pieces each
- 1-1/3 cups of sugar
- ¼ teaspoon salt
- ¾ cups of roasted almonds, coarsely chopped (you can use raw or roasted almonds and they're both delicious - my mom usually makes it with raw almonds, but this year tried roasted and loves it even more)
- 3-4 ounces of semi-sweet or dark chocolate chips* (see note)
- ½ cup walnuts, chopped
- Read all the directions before getting started. Stuff happens so fast and you want to make sure you're prepared for what's coming next. Make sure that you have an accurate candy thermometer - 5 degrees off will drastically change the texture of your toffee from crunchy to taffy-like. Here's a handy article on how to calibrate your candy thermometer.
- Prepare a quarter-sheet baking sheet (9 x 13) by lining it with parchment paper. (Since you don't spread the toffee to the edge of the pan, if all you have is a larger baking sheet, it will work too!)
- Put the water in a medium pot and arrange the butter chunks in a single layer on the bottom. Heat on extremely low heat until the butter melts (should take 10-15 minutes). Do not stir.**
- Increase the heat to medium-low and bring the butter to a rolling boil.
- Add the sugar, salt, and almonds and briefly stir to combine. Stop stirring and insert a candy thermometer. Cook, undisturbed, until the caramel reaches 260°F, or begins turning amber colored, whichever comes first (this will differ depending on your pot, but should take around 10 minutes to start turning colors). At this point, don't take your eyes off of the pot, even to just wash a quick dish, as you'll risk burning the caramel. Depending on your pot, this could take 5-15 minutes more, but when it starts turning dark amber, it turns quickly.
- Cook, undisturbed, until the mixture reaches 300°F (or as my mom says, "is EXACTLY the color of peanut butter"). Check the color of the caramel at the bottom of the pot with a single gentle stir once it reaches around 285°F, or appears amber colored throughout, to make sure it isn't getting too dark. If your mixture turns amber brown before it reaches 300°F, stir gently occasionally to keep it from burning.
- Once it reaches 300°F, immediately pour the caramel onto the prepared pan and use the wooden spoon to spread it into a thin ¼-inch thick layer. Let it sit for 1 minutes, then sprinkle the chocolate chips evenly over the top. Let the chocolate chips melt for 1-2 minutes, then use a rubber spatula to spread them evenly into a thin chocolate coating.
- Sprinkle the chopped walnuts evenly over the top and use the back of a sturdy metal or plastic spatula to gently press the walnuts into the chocolate.
- Let it sit for 4-6 hours, or until the toffee has cooled and the chocolate has solidified. If you're impatient like me, you can also put the pan in the fridge for 15-20 minutes just to solidify the chocolate.
- Break into chunks using your hands or an old knife and store in an airtight container at room temperature for a couple of weeks. (As if you won't eat it before then...)
**From my experience, it works best if you use a heavy-bottomed stainless steal pot and not an enameled cast-iron pot.
Jen @ Baked by an Introvert -
I’m loving all of your family recipes. This toffee looks incredibly delicious!
Sarah Menanix -
Thank you so much, Jen! I feel pretty lucky to have family recipes being passed down to me.
Tina @ Just Putzing Around the Kitchen -
Um, at this point I really probably should just move in with you because I want to eat literally everything that comes out of your kitchen, always. <3 <3 <3
Sarah Menanix -
I THINK THAT’S A FABULOUS PLAN – WHY HAS IT TAKEN YOU THIS LONG TO FIGURE IT OUT?!
Amy | Club Narwhal -
I am SO on board with any recipe that starts with two sticks of butter (and this one looks like it will deliver on every count). Also, that board game sounds too fun. I’m going to put it on my Christmas list :)
Sarah Menanix -
Right?! Butter FTW! (I strongly strongly urge you NOT to put that board game on your Christmas list…unless you want it solely for the one-time laugh;)
Ashley @ A Lady Goes West -
Edible gold? Yes, please! Another winner. I would definitely not be good at the food board game. But Cranium? I’m good at that!
Sarah Menanix -
Haha – I think the game was developed to be SUPER obvious for even non-“foodies.” For example, what recipe includes: “spinach, artichokes, mayonnaise, and cream cheese”?
I haven’t played Cranium in FOREVER, but we should break that game back out!
Caitlin -
GOLD is right! God I love this stuff. My friend makes it every year, but now I don’t live nearby and have lost my annual bag :( I want to try making it though and your instructions sound manageable! I love that your mom had pb on the counter to check the color.
Sarah Menanix -
I like to think that if my mom can make it for 15+ years without a candy thermometer, it’s a pretty fool-proof recipe! But I agree – always more fun when someone makes it for you;)
Alice @ Honestly Fitness -
Yes, this recipe post came with perfect timing! I recently bought a temperature gun and have been dying to try it out. Love that this is a family recipe. And don’t worry, stretchy pants are on call :P
Also, where did you get the darling packaging for the toffee?? So cute.
Sarah Menanix -
Nice! I want a temperature gun – I don’t even know what it is but it sounds fancy and I want it. Haha. Oh – that’s a great question! I should have included a link – I ordered the bags from Evermine. I just made the labels quickly on Illustrator, added some leftover jute twine from our wedding and a little greens that I picked up off the ground at my parents’ house!
Alice @ Honestly Fitness -
Haha, a temperature gun (I think the official name is actually infrared thermometer, idk I just say temperature gun) reads the surface temperature of something. I went to a macaron baking class recently and the instructor had one so I decided to invest in it.
Thanks so much for the link to the bags and the jute twine! Now I can gift my friends toffee just as adorable as yours :) Minus the greens because seriously
Sarah Menanix -
I like temperature gun – it sounds more hardcore. I should look into it – I make candy so often and my thermometer is super cheap and definitely needs to be replaced! Yay – I hope all of your friends love the toffee!
Cheyanne -
Will you or your mom make me some of this “gold”? Looks absolutely divine. I saw it on instagram and HAD to come by and comment! Love your blog! Cheers :)
Pang @circahappy -
“What’s the Pantone number of the peanut butter?!” That is hilarious… hahaha
I would love to be your real friend RIGHT NOW hoping that I will get a bag of this from you (or your mom) (Would your mom accept the “new friend” application?)
This recipe (& your photos) make me drooled. I am going to drop everything and make it really soon <3 <3 <3
Sarah Menanix -
I don’t know about her, but I’m TOTALLY accepting real-friend applications! I wish I had more time before we were heading home for the holidays to bring you a bag.
Thank you so much, friend:) I would love to hear how it turns out when you make it!
Kristi @ Inspiration Kitchen -
What a great looking recipe Sarah! And, I love the story behind it. I love that your mom cared enough to drive 3 hours to teach you how to make it! What a great story – and a great recipe!
Sarah Menanix -
You’re so sweet, Kristi! My mom came down to teach me how to make it AND didn’t complain when I insisted she hand model for all of my photos;) (Plus she did ALL of the dishes – what a lady, right?)
Karen @ The Food Charlatan -
I read the part about the peanut butter out loud to Eric. Oh. my. gosh. This cracks me up!!! PS I am going to change all of my recipes to call for bricks of gold.
Sarah Menanix -
I think that’s a good plan. Let’s make it the new standard.
Lisa / Good on Paper -
I NEEEEEED to make this! I would have totally made this for gifts this year but I’m already making your marshmallows! yay! Well, if they come out half as good as yours, I will say Yay then. ;)
Sarah Menanix -
This just made me insanely happy to hear! I’m sure they’re going to turn out beautifully! The key, which I think I also say in the recipe, is to make sure to toss them well in the coating so they don’t get all sticky. Can we catch up for coffee after the holidays?? (Or hot cocoa with marshmallows – because you’ve made me crave marshmallows now…).
Amy @ Amy's Healthy Baking -
That’s the BEST mom ever, to drive 3 hours just to teach you how to make the recipe! And yes, that’s the BEST daughter ever, to remember to ask what brand of PB for color matching. Too bad I grew up on Skippy… My toffee would probably turn out all wrong! ;) Pinned!
Sarah Menanix -
Haha – I eat skippy too! I don’t know when or why my mom switched to Jif, but I totally compared mine to my jar of Skippy;)
Kelly - A Side of Sweet -
I ATE THIS! And it was GOOD. I feel even luckier now that I read the story behind it. And met your MOM!
Sarah Menanix -
<3 Thanks lady! I've eaten more toffee than I'd like to admit over the past week....haha
Kelly - Life Made Sweeter -
Your mom is the sweetest!!! I love that this is her recipe and she drove 3 hours to make this with you. That sounds like the best time! This toffee looks absolutely divine! My stretchy pants are already on so bring it on!
Alice @ Hip Foodie Mom -
Sarah, love love love your mom’s chocolate almond english toffee!!! love the in-process shots!!! and LOVE the packaging!! so professional and beautiful! and I totally want that game- What’s Cookin a Dinner Party Game For Cooks Foodies and Friends!!!
Sarah Menanix -
Aww – thank you so much, Alice! With your talents, I bet you’d get one pass through that game and just be rolling your eyes at the terrible recipes in it;)
Marissa | Pinch and Swirl -
That game sounds like so much fun! And I’m loving this toffee – one of my favorite sweets and the recipe looks pretty simple. Thanks so much!
Thalia @ butter and brioche -
I would LOVE to receive a package of these delicious chocolate and almond English toffee’s as a gift Sarah! Think I need to give the recipe to someone.. so I can make this wish a reality.
Carla (@charliesue) -
Oh man, I DUG this toffee. (Hear that, everyone? I GOT TO EAT SOME OF THIS TOFFEE!!!) :) I ESPECIALLY loved the walnut surprise. Brilliant!
anna @ annamayeveryday -
That looks so fabulous and I love the stickers on the bags too. I would just adore this, toffee, almonds, chocolate – what is not to love. Unfortunately my daughter is allergic to nuts to whilst I won’t be making this I can drool over your pictures!!
Sarah Menanix -
Thank you! While I’ve never done it, one reader made it without nuts and said it turned out delicious!
Ballroom_billy -
I saw this on my Foodporn channel and have now made it 4 times in 8 days. Thank you for a great recipe. My dentist will not be a fan, because I feel my teeth rotting.
Sarah Menanix -
Hahaha – I hope you didn’t eat all 4 batches by yourself! That’s me around the holidays;) So glad you like the recipe!
Tish -
I just made this for my boyfriend as one of his 12 days of Christmas, Christmas presents and he LOVED it! Thanks for the amazingly delicious recipe.
Sheri -
Just finished my first 2 batches for Christmas 2016!!