Salted Chocolate English Toffee

Few things are as delicious as homemade English Toffee. Except maybe Salted Chocolate English Toffee with Toasted Almonds! It's truly the best and a great gift; just be sure to save some for yourself!

I first published this recipe for Salted Chocolate English Toffee 10 years ago and while I love this toffee, and the product of that effort was as fantastic as I expected, I never really shared it much. Why? Well, it was in the period when I was between homes, living with a friend while my house was being completed and using a spare bedroom at my daughter's for photography. Not ideal.

The toffee got warm on the way from one location to the next and 'bloomed' and I always hated the photos. Sure I explained what happened but seriously? These new photos have been needed for a long time; this looks more like it and now I'm happy to tell the world!

I have to say that I've loved English Toffee ever since I can remember...I mean I actually recall when my mom would take me to the neighborhood 'five and dime' and all I wanted (and begged for) was a Heath bar. Every. Single. Time.

True confessions? I took one once when she said no and put it in my pocket. I had no idea I was stealing from the store, I was only about 4; I just thought I was pulling one over on my mom. Ahem, didn't work. Had to go back, apologize and return it. Saddest day of my young life.

I've always given Heath Bars credit for my first cavity too...a testimony of my love affair with English Toffee that started decades ago that has never waned.

When a friend offered some Salted Chocolate English Toffee that she had received as a gift; of course I was willing but was also unprepared for how good it would be in comparison to many other versions I've had. Was it the technique or the ingredients or just the mastery of that mom in the kitchen? Probably a bit of all three but I had to have the recipe!

My friend secured the recipe for this Salted Chocolate English Toffee and I knew to expect something would be different even before seeing the ingredients and I couldn't wait to discover what it was.

The toffee was a lighter color and yet had been cooked enough to harden; beyond that it just had a softer bite. Barely discernible but I just felt it wasn't quite as rock hard as so many toffees are. I was delighted to get the recipe and discover the secret...a bit of cream is used in this recipe in addition to butter and sugar; that must have been it!

Along with the recipe was a sweet note. The woman who had made the Salted Chocolate English Toffee was aware of 'food blogging rules' and even included in her email that the original recipe was from Sweet Confections: Beautiful Candy to Make at Home by Nina Wanat. Nina used to operate a very popular candy shop in Los Angeles call BonBonBar. While that store has now closed, I'm delighted to have experienced one of her confections and the book is in my Amazon shopping cart now...I want MORE!

As anyone who reads this blog might expect I had to switch it up a bit cause that's what I do and if I say so myself the end result was pretty outstanding. The original recipe calls for plain toffee topped with chocolate and sliced almonds; stellar just as it was. BUT.

I only had whole almonds in the house and after one recent experience trying to slice them in my Cuisinart (can you say 'almond dust?') I decided that my almond component would be in the form of putting chopped pieces into the candy. Toasted ones. Oh yeah. We liked it so much I revised the recipe. I learned years ago that 'toasted' really means that 'raw' nuts are baked...and I'm onboard with how that one small step brings out such better flavor.

The salted thing? Does everything have to be 'salted this' or 'salted that?' No, it does not. While I love just a touch of salt with chocolate and/or caramel, the truth is if you don't have a good finishing salt, I highly recommend you avoid this step.

I love Maldon Salt Flakes; they are less salty than table or kosher salt and are so pretty too that I highly recommend them but trying the same thing with table salt would be a mistake. So either use a good finishing salt or none at all; either way I know you will love this toffee. So will your children, husband, dad, sister, mom or brother. Or you can send some to me. Just kidding. No I'm not.

This Salted Chocolate English Toffee has become a part of our holiday traditions; I'll be making a big batch this coming weekend when I get together with friends for some holiday baking. Along with this toffee, our plans include a nice assortment of other baked goodies. Which we will give away to neighbors, I can't trust myself with many of these favorites; I'll still eat enough toffee I worry about a cavity!

More Holiday Baking Favorites

PIN IT! 'English Toffee with Toasted Almonds and Salted Chocolate'