The Easiest Microwave Toffee Recipe (A Step By Step Guide) (2024)

Andrea
Published on / Last updated on

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Forget the stovetop! This easy microwave toffee recipe can be made in just 15 minutes. Your holiday goodie trays will never be the same!

Add this toffee to your treat plates along with some Gingerbread Cookies and Peppermint Bark. You can’t go wrong!

The Easiest Microwave Toffee Recipe (A Step By Step Guide) (1)

Toffee RECIPE For Amateurs (Like Me!)

First off, I’d like to tell you that candy making is not my forte. It’s finicky, messy, and frankly kind of stressful. So I usually avoid it like the plague, except for during the holidays. I’ve mastered a few recipes, including this almost fool-proof microwave toffee recipe.

You heard that right. It’s made in the microwave. Forget having to boil in a pan on the stovetop to find the hard crack stage! This homemade Toffee Recipe is made in a big bowl and then poured onto a silicone baking mat. Toasted pecans and flaky sea salt make it extra amazing!

We devour this toffee every time we make it. It’s perfect for holiday dessert trays, Christmas gift giving or for Santa’s cookie plate. It has quickly become a favorite at our house, I hope it will become a favorite of yours too!

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Toffee Recipe Ingredient Tips

Just a few things to keep in mind for the ingredients…

  • Corn Syrup:Dark corn syrup has a richer flavor because it includes molasses, light corn syrup doesn’t have as rich of a flavor. For this recipe you can do either types of corn syrup, but if you’re worried about the molasses taste being too overpowering I would recommend using light corn syrup.
  • Chocolate: We recommend using chocolate chips for this recipe. In terms of what type of chocolate you can choose between milk, semi-sweet, bitter-sweet, or white. We love using the Ghirardelli chocolate brand, but you can always use your store brand of chocolate chips.
  • Nuts: If pecans aren’t your thing, you could easily switch them out for almonds, cashews or even macadamia nuts (I’d highly suggest using white chocolate on top instead of semisweet for the macadamia nuts).

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How to Make Microwave Toffee

It took me three painstaking tries to get this toffee recipe right. Like I mentioned above, candy making can sometimes be finicky. Humidity and altitude play a big part in it as well as temperature (or microwave wattage in this case).

The most important thing you can do is keep an eye on it as it cooks (watch for color cues) and use a thermometer.

LINE a baking sheet with silicone baking mat or parchment paper, set aside.

COMBINE. Grab a large glass microwave-safe bowl, combine the butter, sugars, salt, corn syrup, and water.

MICROWAVE. Microwave for 3 minutes on HIGH. Stir in toasted chopped pecans or stir and keep it plain. Microwave for an additional 8-10 minutes on HIGH or until it reaches 300 degrees F on an instant read or candy thermometer – pause the microwave cooking every 2 minutes and stir and check the temperature – do NOT overcook it, or it will burn.

SPREAD. Pour mixture onto the prepared baking sheet and spread into an even layer.

TOPPING. Add the chocolate chips on top, let them melt then spread the melted chocolate over top. Sprinkle on nuts and sea salt.

SET. Chill until set, then break into pieces.

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Storing Your Toffee

STORE the leftover toffee at room temperature in an airtight container. You definitely want to keep the toffee in a cool and dry place so it doesn’t get sticky. If it is really warm in your house, you can keep it in the fridge. When stored at room temperature it will last for about 2 weeks. If you keep it in the fridge it will keep for a bit longer.

You can also FREEZE pieces of toffee for up to 6 months in an airtight container.

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For more homemade candy recipes, try:

  • Homemade Peanut Brittle
  • Mint Overload Bark
  • Salted Caramel Peanut Clusters
  • Microwave Salted Caramels
  • 6 Ingredient Rocky Road Cups

Did you try this recipe? Leave a ⭐️ rating below and share it on Instagram, Facebook and Pinterest!

The Easiest Microwave Toffee Recipe (A Step By Step Guide) (6)

Microwave Toffee Recipe

Forget the stovetop! This easy microwave toffee recipe can be made in just 15 minutes. Your holiday goodie trays will never be the same!

Pin Rate Save

Course: Candy & Snacks

Cuisine: American

Prep Time: 8 minutes mins

Cook Time: 12 minutes mins

Additional Time: 1 hour hr

Total Time: 1 hour hr 20 minutes mins

Servings: 8 servings

Calories: 580kcal

Author: Andrea

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Ingredients

For the base:

  • 1 c. unsalted butter
  • 1 c. granulated sugar
  • 1/2 c. brown sugar - packed
  • 1 tsp. coarse kosher sea salt
  • 2 tbsp. water
  • 1 tbsp. light corn syrup
  • 1/4 c. chopped toasted nuts - pecans, almonds, cashews, macadamia nuts

For the topping:

  • 6 oz. chopped chocolate or chocolate chips - milk, semisweet, bittersweet or white
  • 1/4 c. chopped toasted nuts - pecans, almonds, cashews, macadamia nuts
  • pinch flaky sea salt

Instructions

  • Line a baking sheet with silicone baking mat or parchment paper, set aside.

  • In a large glass microwave-safe bowl (4 quart is best), combine the butter, sugars, salt, water, and corn syrup.

  • Microwave for 3 minutes on HIGH.

  • Stir in chopped nuts.

  • Microwave for 8-10 minutes on HIGH or until it reaches 300 degrees F on an instant read or candy thermometer - pause the microwave cooking every 2 minutes and stir and check the temperature - do NOT overcook it, or it will burn.

  • Quickly pour and spread onto a silicone lined baking sheet into an even layer about 1/8-inch thick.

  • Add the chocolate chips on top and let rest for 3 minutes so they can melt. Using an offset spatula, gently spread the melted chocolate over top. Sprinkle on nuts and sea salt.

  • Chill until set, about an hour. Break into pieces.

NOTES

-My microwave is 1000 watts. If yours is lower, you may need to cook it for slightly longer (1-2 minutes). If yours is higher you may need to cook it for a minute less.

-I would not recommend doubling the batch, but instead making two separate batches.

Adapted from Genius Kitchen.

Nutrition

Serving: 1serving | Calories: 580kcal | Carbohydrates: 62g | Protein: 4g | Fat: 38g | Saturated Fat: 20g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 2g | Monounsaturated Fat: 10g | Trans Fat: 1g | Cholesterol: 64mg | Sodium: 308mg | Potassium: 182mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 58g | Vitamin A: 739IU | Calcium: 44mg | Iron: 0.4mg

The Easiest Microwave Toffee Recipe (A Step By Step Guide) (2024)

FAQs

Why is my toffee chewy and not crunchy? ›

Don't hurry this gradual transformation; syrup that doesn't reach 300°F, or close to it, will make candy with timid flavor and chewy (not crunchy) texture. Think you can save time by bringing the syrup to a full rolling, popping boil in order for it to darken more quickly? Think again.

Why is my toffee not turning brown? ›

Why didn't my toffee turn brown? It will turn brown if the heat is med-high and you cook it for 5-6 minutes. Crank up that heat, don't let it simmer on low. It will start out yellow, then become light brown, then finally the right brown paper brown that you are looking for.

Why do you put baking soda in toffee? ›

Brittles and toffees accumulate small amounts of acid from the browning reactions that occur during cooking. This is one reason why the baking soda is added at the end of cooking. The soda reacts with the acid to make bubbles, and the syrup foams.

Why does chocolate not stick to toffee? ›

Why isn't my chocolate topping sticking to the toffee? The chocolate might not adhere well if the toffee surface is too oily or if it has cooled down too much. Try adding the chocolate chips while the toffee is still warm, and ensure the toffee surface is dry.

What can go wrong when making toffee? ›

Stirring too quickly or too often can cause the toffee to separate. Moderate the heat as needed – turn it down if the toffee is boiling or cooking too fast so it doesn't burn. Cook until the toffee registers 285-290 degrees on an instant-read or candy thermometer and is deep amber brown in color, about 20-25 minutes.

Why is my toffee not set and why is it's texture grainy and not smooth? ›

As the toffee cools and the molten sugar crystals become solid again, they are attracted to the 'seed' forming new lumps of tiny crystals – hence the grainy texture. This can also happen if the toffee is stirred, or agitated, after it has begun to boil or on cooling (as happened with this pink-tinted toffee).

What to do if toffee doesn't set? ›

It's a treacle toffee, family recipe! Thanks! put it back in the saucepan and reheat it. It usually means it didn't get hot enought the first time.

How do you know when toffee is ready? ›

Once boiling, cook, stirring only 2 to 3 times, until it turns a dark amber color and the temperature reaches 285 degrees F (137 degrees C) on a candy thermometer, 20 to 30 minutes. Immediately pour toffee into the prepared baking dish.

Do you stir toffee constantly? ›

The most common recommendation is constant and even stirring from beginning to end. I say that is unnecessary too! After much trial and error (clumps of grainy caramelize sugar swimming is a pool of melted butter) I have come up with my own method that is foolproof and perfect every time.

Why do you put butter in toffee? ›

Butter is added in the final stages to add flavor and smoothness and inhibit large crystal formation. Use unsalted butter so you can add a small amount of salt (¼ teaspoon per stick of butter) to the sugar/liquid mixture.

What does cream of tartar do in toffee? ›

Cream of tartar is a white powder sold in the baking aisle that's commonly used to stabilize whipped egg whites in meringues and cakes, prevent sugar crystallization in candies and caramel, and act as the activating ingredient in baking powder.

What is the difference between toffee and English toffee? ›

Americanized toffee may include nuts, while a completely traditional British toffee will not. On the other hand, English toffee uses pure cane sugar, brown sugar, or molasses as its sweet base and always involves chocolate.

Why is there vinegar in toffee? ›

Made with just sugar and a little water, toffee is easy to make and is an easy introduction to the world of confectionary. This recipe includes a dash of vinegar which will help keep the colour of the toffee clear and bright and banish any cloudiness.

Why is my butter separating when making toffee? ›

If the butterfat separates out then usually this is due to the mixture being either heated or cooled too quickly, which "shocks" the mixture and causes the fat to separate out. It can also be caused by the mixture being heated unevenly (if the pan has a thin base and has hot spots).

Why is my toffee foaming? ›

This toffee is cooked initially to 310°F (154°C), then the salt and baking soda are added, creating carbon dioxide. The foaming and bubbling aerate the candy somewhat, making the texture lighter and the candy easier to bite into.

Why is my cracker toffee chewy? ›

The caramel topping needs to get to the hard-crack stage or it will be chewy. This means you may have to bake it a little longer or adjust your oven temperature slightly (every oven is different). I insist on a candy thermometer.

Why did my hard candy turn out chewy? ›

If the sugar mixture is not cooked to the proper temperature (the hard-crack stage 300-310° F {149-154° C.} or if you are working in a kitchen with high humidity, chances are your candy is retaining too much moisture.

What can I do with toffee that didn't harden? ›

put it back in the saucepan and reheat it. It usually means it didn't get hot enought the first time.

What texture should toffee be? ›

Toffee is a hard candy made by cooking a sugar syrup with butter to the hard crack stage, 300–310°F (149–154°C), and then pouring it out to cool. It can have inclusions or not, and it can be made either very dense and hard or can be lightened by adding baking soda when the candy is almost done cooking .

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