Homemade Toffee Bits Recipe (2024)

Tessa’s Recipe Rundown

Taste: Sweet, nutty, and delicious.
Texture: Perfectly crunchy with a slight candy chew.
Ease: Just 3 ingredients and 15 minutes prep and cook time.
Pros: Such a fun DIY!
Cons: None.
Would I make this again? Absolutely, I like to make a double batch and sprinkle them on everything I bake for weeks.

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I adore toffee.

Like butterscotch, toffee seems to be caramel’s forgotten cousin. To me, it deserves as much adoration as caramel. Maybe more!

Homemade Toffee Bits Recipe (1)

As much as I love a buttery toffee recipe on its own, my favorite is when it’s added to something already delicious.

It’s the perfect addition to a chocolate chip cookie, blondie, brownie or even banana bread. Or sprinkle the toffee on cupcakes, French toast, or ice cream. Plus, you likely already have the simple ingredients on hand to make it from scratch.

Bonus: this toffee recipe is also a great treat for giving as delicious holiday gifts during the holidays or Christmas!

How to Make Homemade Toffee Bits

What is Toffee?

Toffee is a crunchy, sweet, buttery, cooked sugar candy, similar to caramel and butterscotch. These three classic dessert components seem very similar – so how do they differ?

  • Caramel: Based on white granulated sugar. Typically, butter, milk/cream, and vanilla are added for flavor and to produce a thick, creamy caramel. Caramel can be heated less for a sauce consistency, longer for a chewy soft caramel, or even longer for a crunchier hard caramel. I have a recipe for caramel sauce here.
  • Butterscotch:Similar process to caramel, but made with brown sugar instead of granulated white sugar. Cream and vanilla are also often added. I have a recipe for butterscotch sauce here.
  • Toffee:Just like butterscotch, toffee starts with brown sugar – but the difference between butterscotch and toffee is the temperature it’s heated to. Toffee is cooked longer to a much higher temperature – all the way to the ‘hard crack’ stage. This means that toffee will harden completely as it cools, and can then be cut or broken into pieces, to be added to other delicious desserts, or simply enjoyed by itself!

What are Toffee Bits?

Just what it sounds like! Bits of crunchy sweet toffee, chopped or broken into pieces about the same size as chocolate chips.

Can’t You Just Buy Toffee Bits?

Yes, you can buy them in the baking aisle under the Heath brand. However, they can be difficult to find in some regions and stores. Additionally, many stores only carry chocolate-covered toffee bits, which you may not always want.

But trust me, this homemade toffee recipe is even tastier than the Heath version! Plus, no preservatives or artificial flavors in these homemade sweet morsels!

Only 3 Ingredients Are Needed for Homemade Toffee Bits:

  • Butter (make sure to use American unsalted butter – European butter has too much butterfat and the toffee will separate)
  • Light brown sugar
  • Salt
Homemade Toffee Bits Recipe (2)

Why American-Style Butter Only?

European-style butter (such as Kerrygold) contains a higher butterfat percentage, compared to American-style butter. This lack of water content in European-style butter results in the toffee separating, and/or refusing to set fully. Any butter over 80% butterfat will cause these issues and unfortunately, we have yet to find a way to make this recipe work with butter containing higher percentages of fat. If you are successful in creating a hard toffee using European-style butter, please let us know in the comments below.

How to Make DIY Toffee Bits From Scratch:

  1. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper.
  2. In a small saucepan, melt the butter. Then, add the sugar and salt and whisk until combined. Continue whisking for about 10 minutes, or until the mixture looks like melted peanut butter (reference the picture below). Make sure it doesn’t stick to the bottom of the pan or pot.
  3. Pour the toffee onto the prepared baking sheet pan, allowing it to spread. Let cool for about 20 minutes.
  4. Use a mallet, rolling pin, or heavy object to crack the batch of toffee into small bits.
  5. You can now use your toffee pieces to amp up the flavor in cookies, brownies, streusel toppings, sprinkled on top of vanilla ice cream, you name it!
Homemade Toffee Bits Recipe (3)

Tips for Making Toffee:

  • Before you start the recipe, line a rimmed cookie sheet with parchment paper or a silicone mat. It’s best to do this first because you will need to pour the finished toffee onto the prepared pan immediately.
  • If your toffee burns on the bottom or you’re having trouble with the toffee separating (and you’re using American-style butter!), try a thicker-based heavy saucepan. Pans with thinner bottoms will heat too aggressively and may cause separation or scorching.
  • Never step away from the toffee while it’s on the stove. It can burn quickly.
  • Do not try to touch or taste the sugar while it’s cooking, as it will be extremely hot.
  • Separated toffee can sometimes be saved by removing the saucepan from the heat and whisking vigorously until it comes back together into a smooth mixture.
  • A candy thermometer is so helpful in making toffee. This is my favorite candy thermometer.
  • Make sure to let the toffee cool completely before you break it into bits and store it.

How to Store Toffee Bits

Once cooled and cut or broken into pieces, freeze in an airtight container or zip-top bag for up to 3 months. Allow to thaw at room temperature before enjoying or adding to cookie dough, streusel or other baked goods.

Recipes Using Toffee Bits:

  • Browned Butter Toffee Chocolate Chip Cookies
  • Chocolate Coffee Toffee Crunch Muffins
  • Salted Caramel Toffee Cupcakes
  • Caramel Apple Streusel Pie

Homemade Toffee Bits Recipe (4)

How to Make

Homemade Toffee Bits

By: Tessa Arias

4.84 from 78 votes

Yield: 1 1/2 cups

Prep Time: 5 minutes mins

Setting Time: 20 minutes mins

Cook Time: 10 minutes mins

Total Time: 35 minutes mins

Review Print

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Just 3 ingredients and 15 minutes and you have DIY homemade toffee bits from scratch! They’re absolutely amazing in cookies, brownies, streusel toppings on muffins or pies, or just as a sweet snack.

Ingredients

  • 1 stick (113 grams) unsalted American butter*
  • 1 cup (200 grams) light brown sugar
  • 1 teaspoon fine salt

Instructions

  • Line a small rimmed baking sheet with parchment paper or a silicone baking mat.

  • In a heavy-bottomed small saucepan, melt the butter over medium heat. Add the sugar and salt and whisk vigorously for one minute until combined. Cook, stirring constantly, until the mixture looks like melted peanut butter and a candy thermometer reaches 295 to 305°F, about 10 minutes.

  • If the mixture separates at all, remove from heat and whisk vigorously until recombined. Return to heat and continue cooking.

  • Immediately and carefully pour the hot toffee onto the prepared baking pan, allowing it to spread into an even layer. Let cool and harden for about 20 minutes.

  • Place the sheet of toffee on a cutting board or in a zip top bag. Use a mallet, rolling pin, or heavy object to crack it into small pieces. You can also cut into bits with a sharp serrated knife. Store in an airtight container for up to 1 week.

Show us!If you make this recipe, be sure to snap a picture and share it on Instagram with #handletheheat so we can all see!

Recipe Notes

*Don’t use European-style butter (82% butterfat+) in this recipe. It contains too much butterfat and will cause the toffee to separate.

Photos by Ashley McLaughlin.

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Homemade Toffee Bits Recipe (6)

Joe

4 days ago

I’m English and to answer to your butter question, I asked my Gran because she always made toffee when we were kids and it was consistent. She said “you can use English butter (100% buttermilk) but you have to heat it up slowly and evenly. Heating to quickly ‘shocks’ the mixture and causes separation”

She comes from an age when people made bread/baked items fresh everyday

Reply

Homemade Toffee Bits Recipe (7)

Amanda

11 days ago

IT WORKED! I was very nervous, because not only did I only have salted butter (just figured i wouldn’t add the salt separately), but I’m pretty sure my stove’s “medium” was more like “medium high.” The sugar didn’t necessarily melt the way i was anticipating once i added it, and I’ll be honest, the mixture separated TWICE. The first time, I removed from heat and added some water (just took some lukewarm from my water glass). then, I think the temp was too high again, or I was mixing wrong – not sure – so I removed from heat, REALLY WHISKED IT for several minutes, and then put it over heat (lower this time) to re-melt everything. At this point, it had been over 20 minutes and I was getting very nervous as I saw the separated butter browning and did not want to burn it. It never reached the bubbling consistency in the pictures, nor the darkness, but once I saw it had recombined (my hand hurt a lot at this point) I figured I’d just pour it out and see what happens. And hey, I’ve got toffee! Even though it took me a bit longer due to my mistakes, it worked out and I’m very pleased with the results. Thanks for the recipe!

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Homemade Toffee Bits Recipe (9)

Emily @ Handle the Heat

Admin

Reply toAmanda

10 days ago

Way to persevere, your toffee looks great! Adding water to the mixture could very well have been the issue, but I’m so happy that it turned out for you 🙂

Reply

Homemade Toffee Bits Recipe (10)

DC chick

1 month ago

So. I tried this yesterday but didn’t pay close attention to the measurements and completely burned the first batch. Disaster. Tried it again today using American style butter with light brown sugar and a thin bottomed stainless saucepan since that’s what I have in my kitchen. Made the following adjustments since I don’t have a candy thermometer: set timer to 10 mins with heat closer to medium low. It still started separating about halfway through but since so many of you wonderful reviewers noted using hot water saved the day, once I saw the separation, I put a small bowl of water in the microwave to heat to boiling. I then turned off the heat and added 1/2 t of water at a time to get the consistency back. All total, it took about 15 mins for me. As I said, I don’t have a candy thermometer so I couldn’t tell when it got to the correct temp. I also never got to the stage where it seemed to “thread” when I raised the spoon. Because I didn’t want the disaster I had the day before with a house full of burnt sugar smell (which I can tell you is not the least bit pleasant), I took a chance when the mixture seemed to “pull” from the bottom of the saucepan in one large mass. I spread it onto my baking sheet lined with parchment and success!!! It’s quite good and I look forward to the next step of trying the chocolate chip w/toffee cookies.

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Homemade Toffee Bits Recipe (11)

else

1 month ago

could you pour this into molds?

Reply

Homemade Toffee Bits Recipe (12)

Kiersten @ Handle the Heat

Admin

Reply toelse

1 month ago

Hi Else! We haven’t tried that, so I can’t say for sure! Let us know how it goes if you experiment with this 🙂

Reply

Homemade Toffee Bits Recipe (13)

Rebecca

1 month ago

Recently have become addicted to toffee. I m a llitle tired of heath and prices of some online companies is just too much. I decided to try making it myself. This recipe is great! I had to make a few adjustments but it turned out great. I doubled the recipe using 1 cup white sugar and I cup light brown sugar and margarine. Your directions are so user friendly, THANK YOU!!

Reply

Homemade Toffee Bits Recipe (14)

Emily @ Handle the Heat

Admin

Reply toRebecca

1 month ago

Glad you enjoyed this recipe, Rebecca!

Reply

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Homemade Toffee Bits Recipe (2024)

FAQs

What are toffee bits made of? ›

Only 3 Ingredients Are Needed for Homemade Toffee Bits:

Butter (make sure to use American unsalted butter – European butter has too much butterfat and the toffee will separate) Light brown sugar. Salt.

How do you break toffee into pieces? ›

Remove the toffee from the container by lifting it with edges of the foil. Hold the foil and toffee a few inches over a table or counter and drop. You may have to do it a few times and the toffee will break into pieces.

Can I substitute butterscotch chips for toffee bits? ›

Yes, if you can't find toffee bits, you could substitute them with chopped caramel, butterscotch chips or even Butterfinger baking bits. Keep in mind, however, that these will give a slightly different flavor than toffee.

What is the difference between English toffee and regular 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.

What's the difference between caramel bits and toffee bits? ›

Toffee vs Caramel

The difference between toffee and caramel is that caramel is made with white granulated sugar and cooked to 340 degrees Fahrenheit, whereas toffee is made with butter and brown sugar and cooked to 295 - 309 degrees Fahrenheit.

How long does homemade toffee last? ›

Store homemade toffee in an airtight container at room temperature for up to a week or in the fridge for up to two weeks.

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 do you not stir toffee? ›

It's important while the toffee cooks to only stir it occasionally. Constant stirring can cause the toffee to crystallize and separate. For those of you that need to know exactly how often you should stir, I would suggest erring on the side of not stirring more than stirring.

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's the difference between caramel and butterscotch and toffee? ›

When it comes to butterscotch and toffee you've got a lot of the same ingredients. They also use butter, vanilla, and heavy whipping cream, but it's the sugar that differentiates these two from caramel. While caramel uses white sugar, both butterscotch and toffee use brown sugar.

Is Peanut Brittle a toffee? ›

English toffee and peanut brittle are both candies made with butter and sugar, but there a significant differences. Toffee has a much higher proportion of butter than brittle and that is what gives it a more pliable texture than that of brittle.

Is peanut brittle considered toffee? ›

Brittles are typically composed mostly of sugar, while toffees contain a fair amount of butter and in some cases milk. This makes toffees fuller and richer in taste, while brittles are more purely sweet and sugary. Brittles are also much thinner than most toffees.

Why add baking soda to 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.

Are taffy and toffee the same? ›

The difference is mainly in the candy-making process: taffy is pulled and stretched until it's soft and chewy. Toffee, on the other hand, won't stick in your teeth like taffy, because it is boiled, shaped, and allowed to harden into a delicious, glossy slab.

Is toffee just hard caramel? ›

Caramel, combining sugar with butter, cream, and sometimes vanilla, is cooked to a lower temperature for a soft, chewy texture. Toffee, typically made from sugar and butter, is cooked at a higher temperature, resulting in a hard, brittle texture and a deeper flavour.

What's the difference between candy and toffee? ›

Candy can refer to any confection that is made mainly of sugar. Toffee is a type of hard candy that softens when sucked or chewed. Therefore, toffee is a type of a candy. This is the key difference between candy and toffee.

Is toffee the same as honeycomb? ›

In the US, this candy is usually called honeycomb candy, or sponge candy, or fairy food. Usually this is made with sugar and corn syrup or honey, and baking soda. In the UK, they might be better known as cinder toffee or honeycomb toffee or sponge toffee. This version also widely uses golden syrup or honey.

What is in English toffee bit? ›

Ingredients. SUGAR, VEGETABLE OIL (PALM OIL, SHEA OIL, SUNFLOWER OIL, PALM KERNEL OIL, &/OR SAFFLOWER OIL), DAIRY BUTTER (MILK), ALMONDS, LACTOSE (MILK), REDUCED PROTEIN WHEY (MILK), CONTAINS 2% OR LESS OF: CHOCOLATE, SKIM MILK, COCOA, COCOA PROCESSED WITH ALKALI, SALT, LECITHIN (SOY), NATURAL FLAVOR.

What's the difference between toffee and peanut brittle? ›

Brittles are typically composed mostly of sugar, while toffees contain a fair amount of butter and in some cases milk. This makes toffees fuller and richer in taste, while brittles are more purely sweet and sugary. Brittles are also much thinner than most toffees.

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