Why is my English toffee so hard?

When you have a high enough concentration of sugar in heated water, the sugar is going to want to get together and form crystals. Sometimes this is good, such as with rock candy or fudge. Sometimes this is bad, such as with hard candy or toffee.

How do you fix hard toffee?

Sometimes separated toffee or caramel can be saved by removing the saucepan from the heat and stirring constantly until it comes back together into a smooth mixture. Gradually return it to the heat, stirring constantly. You can also try adding a spoonful or two of very hot water to the toffee to help it come together.

What happens if you overcook toffee?

The toffee continues to change color and becomes darker as the temperature rises. If toffee cooks to too high a temperature and the toffee is dark in color, unfortunately, there is no way to save this batch of toffee. Ways to prevent this from happening include: If you use a Candy Thermometer test it for accuracy.

Is English toffee hard or soft?

Toffee basics

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 .

Is toffee supposed to be hard?

Why is my toffee soft? If your toffee doesn't have a hard texture (where you can snap it in half) you did not cook it long enough. Again, the 5-minutes is just a guide. Cook it until it is the color of a brown bag.

How To Make Classic Hard English Toffee

What temp do you cook English toffee to?

Place the saucepan over medium heat and cook, stirring constantly, until the butter has melted. Continue to cook, stirring occasionally, until the sugar has melted and the mixture has turned golden brown. The toffee is ready when it reaches 295°F to 305°F (hard crack stage) on the candy thermometer.

What is the difference between toffee and English toffee?

In America we call most toffee, English Toffee. What's the difference between English and American toffee? The main difference is that traditional English toffee is created without nuts, while American toffee is created with a variety of nuts. The most common nuts being the almond.

What does baking soda do to English toffee?

The baking soda lightens the texture ever so slightly so you don't break a tooth on the toffee. I do the same thing with my peanut brittle, but other recipes for toffee and brittle don't always include baking soda. It's my secret ingredient for perfect toffee!

How do you know when toffee is done?

Here's how you know when the toffee is ready. Keep one of the almonds near the pan. It's your color cue. When the toffee is the color of the almond skin, it's done!

Should I stir while making toffee?

Do not stir the mixture as it cooks, as introducing a wooden spoon to the mixture as it boils can cause crystallization. After you make the Toffee, cleaning the saucepan is an issue. The best way to remove all that hard caramelized sugar is to fill the saucepan with water and bring it just to a boil.

Does humidity affect toffee making?

Humidity is more likely to affect the texture of the toffee, taking away the crunch and making it limp or saucy. Also, unless you're adding an acid or some fructose, you're not likely to absorb all that much water.

Can I use salted butter for toffee?

Tips for Making Toffee

Use salted butter. Salt seems to stabilize the mixture. If you use unsalted butter, add ¼ teaspoon of salt per stick of butter in the recipe.

Why does my toffee stick to my teeth?

Toffee is rather known for sticking to your teeth, I'm afraid. If yours is getting too sticky or chewy, you may not be heating it to the proper temperature. If that's not the problem, but it gets more chewy over time, it may be absorbing more moisture, causing it to become extra chewy.

How do you keep caramel soft after melting?

Melt the caramels over low heat, stirring frequently to combine the caramels with the milk and butter. Adding milk and butter to the caramels is what helps to keep the caramel soft after the turtles are finished.

How do you keep caramel from hardening?

To help prevent the caramel from crystallizing, you can add an acid to the sugar before you begin: add about half a tablespoon of lemon juice to each cup of sugar and mix it with your hands; it should be the consistency of wet sand.

How do you melt hardened caramel?

Unwrap the KRAFT Caramels by gently squeezing the sides of the caramels and then peeling off the wrappers. Be sure to unwrap all of the caramels before melting. Place the unwrapped caramels into a medium-sized saucepan and add 2 tablespoons of water. Cook the caramels over medium-low heat for 10-15 minutes.

How long does it take to cook English toffee?

Toffee has to be cooked to 300 degrees or to the hard crack, or 12 minutes boil to where it is truly brownish.

What consistency should toffee be?

be VERY, VERY consistent with your stirring. The toffee will suddenly turn the color of a brown grocery bag. This is when you will want to remove it from the heat and do another ice test with the hot mixture. When it is ready it will crack and break easily as you chew it.

How long do you need to boil toffee?

Bring to the boil, then continue boiling until you reach 'soft crack' stage on your thermometer (140C). This may take up to 30 minutes, so be patient. Don't leave the pan unattended as the temperature can change quickly. As soon as the mixture reaches 'soft crack' stage, tip it into your tin and leave to cool.

Why is my toffee crystallize?

Crystallization occurs when you heat the toffee too quickly and the sugar crystallizes on the side of the pot and gets mixed back into the toffee. That's what creates a grainy texture. To prevent crystallization, take care to completely dissolve all the sugar before you bring the mixture to a boil.

What is the difference between toffee and butterscotch?

Toffee vs Butterscotch

While butterscotch is cooked to a soft-crack stage, toffee is produced by allowing that same butter and brown sugar mixture to reach the hard-crack stage. Butterscotch tends to be chewy and pliable; toffee is brittle and more breakable.

Is toffee just hard caramel?

Have you ever wondered what the difference is between caramel vs toffee? They are both sugar candies, they both have the same light golden color, and they both are used in a variety of desserts. But that's where the similarities end. Toffee tends to be hard and crunchy, while caramel is soft and chewy.

What exactly is English Toffee?

In America, English toffee usually refers to a candy made with slow-cooked sugar and butter, forming a brittle, which is then coated in chocolate and nuts.

What is soft toffee called?

Synonyms, crossword answers and other related words for SOFT TOFFEE [caramel]

Does toffee need corn syrup?

Why Do You Add Corn Syrup? Corn syrup prevents the recrystallization of the sugar when the toffee cools and hardens. If you've ever eaten gritty toffee, you know what recrystallized toffee is like.