Toffee Recipe

Toffee: Preheat your oven to 350 degrees F (180 degrees C). Place the almonds on a baking sheet and bake until lightly brown and fragrant (about 8 to 10 minutes). Let the almonds cool completely on a wire rack. Then place the almonds in your food processor and process until they are coarsely chopped. Or you can place the almonds on a cutting board and coarsely chop with a knife.

Sprinkle half of the nuts in a 10 inch (25 cm) square on a buttered or oiled baking sheet. Place the baking sheet on a wire rack.

In a medium-sized, heavy bottomed saucepan (10 cup) (2.4 liter), combine the butter, sugar, water, and corn syrup. Have the baking soda and vanilla extract ready. Bring the sugar mixture to a boil, on medium high heat, stirring with a wooden spoon to dissolve the sugar. Then, cover the pan with a lid for about one minute to allow the sides of the pan to wash themselves down and dissolve any sugar crystals. Remove lid, and then clamp a candy thermometer to the side of the pan, making sure it does not touch the bottom of the pan. Cook, without stirring, until the mixture reaches 300 degrees F (149 degrees C) (hard-crack stage) on a candy thermometer. (If you find the sugar syrup browning unevenly, swirl the saucepan from time to time.) Remove from heat and immediately stir in the baking soda and vanilla extract. The mixture will bubble.

Pour the toffee evenly over the nuts on your baking sheet. (See video for demonstration.) Then place the chopped chocolate over the hot toffee. After a few minutes the chocolate will be soft enough to spread with an offset spatula (or back of a spoon) in an even layer. Sprinkle the remaining chopped almonds over the melted chocolate. Place the pan in the refrigerator until the chocolate is firm (30 to 60 minutes). Then cut the toffee into pieces using a sharp knife.

The toffee can be stored in an airtight container (to prevent the toffee from softening) at room temperature, or in the refrigerator, for about two weeks. It can also be frozen for about one month.

Makes about 1 pound (450 grams).