By Sabrina Shearer News September 8, 2023
Explore the crunchy sweet origin
English toffee is a beloved candy that has been enjoyed for over a hundred years. The crunchy, nutty treat originated in England in the late 1800s. Since then, its popularity has spread around the world. Let’s explore the history of English Toffee together!
What is english toffee?
English toffee is a sweet candy that people make from sugar, butter, and almonds. It has a crunchy texture and a buttery, nutty flavor. English toffee is also known as butter crunch or almond crunch. It originated in England in the late 1800s.
How was it invented?
Cooks in England first created English toffee recipes in the late 1890s. At first, they boiled sugar and butter together. In the early 1900s, cooks began adding almonds to the mixtures. This gave the candy its signature crunchy texture and nutty taste.
The name “English toffee” comes from the crunchy “toff” sound the candy makes when you bite into it. As the candy became popular, shops began selling it under the name “English toffee” or sometimes just “toffee.”
How did English ToffEe become popular?
English toffee quickly became popular throughout England in the early 1900s. As British culture spread worldwide, English toffee traveled too. Immigrants and travelers brought toffee recipes to America, Canada, and Australia.
By the 1920s, major candy makers around the world were selling English toffee. In many places, people still refer to it as “English toffee” today, even when locals make it. The basic ingredients of butter, sugar, and almonds remain largely unchanged from the original recipes.
English Toffee Today
People still love English toffee today as a classic candy. It is especially popular around the holidays when people give it as a gift or treat. The crunchy, buttery candy brings nostalgia and joy to candy-lovers worldwide. Next time you’re indulging in this classic treat with a friend, remember to share the rich history of English toffee!
Chocolate Storybook has been handcrafting English Toffee since 1986 using only the finest ingredients and a special recipe that stands the test of time. You can order our English Toffee online!
FAQs
Toffee didn't appear in dictionaries until after 1825, making it something of a newcomer to the world of candy. Most food historians agree that the sweet treat likely originated in Wales and then rose to prominence across Britain and Europe where supplies of butter and eventually imported sugar were plentiful.
What is the difference between English toffee and regular toffee? ›
English Toffee is a nationwide favorite that is easily made with only a few ingredients. The difference between regular toffee and English Toffee is one important ingredient – butter! I make English Toffee throughout the year for special occasions and it's always a big hit.
What are the facts about English toffee? ›
English toffee is a sweet candy that people make from sugar, butter, and almonds. It has a crunchy texture and a buttery, nutty flavor. English toffee is also known as butter crunch or almond crunch. It originated in England in the late 1800s.
What is the difference between Irish and English toffee? ›
Irish Toffee is English Toffee... But Better!
What is the difference between English toffee and Irish toffee? Well, Irish toffee is English toffee at its best. Better ingredients, family recipes, and more butter make for a toffee that's simply a step above the rest!
What is the other name for English toffee? ›
The English toffee eaten with regularity in America is also called buttercrunch. What's the difference? Primarily, the difference rests in the ingredients. Toffee in Britain is made with brown sugar, whereas buttercrunch is made with white granulated sugar.
What is toffee in British slang? ›
If you say that someone cannot do something for toffee, you mean that they are extremely bad at it: He can't paint for toffee!
What do Americans call toffee? ›
Taffy is considered an earlier rendition of the word toffee, but the word taffy continued to be used in America while toffee was used in Great Britain.
Why does the butter separate when making English 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).
Should English toffee be refrigerated? ›
+ What is the shelf life? Three months unopened, if stored in a cool dry place. + Can it be refrigerated? Yes, but it needs to be set out of the refrigerator to bring to room temperature before serving.
Why is my English toffee chewy? ›
Low and slow. Simmering the syrup for English toffee to the requisite 300°F temperature can (and should) be a slow process — up to 20 minutes or so. 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.
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.
What does toffee mean in the UK? ›
noun. a brittle or chewy brown candy made of sugar or molasses boiled down with butter, often mixed with nuts. British. taffy.
What's the difference between butterscotch and English toffee? ›
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.
What is the difference between toffee UK and US? ›
English toffee and American toffee diverged with the preferred use of sugar type. English toffee is made with brown sugar, while American-style toffee, known as buttercrunch is made with white table sugar (granulated sugar). Buttercrunch is typically dusted with crushed almonds or other nuts.
What is the difference between candy and toffee in English? ›
Toffee is a candy made by caramelizing sugar or molasses along with butter. Candy is a sugar based flavoured and coloured sweet.
