Almond Toffee Recipe

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The best homemade almond toffee recipe! This almond toffee is made from scratch with 8 ingredients, and is the most delicious holiday treat, perfect to give as gifts to neighbors and friends!

overhead view of a plate full of almond toffee


This almond toffee recipe is the most delicious toffee, and makes a perfect holiday gift for friends and neighbors.

This is, hands down, the best homemade toffee recipe ever. Every bite is perfectly buttery & sweet with rich notes of vanilla and a nutty almond crunch.

My neighbors and friends love receiving this almond toffee as a gift for the holidays, along with our favorite Christmas Cookie Recipes. It’s also gluten-free, so your loved ones with food sensitivities can enjoy this festive treat.

front view of pieces of almond toffee stacked on each other

Almond Toffee: Ingredients and Substitutions

I do not recommend any substitutions. Here are a few notes on the ingredients: 

overhead view of the labeled ingredients in this homemade toffee recipe
  • Almonds.  Be sure to use blanched, slivered almonds (no skins, shaped like little spears).
  • Butter. Salted butter is recommended, but unsalted can be used as well. 
  • Light corn syrup. do not make substitutions for corn syrup.
  • Semisweet Chocolate. Use your favorite chocolate – dark, milk, etc. I suggest chocolate chips because they’re easy to spread, you can also use chopped chocolate bars or melting discs.
  • Toppings (optional). Dress your toffee up with some toppings like crushed almonds, sprinkles, sea salt, etc.
two piece of homemade toffee stacked on each other with other pieces of toffee around them

How to Make Almond Toffee

This recipe requires your undivided attention.  You have to stir the almond toffee for 45 minutes without distractions. Follow the step-by-step photos below and don’t forget to watch the video to ensure your success.

Begin this almond toffee recipe by heating all the ingredients (except vanilla and almonds) together in a large saucepan until the butter is melted. 

two overhead photos showing how to make toffee

As soon as the butter is melted add the almonds. Continue cooking over medium heat, stirring constantly with a spatula (that can withstand high heat) for about 45 minutes. When the almond toffee reaches 265 degrees F add the vanilla extract and mix thoroughly.

two overhead photos showing How to make Toffee

Use a Thermometer

This toffee needs to be cooked to just about the soft crack stage (265 to 270 degrees F). There are certain ways to tell you’re getting close to the end, but monitoring the temperature is the surest way to know the toffee is ready. I use my instant read thermometer every time I make candy.

cooking almond toffee in a saucepan

Indicators Toffee is Done

  1. The toffee becomes firm enough to form a shape when stirred with the spatula. (i.e. it doesn’t immediately rush back to the sides of the pan like a liquid does).
  2. Both the mixture and the almonds become a darker brown, a roasted golden color.
cooking almond toffee in a saucepan

Once the toffee is done, spread the mixture onto your buttered cookie sheet as quickly and evenly as you can with a buttered or greased spatula.  

Almond Toffee spread out on a baking sheet

Pour the chocolate chips on top of the warm toffee. Let them sit for 5 minutes to melt, then spread them evenly over the almond toffee.

The best homemade almond toffee recipe! This almond toffee is made from scratch with 8 ingredients, and is the most delicious holiday treat, perfect to give as gifts to neighbors and friends!

Set for 24 hours

One the chocolate is evenly spread over the top, let the pan of homemade toffee sit at room temperature for 24 hours or overnight.

Almond Toffee setting on the baking sheet overnight

After 24 hours, break the toffee into pieces with your hands or cut into pieces with a sharp knife and enjoy.

Almond Toffee broken into pieces on a baking dish lined with parchment paper

How to Store Toffee

Store toffee in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 1 week. Since this recipe keeps so well, it’s a great gift to give to neighbors and friends. Simply wrap it in a cute bag or put it in a holiday box and deliver it with a smile!

overhead view of a plate of almond toffee

Almond Toffee Recipe FAQs

Is salted or unsalted butter better for toffee?

Salted butter is better for making toffee because the salt helps stabilize the candy mixture so it doesn’t separate during the cooking process.

What is the difference between English toffee and regular toffee?

English toffee is made without nuts, while “regular” or American toffee usually contains nuts – most commonly almonds like in this recipe.

Should you stir toffee?

Yes, this toffee recipe requires constant stirring. Just be careful not to splash the mixture on the sides of the pan to prevent sugar crystalization.

Why is my homemade toffee chewy?

Toffee can be chewy for a few reasons. 1) It wasn’t cooked long enough. Please use a thermometer to ensure it reaches the proper temperature. 2) Humidity – if there is a lot of moisture in the air the toffee will absorb it as it cools overnight and it will be chewy. Make sure to store it in a cool, dry place. 3) The chocolate didn’t completely coat the top of the toffee. The chocolate creates a barrier between the toffee and the elements (like humidity) that contribute to chewy toffee. So be sure the entire top of the candy is coated.

front view of a stack of six pieces of almond toffee

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Homemade Almond Toffee Recipe

Laura
The Best Homemade Almond Toffee Recipe! This almond toffee is made from scratch with 8 ingredients, and is the most delicious holiday treat, perfect to give as gifts to neighbors and friends! Learn how to make toffee with our step-by-step photos and video!
5 from 6 votes
Course candy, Dessert
Cuisine American
Servings 6 Cups of Toffee
Calories 178
Prep Time15 minutes
Cook Time45 minutes
Resting12 hours
Total Time1 hour

Ingredients 
 

Instructions 

  • Grease a large baking pan with butter, set aside.
  • Grease one side of a spatula with butter, set aside.
  • Add water, sugar, butter, corn syrup and sea salt into a large, deep saucepan or pot (4 quart minimum capacity). Heat over medium heat until the butter is melted.
  • As soon as the butter is melted add the almonds.
  • Continue cooking over medium heat, stirring constantly with a spatula (that can withstand high heat) for about 45 minutes.
  • As it cooks, the mixture will bubble and begin to thicken. You must stir constantly (i.e. do not leave the stove for 45 minutes).
  • You will know your toffee is done when a few things happen: *The toffee becomes firm enough to form a shape when stirred with the spatula. *The mixture turns a darker brown *The almonds turn darker brown *The best way to check if the candy is done is using a thermometer to be sure it has reached 265 to 270 degrees F.
  • As soon as your toffee reaches 265 degrees F add the vanilla extract and mix thoroughly.
  • Once the toffee is done, QUICKLY dump the mixture onto your buttered cookie sheet and spread it evenly with your buttered spatula.
  • Pour the chocolate chips on top of the warm toffee. Let them sit for 5 minutes then spread evenly.
  • Let the pan sit at room temperature for 24 hours or overnight.
  • After 24 hours, break the toffee into pieces with your hands and enjoy!

Video

Notes

Ingredient Notes
  • Almonds.  Be sure to use blanched, slivered almonds (no skins, shaped like little spears).
  • Butter. Salted butter is recommended, but unsalted can be used as well.
  • Light corn syrup. do not make substitutions for corn syrup.
  • Semisweet Chocolate. Use your favorite chocolate – dark, milk, etc. I suggest chocolate chips because they’re easy to spread, you can also use chopped chocolate bars or melting discs.
  • Toppings (optional). Dress your toffee up with some toppings like crushed almonds, sprinkles, sea salt, etc.
How to Store Toffee
Store in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 1 week. Since this recipe keeps so well, it’s a great gift to give to neighbors and friends. Wrap it in a cute bag or put it in a holiday box.

Nutrition

Serving: 2Tablespoons | Calories: 178kcal | Carbohydrates: 18.6g | Protein: 1.4g | Fat: 12g | Saturated Fat: 6.3g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 0.3g | Monounsaturated Fat: 2.7g | Cholesterol: 20mg | Sodium: 72mg | Potassium: 28mg | Fiber: 0.9g | Sugar: 17g | Vitamin A: 235IU | Calcium: 14mg | Iron: 0.4mg

Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.

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41 Comments

  1. So cool that you tweaked your Dad’s recipe – and it’s gluten free! I sure would love getting this treat as a food gift for Christmas!

  2. I have never made toffee because I’m scared it would go seriously wrong haha but this recipe makes me want to so bad! This is the perfect Christmas gift too 🙂

  3. Sounds wonderful! We are big cookie bakers in our house, so we don’t really dip into the holiday candy arena…but this looks so good!! 🙂

  4. I’ve never attempted toffee but i do love the flavor!!! I love homemade treats, especially this time of year!

  5. This looks amazing, my family would love to recieve a gift like this! Baking with my family has always been one of my favorite Christams memories too <3

  6. I LOVE this! Getting together with my sisters this weekend for some holiday baking and I’m definitely adding this to our list.

  7. Oh my gosh I loveeeeee toffee. I’ve made some myself a time or two and you are right – it totally takes undivided attention!