Diana's Desserts - www.dianasdesserts.com
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English Toffee

Servings: Yield: 1 1/4 pounds
Ingredients:
3/4 cup almonds or pecans, finely chopped
1 cup (2 sticks/8 oz/226g) butter
1 cup sugar
2 tbsp. water
1/8 tsp. salt (optional)
1 tsp. pure vanilla extract
8 oz. bittersweet baking chocolate


Instructions:
Preheat oven to 350°F (180°C). Toast the chopped nuts on a baking sheet in the oven for 6-8 minutes, or until fragrant.

With heavy-duty aluminum foil, form a 10-inch square shell with 1-inch high sides. Place the foil shell on a baking sheet and set aside.

In a heavy saucepan, cook the butter, sugar, water, and alt over medium heat until the temperature reaches 305°F (hard-crack stage), stirring occasionally (watch closely after it reaches 290°F because the temperature will increase rapidly). When the mixture becomes dark golden brown, immediately remove the pan from the heat. Stir in the vanilla extract.

Pour the mixture into the foil shell. It will spread but may not reach the edges of the square. Cool at room temperature for 45 minutes, or until hard.

Melt the chocolate in the top of double boiler. Spread melted chocolate over the cooled toffee and sprinkle with the pecans, pressing lightly to set pecans into chocolate. Let set at room temperature 1 hour, or until the chocolate is set. Break toffee into pieces. Store covered at room temperature for up to 1 month.

Makes 1 1/4 pounds toffee.


Date: December 14, 2004