Two Frugal Chicks

Toffee always makes a nice gift and keeps well. It’s something I can make early in the month and box up as gifts for neighbors, mail man, UPS and Fed Ex (have I mentioned how much I LOVE Amazon prime!) Anyway, if you’re itchin to get baking but it’s too early in the month then whip up some toffee. I love the crumbs leftover on the pan. I put them on ice cream and am in heaven. Good the the last crunch. I used to make peanut brittle and toffee on the same night buf found toffee to be so incredibly easy that I make it more often. Only three ingredients that I always have on hand. Once you’ve made it a few times you will begin to recognize the color and smell of when it is perfect. It helps to start with a candy thermometer or the ice water test. The ice water test is taking a bit of the toffee on a spoon and dipping it in to ice cold water. If it hardens up it’s toffee. If it is still soft, it’s caramel. I used that method for years because I couldn’t afford a candy thermometer. It served me well. If you’re doing this with kids be super careful. It’s lava hot and a drip will burn you. I waited till they were a bit older before I let them help me with toffee. I made this once and took it in to work and put in the break room. A co worker who came in after me said “you’ve got to get in to the break room fast, there’s some amazing toffee and it’s going fast”. Made my day……

Toffee
1 C chopped nuts (optional -but if you wanna make almond roca, then use almonds. I personally use any nut I have on hand, it’s all good)
3/4 C packed brown sugar
1/2 C butter
1/2 C chocolate chips (I don’t really measure the chocolate chips I just start pouring them on and spreading around till it looks like enough)

Butter a pan you are going to spread the hot toffee on to. If you are using nuts put the chopped nuts over the butter. Heat sugar and butter to boiling in a 1 quart saucepan, stirring constantly. Boil over medium heat, stirring constantly, 7 minutes. Immediately spread mixture over pecans in pan. Sprinkle chocolate chips over hot mixture and spread. When it cools, cut or break it up. Yummy!

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