Homemade toffee bits are so easy to make, and they taste so much better than the store bought bag ‘o bits. Use them in cookies, in muffins or on ice cream.
Here’s how to make homemade buttery, sugary goodness in less than 15 minutes.
You can break them up into smaller pieces for cookies, or you can break them into larger chunks to eat as a snack. Go ahead and dip them in chocolate. It’ll be our secret.
Start by placing butter, sugar, water and salt in a saucepot, and bring it to a boil.
After it boils for about 8 minutes, it will begin to caramelize. It’ll be tempting by don’t stir it.
If you stir it, the sugars will crystallize and you’ll end up with grainy toffee.
This is an important point of the process.
You want it to brown to a dark golden color for rich homemade toffee bits, but if you cook it too long, it will burn and become bitter.
It’s better to pull it off the heat a little early, just make sure it reaches 300F degrees with a candy thermometer. That will ensure it hardens when cooled.
Pour the mixture onto a Silpat-lined cookie sheet, and allow it to cool until hardened.
It smells so good, it’s going to be really tempting to taste it. Don’t do it! I speak from experience.
This candy is screaming hot, and will burn you. Be patient. It’s almost ready.
Once cooled, break it into bits and enjoy it in cookies, muffins or on ice cream.
You can store it in an air-tight container for a week or so. But they’re so good, it probably won’t last that long.
Recipes Using Homemade Toffee Bits
Homemade Toffee Bits
Ingredients
- 1/2 cup butter
- 1/2 cup sugar
- 2 tbsp water
- pinch kosher salt
Instructions
- Place all ingredients in a saucepot and bring to a boil over medium-high heat (about 5 minutes.)
- Continue cooking for about 8 more minutes, until the mixture reaches 300 degrees and begins to turn brown.
- Pour onto a silpat-lined baking sheet and spread thin.
- Allow to cool. Place in a plastic bag and break the bits with a can or measuring cup.
Nutrition
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
I cooked mine for exactly 13 minutes but found the sweet spot of number 4 on my burner. Once it started to boil it continued on this number. I have tried this before and one minute it looked good and the next burnt. I will make a mental note to only burn it up to 4 the minute it starts boiling. I also added a half teaspoon of vanilla just as I took it off the stove and stirred it in. I sprinkled a few milk chocolate chips on half and then spread it as it melted nicely. Tastes just like a Skor Bar. My only problem was it seemed a bit greasy but as it started to harden I wiped excess butter off the top and edges with paper towel.
I will make this open and share it with my family and friends, I’m thinking it will be jarred and given as Christmas gifts this year! 😊
Perfect…except for the fact that it turned out clear!
Mine burned.. and never reached 300 degrees. Not sure how to avoid that. Had heat on medium/medium high. Cooked for quite a while but I finally gave up trying to reach 300. I cooked it for around 10 minutes. I felt that if I reduced the temperature it would never reach 300. Any “suggestions?
When I use them in cookies, won’t it re-liquify? Just curious before I try it?
They may melt a little, but there will still be plenty of crunch. Enjoy.
Hi,
I was wondering whether we could use the toffee bits in baking? like in cookies?
Thanks.
Absolutely Divya! They’re great in cookies, bread, pancakes – you name it!
I was wondering if I could substitute different sugars like brown, raw or coconut sugar?
Kelly,
I haven’t tried other sugars. Raw sugar may work, but I don’t think brown sugar will. It has a lot more moisture in it.
Unsalted or salted butter–or does it matter? The additional salt is what threw me. Thanks!
Valerie,
I always bake with unsalted butter, so I can control the salt content. If you use salted butter, you can omit the extra salt.
This is a super recipe: easy, tasty, perfect.
Thanks Mia
To think I almost ordered toffee bits from Amazon because none of my area grocery stores sell them anymore. This was so easy and incredibly delicious. Will use this recipe from now on!
Jeremy, I’m so thrilled that this recipe worked for you. Happy baking!
I need six bars’ worth. Should I double or triple this recipe? Thanks!
I recommend making two separate batches. Doubling it or tripling it may change the consistency.
it is the best toffee I’ve tasted and it is a really quick recipe!!!
Thanks so much!
These sound so delicious and simple. I’ll defiitely try them!