Do you like toffee? Do you prefer them soft or hard? Today we try making them together with a pinch of spice of your choice. They could be a nice idea for next Halloween with the right moulds.

Toffee (or taffy) is really a classic, from soft polishes to slightly harder fudgees, adults and children alike enjoy them.
Finding the quintessential original recipe on the net is quite difficult everyone has their own version....so we have made our own mix, and we hope you like the result.

To prepare your toffee at home (we preferred the soft version) you will need

   

• 200 ml liquid cream (classic whipping cream, preferably unsweetened)
• 30-40 grams of butter
• 30-40 grams of honey (about two tablespoons)
• A rectangular baking tray with not too high sides and baking paper
• a food thermometer (it is essential for the right consistency, otherwise you will only be able to rely on the colour changes of the mixture.

spices of your choice from those recommended in the next paragraph

Let's move on to the preparation. First of all, line the baking tray with baking paper so that it is ready as soon as the mixture has reached the right temperature and consistency. In a sufficiently large non-stick saucepan, pour in all the ingredients and cook over moderate heat, stirring, until the butter and sugar are completely melted.
At this point you will have to bring the mixture to the boil, stirring constantly and keeping the temperature under control, which should not be 120° in order to obtain soft caramels (this is because in our recipe we have used honey, in recipes with water and without honey, the temperature can rise up to 150/170°).
Pay attention to the colour, which should remain a soft caramel, and the volume of the mixture, which tends to increase, if it starts to swell too much you have to reduce the intensity of the flame.

Many people like to add a pinch of salt at the end of cooking.

What spices should be added to homemade toffee?

The most commonly used spice is undoubtedly vanilla, but toffee is also really good with the addition of cinnamon and cardamom, ginger, pepper or chilli. A special but tasty version (perhaps more suitable for adults than children) can also be prepared with a blend of five Chinese spices.
We conclude with liquorice powder, which is not a spice but when it comes to toffee cannot go unmentioned.