Description

Butter Toffee Cashew Crunch is a delightful homemade confection featuring a rich buttery toffee base combined with crunchy salted cashews. This sweet treat blends the deep caramel flavors of cooked sugar with the nutty, salty bite of cashews, finished with a hint of vanilla and a light, airy texture from baking soda. Perfect for gifting or enjoying as a crunchy snack, it delivers a satisfying balance of sweet and savory in every bite.

Ingredients

Scale

Toffee Base

1 cup unsalted butter
1 cup granulated sugar
2 tablespoons water
1 tablespoon light corn syrup

Nuts and Flavor

2 cups salted cashews
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
1 teaspoon baking soda

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Instructions

Prepare Baking Sheet: Line a baking sheet with parchment paper or a silicone baking mat and set aside to ensure the toffee does not stick when poured.
Melt Butter: In a heavy-bottomed saucepan, melt the unsalted butter over medium heat, ensuring it melts evenly without browning.
Add Sugar Mixture: Stir in the granulated sugar, water, and light corn syrup to the melted butter, combining all ingredients thoroughly.
Cook to Hard Crack Stage: Continue cooking the mixture over medium heat, stirring occasionally to prevent burning. Monitor the temperature with a candy thermometer until it reaches 300°F (hard crack stage), indicating the toffee is ready.
Add Cashews and Flavoring: Remove the saucepan from heat and quickly stir in the salted cashews, vanilla extract, and baking soda. The baking soda will cause the mixture to foam slightly, creating a lighter texture.
Spread the Toffee: Pour the hot toffee mixture onto the prepared baking sheet and use a spatula to spread it out evenly into a thin layer.
Cool and Break: Allow the toffee to cool completely at room temperature until it hardens, then break it into bite-sized pieces.
Store: Place the broken toffee pieces in an airtight container to maintain freshness and enjoy as a crunchy snack.

Notes

Use a reliable candy thermometer to ensure the toffee reaches the correct temperature for hard crack stage.
Be careful when handling hot sugar mixtures to avoid burns.
For a deeper flavor, lightly toast the cashews before adding to the toffee.
Store the toffee in a cool, dry place to prevent it from becoming sticky.
You can substitute other nuts like almonds or pecans if preferred.