Make & Break

Holiday candy you can give away or eat all day

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for a moment in the kitchen, time stills as we give ourselves to the process of making something sweet from scratch.

Around the holidays, when treats and traditions are in abundance, some of us dream of toffee. This old-fashioned candy invites us to settle in at the stove, watching butter and sugar come together and breathing in the nostalgia that bubbles up. Once it's ready—and not a second too soon—we'll pour, cool, and break the caramelized mixture into bite-size bits. We might add honey to the base, sprinkle peppermint on top, or keep it classic like the English do (nuts and chocolate, please!). These days, there are no limits to where our yuletide imaginations may go. While one could enjoy a whole batch of toffee on their own, this cheerful confection is even better when portioned out, packed up, and shared generously with family and friends.

Butter Toffee

PREP: 10 minutes

COOK: 14 minutes

COOL: 1 hour

MAKES: sixty 1½-inch pieces

Nonstick cooking spray

2 cups (4 sticks) salted butter

2 cups sugar

½ tsp. kosher salt

1 tsp. vanilla

1 cup semisweet or bittersweet chocolate chips

½ to ¾ cup chopped toasted almonds or pecans

Flaky salt (optional)

1. Line a 15×10-inch baking pan with parchment paper or foil; coat parchment or foil with cooking spray.

2. Combine butter, sugar, and kosher salt in a 4-qt. heavy-bottom saucepan. Heat and stir over medium-high 4 to 5 minutes or until the sugar is completely melted and mixture boils. Attach a candy thermometer to the pan, making sure the bulb of the thermometer is immersed in the candy mixture. Reduce heat to medium. Cook and stir 10 to 15 minutes or until mixture reaches 290°F. Remove from heat. Stir in vanilla.