Chocolate Covered Butter Toffee

Each bite of this easy Butter Toffee starts with a signature crunch. The salted dark chocolate and buttery caramel flavors slowly meld together, as the toffee transforms into that dreamy not-quite-chewy texture. This is the kind of dessert that invites you to slow down for just a minute and savor the moment.

Butter Toffee

I’ve made a lot of desserts over the years. Not all of them stay with me and are repeated time after time. But, butter toffee is one of my all-time favorite holiday treats. It has the perfect balance of sweet and buttery toffee and bittersweet dark chocolate. Truth be told, I’ve been known to make this treat for my friends throughout the year, and not just for the holidays.

The flavors are incredible, and sprinkling it with flake salt adds the final flair. Who doesn’t love a salty and sweet treat? Salt might seem like a small thing. But, this small thing makes a really big difference! It adds a whole new layer to the toffee and chocolate.

How to Make Toffee

Growing up at home, we didn’t have a lot of fancy desserts. I didn’t learn how to make toffee until I was an adult. And, I must admit that I ruined more than one batch of toffee (and cried a time or two over the wasted ingredients) along the way, while trying to figure out how to transform that simple combination of butter and sugar into this classic treat.

But, there’s a fantastic trick that made all the difference, and I really wish I could remember where I first heard it! Get yourself a brown paper bag. No, really! If you want to make great toffee, set a regular old brown paper lunch bag next to the stove.

The very moment the boiling toffee matches the color of the bag, pull it from the stove, it’s finished. I’ve used this trick ever since, and now I make toffee with no issues. It just works!

Butter Toffee Recipe

If you’re making this butter toffee recipe, let me add a few clarifications. First, one of the reasons that I like this toffee so much is that I spread it so thin. That keeps the crunch present, but not as demanding as with other toffees I’ve tried in the past.

I know that I mention it in the instructions, but I’m going to repeat it here because it is really important: be present during the boiling stage. Pay careful attention to the toffee. I strongly recommend setting a timer. Pretty much everyone I know has scorched a batch of toffee. But, it doesn’t have to happen that way!

Chocolate Covered Toffee

If you liked this chocolate covered toffee, then I’ve got some fabulous news! I’ve made a lot of chocolate and toffee recipes over the years. One of my favorites is this chocolate covered pretzel toffee. It’s got all the same fabulous flavors, plus extra texture and crunch from the pretzel pieces.

And, dark chocolate toffee cookies are crispy, chewy cookies with a deep chocolate flavor, toffee crunch, and gooey chocolate chips. Not a fan of the double chocolate? That’s ok! I’ve got you covered with these chocolate chip toffee treasure cookies.

And, I don’t think I can write about chocolate and toffee without also letting you know that, YES, I have made ice cream flavors like this, too! This creamy vanilla kitchen sink ice cream is jam packed with cookie pieces, toffee bits, coconut, peanut butter cups, pecans, and more! Are you a toffee purist? Toffee ice cream swirled with caramel sauce and filled with bits of crunchy toffee is sure to satisfy. 

{originally published 11/19/11 – recipe notes and photos updated 12/12/25}