Why Did My Toffee Sauce Split? | Ask Nigella.com (2024)

FAQs

Why Did My Toffee Sauce Split? | Ask Nigella.com? ›

Our answer

Over high heat, the butter will melt faster than the candy and you'll find that the milk solids have separated from the oil, creating a split sauce. Moreover, the likelihood of separation increases when utilizing thinner or less sturdy saucepans because they cannot efficiently distribute heat.

You can sometimes save the mixture by removing the saucepan from the stove, slowly stirring the sugar and butter until the mixture comes back together, then returning it to the stovetop and continue cooking until it reaches the hardball stage.

You can try adding in 1 tablespoon of water at a time and slowly stirring to recombine. Separating (and/or crystallizing where the toffee turns sugary and grainy) can happen with sudden drops or spikes in the temperature or with constant, vigorous stirring.

It can also be caused by the mixture being heated unevenly (if the pan has a thin base and has hot spots). We would suggest using a heavy-based pan and heating the mixture slowly, stirring occasionally, until the sugar has completely dissolved, then letting it come gradually to a boil.

To keep your sauce from separating, be sure not to stir too much while the brown sugar is melting. Use moderate heat to ensure it doesn't burn. The butterscotch will thicken a lot when it cools, so it's important not to cook it too long.

Undercooked toffee won't be anything more than a caramel sauce. But overcooked toffee will be just slightly crunchier (almost unrecognizably). So, always err on the side of over-cooking!

One option would be to try masking the bitterness of burnt caramel by incorporating instant coffee into the mix. There is something comforting about this flavor combination, plus with an extra jolt of caffeine, the only tears shed over this concoction will be tears of joy.

Cover the sponge tightly with clingfilm (plastic wrap) and put the sauce in an airtight container. You can warm through individual portions of the sponge in a microwave for about 1-2 minutes on low power, following the manufacturer's instructions, and reheat the sauce in a saucepan.

Most people agree that toffee is cooked to soft crack stage, which is at temperature of 135°C – 140°C (275°F – 284°F), or hard crack stage which occurs at temperature of 145°C – 155°C (293°F – 311°F). More precisely, this candy is usually cooked at temperatures from 140°C – 150°C (284°F – 302°F).

What's the difference between caramel and toffee? ›

The difference between caramel and toffee is greater, as caramel has a more liquid consistency and is usually pure sugar (it doesn't contain butter or flour). Still, the taste of caramel, fudge, and toffee is relatively similar, as they are all made from mostly sugar (as well as butter in the case of fudge and toffee).

For maximum taste and texture, we do recommend that you either enjoy your toffee immediately, or store it in a refrigerator or freezer. Once opened, unrefrigerated product will retain maximum freshness for about a week. Refrigeration adds 3-6 months of shelf life, while freezing adds up to a year or more.

Low and slow. Simmering the syrup for English toffee to the requisite 300°F temperature can (and should) be a slow process — up to 20 minutes or so. Don't hurry this gradual transformation; syrup that doesn't reach 300°F, or close to it, will make candy with timid flavor and chewy (not crunchy) texture.

According to Blakeslee, if a candy appears extremely sticky or has a grainy texture, then it has most likely expired due to temperature abuse and the crystallization of sugar. As a result, she said, it may develop an off flavor, have a change in color or turn moldy if it contains fruits or nuts.

Notes. If the toffee mixture has not boiled for long enough the toffees will not set. It is very important that you test toffee in a glass of cold water for it to crack or that the toffee has become hard on the spoon.

Sometimes separated toffee or caramel can be saved by removing the saucepan from the heat and stirring constantly until it comes back together into a smooth mixture. Gradually return it to the heat, stirring constantly. You can also try adding a spoonful or two of very hot water to the toffee to help it come together.

The Fix Is Simple—Add Water Back.

Here's how fix a broken sauce: Add about ¼ cup of water to the pan and reheat the sauce to a vigorous simmer, whisking constantly. The bubbling action will help re-emulsify the butter and bring back that thick, glossy sauce.

Work over consistent heat––sometimes a big jump in temperature can cause the emulsion to break and separate. While cooking, keeping the heat low and slow can keep your sauce happy and together! Add a little fat back––a classic emulsified sauce is typically a 1:1 ratio of fat to liquid!

If you have added too much butter to your caramel sauce, you may find that it is too oily or it might even begin to separate. To fix this, add 1 tablespoon of either water or milk and stir while cooking over medium heat. Adding 1-2 Tbsp of a simple cornstarch slurry may fix the problem, as well.