Toffee is a popular confection that people usually have as solid candy pieces, and it’s made by caramelizing sugar and then mixing it with butter. The sugar and butter mixture is then heated until reaching a temperature between 300 and 310 Fahrenheit.
But does toffee melt when you heat it once more to use in this or that dessert recipe? And if so, how do you properly melt it?
We’ve got all your answers right below!
Does Toffee Melt?
Yes, toffee melts from its solid state when heated under the right conditions. This way, you can include it in different desserts and baked goods with no second guesses.
However, keeping an eye on toffee when you’re trying to melt it is essential to make sure that it’s properly done and that the toffee doesn’t burn during the process.
How to Melt Toffee?
There are two fast and simple methods to melt toffee at home. Yet, as stated earlier, it’s important to follow the instructions keenly, or else the toffee could easily burn.
Melt Toffee Using a Double Boiler
This is the most effective way to melt toffee as it allows you to manually control the temperature and ensure that the toffee melts properly. Here’s how to do it:
Step 1: Put the Toffee in a Ziploc Bag And Crush It
First, you need to unwrap the toffee and then place it in a plastic Ziploc bag. Using a kitchen hammer or rolling pin, smash or crush the toffee into small pieces.
Make sure that no big chunks of toffee remain intact to ensure that they all melt at the same temperature and time.
Step 2: Place The Crushed Toffee Pieces On a Double Boiler
Take the crushed toffee pieces out of the Ziploc bag and place them on the top pot of the double boiler. If you don’t own a double boiler, there’s another simple way to improvise one of your own.
You will need a regular pot and a glass bowl that can sit perfectly on the pot’s top. Treat the glass bowl as the top pot in a double boiler, placing the crushed toffee in it.
Step 3: Start Melting the Toffee
Take the bottom pot and put some water inside it, then place the pot on a stove that’s running between medium and low heat. When you see the water start to simmer, place the glass bowl or the top pot onto the lower one.
Start to gently steer the toffee using a wooden spoon or spatula until it begins to melt. If you’re using the improvised glass bowl method, it’s essential that the bowl fits right on top of the pot.
The steam from the water inside the lower pot will cause the toffee to steadily melt, which is why we want no steam to escape.
Step 4: Melt the Remaining Chunks
Once you notice that most of the toffee has melted and only a few chunks remain, remove the top pot or glass bowl and place it on your countertop. Now, steer the toffee again, allowing the residual heat to further melt the remaining toffee chunks.
Your toffee is now melted!
Melt Toffee in a Microwave
This is an easier way to melt toffee at home. However, using this method has a higher risk of burning your toffee than using the double boiler method, so keep a cautious eye.
This is the right way to do it:
Step 1: Put the Toffee in a Ziploc Bag And Crush It
Unwrap the toffee and then place it in a plastic Ziploc bag.
Then, by using a kitchen hammer or rolling pin, smash or crush the toffee into small pieces, ensuring that no big chunks of toffee remain uncrushed.
Step 2: Place the Crushed Toffee Pieces in the Microwave And Let Them Melt
Take the crushed toffee pieces out of the Ziploc bag and place them in a microwave-safe bowl. Place the bowl inside the microwave and shut the door.
Adjust the microwave power to 50% so the toffee can melt evenly without burning, then set the timer to 15 minutes and let the toffee melt.
After 15 minutes, take out the bowl and then gently steer the toffee. If the toffee hasn’t properly melted and there are still big solid chunks, place the bowl back in the microwave for another 15 minutes.
Repeat this process until most of the toffee pieces have properly melted.
Step 3: Melt the Remaining Chunks
Wait until most of the toffee has melted and only a few small pieces remain, then remove the bowl from the microwave and place it on your countertop.
Now purposely steer the toffee using a wooden spoon or spatula to further melt the remaining toffee chunks.
Your work is now done!
Can You Remelt Toffee?
When you melt toffee and then leave it to cool down without being used, it will start to harden again and will return to its original solid state. However, toffee can be melted again using the same methods explained before without losing any of its qualities or delicious taste.
So, the short answer is yes; you can remelt toffee as many times as you want according to your cooking needs.
Can You Melt Toffee to Make Toffee Sauce?
English toffee sauce is known for its delicious caramelized flavor and you can use it as an ingredient in many desserts. Besides its delicious taste, toffee sauce is very popular thanks to being super easy to make.
You can make toffee sauce by mixing sugar, butter, and cream and allowing them to melt together.
Final Thoughts
Does toffee melt?
Yes, you can easily melt toffee at home to use as an ingredient for different delicious desserts. You can melt toffee using either a double boiler or your microwave.
However, it’s worth mentioning that after the toffee is melted, it can still harden again if left to cool down. Therefore, it’s important to use the hot toffee as an ingredient in your dessert as soon as you melt it.
Sarah is the founder of Baking Kneads, LLC, a blog sharing guides, tips, and recipes for those learning how to bake. Growing up as the daughter of a baker, she spent much of her childhood learning the basics in a local bakery.
Hana
Wednesday 7th of February 2024
I have these toffee candies that are so hard to enjoy and thinking of melting them but they are thick squares.. tried to grate them to add to cookies.. hard work .. cannot be crushed. What shall I do? Discard them? 🥲
Sarah Bridenstine
Friday 9th of February 2024
You could try melting them on low heat in the microwave, then check them every 30 seconds or so to see if they're soft enough to break down further. I'd at least give it a shot before tossing them!