The Actual Difference Between Toffee And Brittle

For those not well acquainted with these particular sweets, we're here to help differentiate between toffee and brittle. The nostalgic recipes share some similarities, but the texture, taste, and presentation of the two can cause a bit of confusion. While there are always variations in classic candy recipes, we have a few tips that can separate the taste and textures of smooth, buttery toffee and pieces of crunchy, sweet brittle. 

Whether you are staring down an old-fashioned toffee recipe to make at home or eyeballing brittle and honeycomb candy to determine which one to set out at tonight's dinner party, we have a few tips to consider as you're browsing the candy shop and comparing recipes to whip up on your kitchen. Regardless of your choices, any lover of sweet treats will delight in sampling both kinds of candies, either as a standalone snack or as part of another decadent dessert. 

Made with sugar and butter, toffee can be traced back to 19th century England. This glossy, old-fashioned candy can feel sticky upon contact but can be hard to bite down on. The hard candies can crackle and break when smashed. 

Butter, sugar, and water are heated to a specific consistency and temperature to make toffee. Smaller pieces of toffee can be wrapped up and enjoyed as a quick mid-afternoon treat, while some creative bakers have pressed the candies on top of a cupcake or into a frosted cake as a decorative touch. Toffee can also be incorporated as an ingredient into recipes for other sweet treats, as an added layer of flavor in a chocolate bar or brownie, or as a sweet mix-in for ice cream. Generally, toffee offers a rich, buttery flavor that can also deliver subtle notes of caramel. While some recipes, such as our honeycomb toffee recipe, may add a twist on the classic flavor and texture of the candy, toffee is typically a smooth treat to savor as it melts in your mouth.

Brittle is known for its crackling texture. Though the ingredients traditionally used to make brittle can vary, an assortment of nuts are typically added to sweet mixtures that also contain honey or sugar. Brittle recipes don't call for the same amount of butter as toffee, but roasted nuts can make up for the absence of the creamy ingredient. 

Brittle is a lot easier to break into pieces than toffee, making a homemade maple cashew brittle or sea salt brownie brittle recipe more convenient to crumble over a dish of yogurt or apple crisp. Some brittle recipes may also include ingredients like spices, dried fruit, or seeds — and it isn't unusual to find regional recipes when traveling to different parts of the world. Brittle can offer the similar notes of caramel that can be found in toffee, but the caramel flavor is often complemented by the earthy flavors of nuts or other natural ingredients.

When comparing ingredients needed to make toffee and brittle candies, a clear difference is evident among recipes. Though butter and sugar is required to make both sweets, brittle can contain extra ingredients beyond the mix-ins you can see. Our almond brittle recipe brings almonds, maple syrup, vanilla, and sea salt into the mix, for example, while our Milk Bar-esque crackle brittle includes cereal, crackers, and other crunchy snacks you may have stocked in your kitchen cupboards. 

The overall flavor of brittle will vary depending on the added ingredients. Toffee can appear in different forms and be covered with layers of melted chocolate or chopped nuts, but you usually won't find nuts or dried fruit speckled throughout the candy. Some brittle recipes may lead with the toasty flavors of roasted almonds or sesame seeds, and brittle made with chocolate chips or spices can offer sweeter bites. Additions like vanilla and cinnamon can enhance the treat, while saltier inclusions like chocolate-covered pretzels or a finishing sea salt can add a flavorful contrast. Salt and vanilla may flavor homemade toffee recipes, but traditionally, there won't be any other ingredients that add texture to the candy itself. 

Another indicator to help categorize toffee and brittle is the texture. Brittle's name is true to promise: The candy can break easily into pieces. Pieces of nuts or fragments of pretzels may fall onto the table once you've snapped a piece in two. Toffee, on the other hand, is reliably smooth. Though you may find a slightly chewier piece occasionally, toffee is consistent in texture.

Harder toffee can be broken into pieces to make brown butter toffee cookies or toffee chocolate chip cookies. Additionally, the higher "hard crack" temperatures needed for toffee-making yields a subtle taste of burnt sugar. Regardless of whether the toffee has been made into a harder lozenge-type snack or a softer, more buttery cube that has been heated at a lower temperature, toffee tends to lead with a rich, creamy profile. Sugary toffee mixtures will be heated anywhere from 280 to 310 degrees Fahrenheit, depending on the aim of the recipe. 

Though toffee and brittles contain similar ingredients, the way in which these goodies are prepared differs. Once the ingredients have reached a temperature of around 300 degrees Fahrenheit and the sugar has dissolved, the brittle is placed onto a lined baking sheet to cool. Toffee is cooked at an even higher temperature, resulting in a softer, gummier texture.

While you may find toffee-flavored desserts, the actual pieces of toffee will maintain a smooth texture. When making toffee, butter, water, and sugar are carefully heated and stirred until the desired consistency is achieved, whether that be a firmer or softer sweet. Brittle is also mixed over heat and stirred consistently, but the ingredient list is longer. Toffee candy, once hardened, can be placed on cakes and cupcakes for an aesthetic touch. In its softer form, toffee can line homemade candy bars and brownies. Once brittle and toffee have solidified and cooled, both treats can be topped with melted chocolate or be used as part of other recipes when still in a malleable state. Once the brittle has set, the pieces can be crumbled on top of cakes, brownies, or bowls of ice cream or quickly upgrade batches of trail mix, bowls of oatmeal, and stacks of waffles and pancakes. With so many kinds of brittle recipes to choose from, the flavors of homemade brittle are a tasty world to explore.