I first saw this Salted Pretzel Toffee recipe on my lovely blogger friend Faith’s fabulous blog Thought 4 Food. I already have a slew of recipes of hers that I’ve bookmarked but the moment I saw this recipe I knew that I had found my Christmas Baking gift. Yes this year Christmas totally crept up on me. In fact I was fast asleep and Christmas had literally stolen into my house and screamed “BOO!” at me. It was the 17th of December and I was only just sending out my Christmas cards. For someone who always gets organised and puts the tree up on the 1st of December this was very embarrassing.
I needed to make this quickly as this was destined for my friends Gina and Teena as we were meeting up for the yearly present exchange ritual. Reading through the recipe I was surprised at how easy it was, even though there was toffee involved. There were only two paragraphs worth of instructions and I have everything to hand except for the mini pretzels so I bought these and made the whole thing in the space of 30 minutes (not including setting time).
OCD Pretzel sorting
I do think that using the sugar thermometer helped enormously. Guessing when it comes to a dangerously hot item like sugar that you cannot touch or taste is never a good idea. Nigella herself says that she rarely uses it but I respectfully disagree. A sugar thermometer was one of my best purchases. I’ve used it to make candies, marshmallows, brittle as well as mascarpone cheese. And it helped here when it came to know when was the crucial hard crack stage. It takes about 10-20 minutes to reach this stage during which time I watched it and sorted through my pretzels. Yes you can’t take the OCD out of the girl and here I sorted out the stars from the round pretzels and used the stars as I felt like they were a bit more Christmas-like.
What was even easier was that I didn’t even have to melt the chocolate, a process that tests my patience. The heat of the very, very hot toffee melts the chocolate melts and all you need to wait for a few minutes before spreading it out with a spatula. At first I wasn’t sure if the instructions were correct. Would the toffee set that quickly that I only needed to wait for the chocolate to melt and then spread it across? But I should have had complete faith in Faith as she was 100% correct and it did. I then topped it with some toasted macadamias that the lovely Liss had sent me. I almost felt like I should have done more to produce something so good.
Even though I had alloted these to go to friends and given Mr NQN a bit to try he searched around for more like a lost puppy. His astute observation that they were indeed very Dime bar like had me nodding in agreement. They did have that crisp toffee crunch and the saltiness from the pretzels was what I realised what gave Dime that mouth watering taste beyond other chocolate bars (apart from Japanese Kit Kats of course).
So tell me Dear Reader, do you do handmade food gifts for Christmas? And how do you feel about receiving them?
Salted Pretzel Toffee
Adapted from Faith from Thought 4 Food
- About 2 cups salted mini pretzels (just enough to cover the bottom of the pan)
- 1 cup/2 sticks/225g unsalted butter
- 1 cup white sugar
- 2 tablespoons water
- 1/8 teaspoon salt
- 2 teaspoons vanilla
- 8 oz/240g good quality semisweet or bittersweet chocolate, chopped (or about 1 1/3 c chips)
- 1/2 cup macadamias (optional)
Candy thermometer
9 by 13-inch (22.5x 32.5cms) baking dish lined with aluminum foil or parchment paper.
1. Arrange the pretzels in an even layer on the bottom of a parchment lined swiss roll tray. Cook the butter, sugar, water, and salt over medium heat until the temperature reaches 305F (hard crack stage), stirring occasionally. Place baking on a heatproof surface. Stir in the vanilla and pour the mixture over the pretzels, spreading evenly (work fast because it starts to harden quickly). I took a corner of the baking dish and tipped some of the caramel to the edges. Don’t use your fingers – it’s hotter than lava (not that I’ve touched lava).
2a. If you’re not using the nuts: Right after spreading the toffee in the prepared pan, sprinkle the chocolate on top and let it sit for a couple minutes to melt the chocolate (you can cover the pan with a baking sheet to help the chocolate melt faster). Once the chocolate is melted, spread it in an even layer. Let the chocolate set, then break into pieces.
2b. If you’re using the nuts: Toast the nuts, either in a dry pan on the stovetop, or in a 350F oven for oven for 6-8 minutes. Allow the nuts to cool slightly, then finely chop them. Right after spreading the toffee in the prepared pan, sprinkle the chocolate on top and let it sit for a couple minutes to melt the chocolate (you can cover the pan with a baking sheet to help the chocolate melt faster). Once the chocolate is melted, spread it in an even layer, then sprinkle with the chopped nuts, pressing lightly. Let the chocolate set, then break into pieces.
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58 Comments | Add your own
I would love to get handmade goodies for Christmas, particularly food. I think it’s a sweet idea.
I am making chocolate biscuits for all my family this year.
Oh, and I haven’t sent out my Christmas cards yet. I ordered them from the States and they haven’t arrived yet! Argh. I always send them out on the 1st of December. It’s killing me!
That must be really scrumptious! Nice combo!
Cheers,
Rosa
I love making food for Christmas gifts, as long as I’m not rushed. This year I made lemon curd. Nigella’s Christmas book has lots of great recipes for food to make and give.
Oooh that looks so good. Have busily been making some truffles and biscotti, but may still have strength to make some of this!!!
What a marvelous recipe!! They are perfect gifts for friends and for your palate.
I’m melting like the chocolate on the pics, for them
Happy Holidays!!
Cheers,
Gera
ooooh these look fabulous! I am always scared when it comes to cooking with sugar/toffee!
Yum. Great idea. I think the flavours and different textures would work so well.
YUMMM!!!
i’ve got the boy’s christmas on boxing day so i think i’ll come armed with these goodies.
thanks lorraine and faith
i make shortbread 4 presents also i sell it in shops xxx
My mouth is watering at the thought of that!
Merry Christmas!
home made Dimes yeah! This looks so delicious! I love handmade foods as gifts, it shows thoughtfulness and loving labour spent on a person instead of just a material purchase.
Omigod yum…that is so up my alley…I’ve always been scared of hot oil and hot sugar, but I have to give this one a go…YUUUMMM!
I am not usually a fan of this sort of thing but this is an exception. Wow! As for home made xmas gifts, the only one I adore is my cousins Xmas cake, which she makes about 20 of as they have become very popular. Keep baking Edwina.
Yum!! To die for!!! I must try this some time.
I have always wanted to try working with a thermometer. I just need to go and find one. The macadamias would have been delicious with the toffee and the salty pretzels.
Yummy! I totally agree – Christmas snuck up on us this year =D.
Sounds delicious! I’m looking forward to Christmas baking too – being the recipient of baking gifts that is! hehe
Oh yuummm chocolatey salty bites! I wannttt hee hee
Looks absolutely delish! You definitely need to live near me to make some… If not, I’ll have to bookmark this recipe (which I am doing either way) to make sometime before christmas comes…
oh wow these look delicious… something about chocolate and salt and caramel that just works so well together!
thanks for the recipe- I love quick and easy ones- I usually make gingerbread,shortbread and something with chocolate- this year it’s noodle spiders- noodles,chocolate and peanut butter- they too have that salty sweet taste-YUMMO – I might even add some of these toffe pretzels as well and yes I love recieving homade gifts food or craft as it means some extra thought has gone into it- i even make all my cards to send-about 100 this year and all different. Merry Christmas to ALL
these look fantastic and a little out of the ordinary – but not this christmas for me
Awesome recipe! I definitely want to try it. And as a sugar thermometer virgin, I have to ask: do you let it touch the bottom of the pan?
Yes I have just spent all weekend making salty & sweet nuts, shortbread and truffles in plain, rose, lavender, coffee and kahlua flavours also peppermint creams and rose and almond sweetmeats. Today is the day for small pavlovas. Last week I also made my christmas cards for the family. I do love receiving handmade gifts.
Wow, sounds absolutely delicious! Lovely styling too Lorraine!
Awesome recipe Lorraine. I always give baked goods at Christmas time and I love to receive them too. Last night a Quebecois friend gave me a package of sucre à la crème, and I am proud to say there is actually still some left in the container.
yummmm! toffee my favourite.
havent tried salted toffee..
but should be as awesome as salted caramel no?!
heh. love the pics there lorraine!
Yum! I love salty chocolatey things. I have been TRYING to make homemade treats for Christmas gifts but have been having rotten luck in the kitchen at home lately. Very aggravating.
If this tastes like Dime then I’ve got to make it! I love giving and receiving handmade food gifts – anything edible is good but it’s always better when it’s made from the heart
Okay. MMM.
1. Why don’t I have cool friends named Gina and Teena or star shaped pretzels?!
2. I never use a thermometer, but then again I have tamed my sugar into submission.
3. I make handmade food gifts for myself! Other people receive lipgloss sets and CDs
4. REALLY CUTE photos! Love the ornaments. Happy Holidays
NQN this is a lifesaver. Thanku =) These look really easy and good and I love Dime bars!
Yum, such great holiday treats!
I’ve always been to scared to make toffee or things where you have to heat sugar at a very high heat. This recipe is tempting me though. Hopefully, Santa brings me a sugar thermometer this year; failing that a gift card to buy one will do
Yum, looks tasty and simple! I so agree with you about the candy thermometer — can’t do any sugar heating without it!!
Once again your photos sure show off these wonderful homemade gifts that you made for your friends. I must keep my foods soft, so I make Banana Bread and Pumpkin Cookies. I give away one Banana Bread and will give some Pumpkin Cookies away this year. Love your little Nutcracker and rocking horse to make festive pictures.
Just made the pretzel toffees, I couldn’t resist after the mention of dime bars (and the unwanted packet of pretzels in the cupboard that I had. It was incredibly easy and looks pretty speccy!
Fabulous! I think handmade Christmas present are the best! The fact that someone went to the trouble of making something just for you ( although it is usually easier then hitting the shops).
I made cantuccini, quince and pink pepercorn jelly and walnut oatcakes for Christmas this year. I couldn’t have done it without my sugar thermometer!
Well, I would certainly be thrilled to receive a box of this for Christmas! Wow it looks fabulous and delicious! I bake sweet quick breads and wrap them up and give them to friends.
Gosh, now I so desperately want to make this… but I don’t have a sugar thermometer… am I brave enough? YEAH!!
Yes, I give away fudge. People wait every year and same thing, you take sugar butter mixture off stove and then stir in chocolate one at a time. It melts, because as you say, it’s like lava. It’s most recently posted.
Forgot to say how much I love pretzels with chocolate and may have to add this to my tight schedule.
the name i like to use when referring to this candy is CRACK. it’s purely addictive–chocolate, salt, and toffee are truly an unstoppable combination.
Yay!!! I’m so glad you liked this, Lorraine! I have to say, it turned out absolutely gorgeous, and I love your Christmas-y pretzels!
Yes, we are making all of our gifts this year–cookies, bread and a handmade birdhouse for each person. And, yes, I love to receive handmade gifts!
This little treat sounds and looks wonderful! I always enjoy your blog, NQN, and love the image of you sorting through and categorizing your pretzels!
This is the first year I’ve baked gifts to give out to people at Christmas instead of buying things. I have to say it feels so much more satisfying slaving away for a few days baking and icing gingerbread, then packaging them in little cellophane bags and tying them up with ribbon, then going to the shops to buy boxes of chocolate/candy canes etc to give out.
Plus hubby likes to eat all my decorating ‘mistakes’ lol.
Loved the look of these and went straight out and bought the ingredients and the thermometer. I remembered from making toffees for school fetes that toffee shouldn’t be stirred because it goes sugary but I stirred it because Lorraine said that it could be stirred – guess what – it went sugary. But the taste is still nice and I will try again. I had difficulty with the thermometer because the packaging says don’t allow it to touch the bottom and I couldn’t work out how to keep it off the bottom so I had to stand over the stove to hold it – not fun.
I too love to make gifts for christmas. Quite a few years ago I came across a recipe for Prunes in Port which I try to make in advance (doesn’t happen often) and allow it to mature. I have also stirred this thru a tub of Pauls vanilla custard and frozen it as a frozen christmas pudding and it is delicious in our hot Christmas weather. I have also taken on making your rocky road again this year as it is very popular.
Thanks Lorraine and Merry Christmas.
o my they look so good!
These are so amazing! I made these today for christmas day and I’m not sure if they will make until tomorrow as they are that good. I didn’t have a sugar thermometer but I used the old school method my mum taught me which is dropping it into a glass of icy water to see if the texture is right. It seemed to work for me but have a feeling that luck was just on my side.
As far as Chrissy gifts go, I love baking things for gifts. This year’s have been gingerbread men, rum balls, your toffee and shortbread. Yum, yum!
those are the cutest pretzels i’ve seen! little stars… awww
Hi fat mum slim-Oh I should have sent you some Chantelle!
OH how gorgeous! Oh isn’t that the biggest pain when they don’t arrive? That happened to me one year and I just had to buy some here 
Hi Rosa-Thankyou!
Hi Amy-Yes that is true, that’s when it’s not so fun!
Yes I almost forgot what a treasure trove it was!
Hi sandra-Thanks so much! You have been busy indeed!
Hi Gera-Thankyou! Hehe you are too funny! Happy Holidays to you too!
Hi Lisa-Thankyou! Yes rightly so me too, the stuff is so dangerous when it goes wrong
Hi Anita-Thanks so much! Yes they work beautifully together!
Hi A Girl Called E-Haha great idea! I like it!
You’re more than welcome!
Hi jooles-Wow you must be talented! Xxx
HI Jo-Hehe thankyou! Merry Christmas to you too!
Hi Moya-totally!
Oh that’s a nice attitude! Some people I know don’t like them which is interesting 
Hi Reemski-Oh do! It’s so good, trust me!
Just be careful with stirring it and don’t put it up above halfway on the heat (it can spit).
Hi Jane-Hehe thanks! Oh that sounds fabulous and she bakes 20? What a star!
Hi Cakelaw-Hehe cool! I’d love to know what you think of it!
Hi Katherine-They’re really useful I have to say!
They were indeed! 
Hi Lauren-Isn’t it terrible!
Hi Forager- Hehe you are funny! I bet you could bake up a storm!
Hi Ffichiban-Hehe this is up your alley huh?
Hi kamran-Thankyou! Haha you might have to move to Sydney but it would be easier to make a batch. They’re so easy!
Hi Iron Chef Shellie-I agree, it just works!
Hi kathy-You’re welcome! Oh how cute!
Wow you are so dedicated making 100 cards-bravo! 
Merry Christmas!
Hi Johanna-Ahh why is that?
Hi Belle-Thankyou! It’s hard not to do it but my one is one where the actual thermometer glass doesn’t touch the bottom, it has a metal part that rests against the bottom which is really helpful (otherwise it would just touch the bottom and the clip isn’t always effective). The brand I use is Profiline
Hi Jenny-Oh you are a total Xmas baking star!
Your family and friends are so lucky! 
Hi Christie-Why thankyou darling!
Hi Conor-Thanks so much!
Oh you did well! 
HI felicia-Yep it’s very similar! Thankyou so much!
Hi anna-Oh no, tat’s no good. Is it the weather? It’s always hard to bake when it’s really hot
Hi Jacq-Hehe I agree! Yes it means a lot when someone has made it
Hi La Pastry Chef- Hehe! Well that isn’t their real names
I think the star shaped pretzels came in the packet. Oh you have, well done then! You don’t need a thermometer 
Hehe you are so funny re point 3. And thankyou so much! Happy Holidays to you! 
Hi Brianna-You’re welcome! Hehe me too!
Hi 5 Star Foodie-Thankyou so much!
Hi Perthgal-Yes I was too! They’re a pretty good purchase, I think mine was only about $25? It helps a lot with these sugars I have to say
I hope Santa brings you one!
Hi Julie-Yes it makes things so much safer!
HI Darlene-Thankyou so much! You are too kind
Yum pumpkin cookies sound amazing! 
Hi Elicia-Oh YAY so glad that you made them and that it was easy! I loved that it was easy too
Hi Vintage Macaroon-I agree if one has time, it’s nice to make something
Wow, you have some very lucky present recipients out there! I agree, love my sugar thermometer 
Hi Jamie-Thankyou so much! Oh nothing like fresh homemade bread!
Hi Angela-Hehe yes you are! I know you are!
Hi Angela-I’ve seen your fudge and it does look so tempting!
You must have definitely won some fans with it! 
Hi grace-Haha should I rename it to crack?
Hi Faith-I LOVED it Faith, thankyou so much for the recipe!
Hi MaryPoppinsinHeels-A handmade birdhouse? How very special and lovely!
Aww shucks thankyou! Hehe I have that OCD thing that manifests itself in pretzel sorting 
Hi Toni-OH they sound beautiful and like you’ve gone to a lot of effort there!
Haha I bet he does! 
Hi Sylvia-Hmm interesting you say that because I was told that too but I only stirred occasionally and it was ok. If it helps a Profiline brand sugar thermometer is good because it doesn’t let the glass touch the bottom and will save you from having to hold it (which sounds like a big pain!). Oh how lovely! Sounds delicious for our weather here
Fabulous, I’m so glad that you like it! 
Merry Christmas! 
Hi zurin-Thankyou so much!
Hi Kym-YAY so glad that you like it! Ahh yes good stuff, that’s how I did it once and it worked (although I thought it might have been a fluke on my part
). Sounds like gorgeous Christmas presents! 
Hi tia-Thankyou so much!
Love the idea of using salty pretzels in this – very clever
Also looks like something you really couldn’t stop at just one bite – dangerous!
They look awesome and delicious!! id always wish i was as pro at making food like you
And may I confirm how yummy it was!! I was planning to take it to work to share with my friends but was overcome with greed/gluttony and ate it myself
Ooh those look delicious. I really want a candy thermometer – I am petrified of burns and so many things I love involve toffee, so it seems to make sense.
Hi Y-Thankye!
I know, this should come with a warning 
Hi Donna-Thankyou! But I’m so not a pro-honest!
Hi Teena-Thankyou doll! Hehe that is just teh kind of reaction I was hoping for!
Hi Alex-Thanks so much! Absolutely, me too and mine was one of the best purchases I made
Have made this a few times now this Christmas season and just love it! Easy, tastes and looks great. Thanks!
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