Chocolate Taffy Recipes

DARK CHOCOLATE TAFFY FLOWERS

Steps:

• Melt the chocolate in a stainless-steel bowl placed over a pan of simmering water, being careful not to let the bowl touch the water. Stir in the corn syrup, vanilla, and salt. Remove from the heat and allow the mixture to cool to room temperature, stirring occasionally. The chocolate should come together with the consistency of pie dough and become more flexible as you stir and work it.
• Turn the mixture onto a work surface covered with parchment paper and roll to 1/4 inch thick. (If the chocolate taffy sticks to the rolling pin, cover it with a second sheet of parchment or a piece of plastic wrap.) Shape the chocolate into a large disk, then form it into 4 smaller disks. (If the taffy is too soft to hold its shape, chill it for about 20 minutes and it will hold its shape more readily. You can wrap each disk in plastic wrap and then store them in a resealable plastic bag in the refrigerator for up to 1 month, or in the freezer for up to 6 months.)
• At this point you can shape the chocolate taffy into just about anything you please. We're going to explain how to create lovely flowers. First, line a baking sheet with parchment paper.
• Using a rolling pin, roll out a disk of taffy on a piece of parchment to between 1/4 inch and 1/8 inch thick. Cut small circles in the taffy using the back of a pastry-bag tip. (If you don't have a pastry-bag tip, use a bottle top from a milk jug or anything that cuts uniform circles about 1 inch in diameter.)
• Separate the circles (which we will henceforth call petals) on the parchment and flatten the outer edges of each petal with the back of a cold spoon until the edges are almost transparent. Peel the first petal off the parchment (a small spatula helps with this job) and roll it tightly, like a cigar. Pick up the next petal and wrap it around the first one, pinching the two together at the base. Each petal should get successively looser and wider, mimicking the way a rose bloom opens. (Six or so petals ought to do the trick.) Place the completed rose on the prepared baking sheet. Repeat with the remaining taffy, rolling the scraps if you like and using them, too. Cover the baking sheet with plastic wrap and refrigerate for up to 1 month or freeze for up to 6 months.

CHOCOLATE TOFFEE

Steps:

• Line a sided sheet pan with a silicone baking mat, or oil it well with vegetable oil (or use a heavyweight nonstick sheet pan).
• Pour the sugar into the center of a saucepan fitted with a candy thermometer. Pour the water around the edge of the pan and wait to allow the water to moisten the sugar. (You can draw a clean finger through the center of the pan to allow some water to seep in.) Add the corn syrup and bring to a boil. Add the butter and boil until the mixture reaches 300 degrees F.
• Turn off the heat and whisk in the cocoa; then stir in the nuts. Quickly pour the mixture onto the center of the prepared pan and let it spread out - it may not reach the sides of the pan. Set aside to cool at room temperature until hard. Using your hands (I wear gloves to avoid fingerprints), pry the toffee out of the pan and break into large pieces. Store in an airtight container. The toffee will keep well for up to 2 weeks in an airtight container.

GRANDMA'S TAFFY

Steps:

• In a large saucepan, stir together the sugar and cornstarch. Add the butter, salt, corn syrup and water; mix well. Bring to a boil over medium heat, stirring to mix in butter. Heat to 275 degrees F (134 degrees C), or until a small amount of syrup dropped from a spoon forms hard but pliable threads.
• Remove from heat, and stir in the vanilla, flavored extract and food coloring. Pour into a greased 8x8 inch baking dish. When cooled enough to handle, remove candy from the pan, and pull until it loses its shine and becomes stiff. Pull into ropes, and use scissors to cut into 1 inch pieces. Wrap each piece in waxed paper.

CHOCOLATE TOFFEE COOKIES II

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees F).
• Beat butter and sugar in large bowl until fluffy. Add egg, rum, and vanilla and beat until well blended.
• Sift flour, cocoa, baking soda and salt into small bowl. Stir dry ingredients into butter mixture. Mix in toffee and chopped almonds.
• Drop batter by heaping tablespoonfuls onto heavy large ungreased baking sheet, spacing 2 inches apart. Bake until cookies puff slightly and crack on top but are still soft to tough, about 11 minutes. Let cookies cool on sheet 1 minutes. Transfer cookies to rack and cool completely. Repeat shaping and baking with remaining batter.

CHOCOLATE-CARAMEL MATZO TOFFEE

Steps:

• Heat oven to 350 degrees. Line a 13-by-18-inch rimmed baking sheet with aluminum foil, allowing it to go up and over the edges of the pan. Line the bottom of the pan with a piece of parchment. Arrange matzo over parchment in an even layer, breaking pieces to fit as necessary.
• In a medium pot over medium-high heat, bring butter and sugar to a boil, whisking, until thickened and smooth, about 3 minutes. The mixture may separate, and that is O.K. Stir in vanilla and salt. Quickly pour mixture over matzos. Transfer baking sheet to oven and bake until bubbly, about 15 minutes.
• Remove from oven. Sprinkle chocolate evenly over caramel and let stand until softened, about 5 minutes. Use an offset spatula to spread chocolate smoothly over surface of toffee. If you've used different kinds of chocolate, you can swirl them together decoratively.
• Immediately sprinkle melted chocolate with desired topping. Transfer baking sheet to refrigerator and chill toffee 1 hour to set chocolate. Break matzo toffee into large pieces for storing and serving.

CHOCOLATE TOFFEE BARS

Steps:

• Heat oven to 350°F. In small bowl, mix crust ingredients until well blended. Press in bottom of ungreased 13x9-inch pan. Bake 8 to 10 minutes or until lightly browned. Cool slightly, about 5 minutes. Increase oven temperature to 375°F.
• Meanwhile, in medium bowl, mix 1 cup brown sugar, 2 tablespoons flour, the baking powder and eggs until well blended. Stir in chocolate chips and nuts. Pour topping evenly over crust, spreading slightly if necessary.
• Bake 13 to 18 minutes or until deep golden brown and center is set. Cool completely, about 1 hour. For bars, cut into 6 rows by 6 rows.

CHOCOLATE CARAMELS

Steps:

• Line a 9x5-in. loaf pan with foil and grease the foil with butter; set aside., In a large heavy saucepan, bring the sugar, corn syrup and chocolate to a boil over medium heat; stir until smooth. Add 1/2 cup cream; cook, stirring constantly, until a candy thermometer reads 234° (soft-ball stage). Add another 1/2 cup cream; return mixture to 234° (soft-ball stage). Add the remaining cream; cook to 245° (firm-ball stage)., Immediately pour into prepared pan (do not scrape saucepan). Let stand until firm, about 5 hours or overnight. Using foil, lift candy out of pan. Discard foil; cut candy into 1-in. squares using a buttered knife. Wrap individually in waxed paper; twist ends.

CHOCOLATE TOFFEE SQUARES

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
• Grease a 13x9x2 inch pan.
• Beat butter and sugar until light and fluffy.
• Add egg yolk, vanilla and salt.
• Blend well.
• Beat in flour just until combined.
• Turn into prepared pan, spreading evenly.
• Bake for 25 minutes or until golden brown.
• Remove from oven and immediately sprinkle with chocolate chips.
• When melted, spread and sprinkle with nuts.
• Cut into squares while warm.
• Let cool completely.