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Bonfire Toffee

Name: Bonfire Toffee
Prep time: 5 min
Cook time: 15 min
Yield: 500
Ingredients: 450g (2 cups) dark brown sugar; 125ml (½ cup) boiling water; ¼ tsp cream of tartar; 115g (approx. 5.5 tbsp) black treacle (molasses); 115g (approx. 5.5 tbsp) golden syrup (light corn syrup), see notes

Posted by Lisa | Sweet 2 Eat Baking on November 3, 2012

28 Comments // Leave Some Love

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Authentic tasting bonfire toffee. A rich and deep caramel molasses taste from both the brown sugar and the black treacle. The perfect treat for enjoying around the bonfire on Bonfire night.

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Bonfire Toffee Recipe

Remember remember the fifth of November
Gunpowder, treason and plot.
I see no reason why gunpowder, treason
Should ever be forgot…

Halloween is over but bonfire night is rapidly approaching. If you’re not familiar with UK tradition, bonfire night (aka. Guy Fawkes’ Day, Fireworks night, Plot night) has been celebrated in England since 5^th November 1605.

It is a celebration of the Kings escape from assassination from Guy Fawkes and his 12 other conspirators. Guy Fawkes’ placed barrels of gunpowder under the Houses of Parliament in an attempt to blow it up and kill the King. However, Guy was caught and then later he was hung, drawn and quartered.

To read more about the history of bonfire night, click here.

What is Bonfire Night?

Modern day Bonfire Night is pretty much like the 4^th of July – we set off fireworks but for a different reason!

Why? Because fireworks contain gunpowder.

If you ever go to a [good] bonfire night party in the UK, you will see a spectacular fireworks display. Before the fireworks display, it is customary to light the bonfire. The bonfires are huge and keep you warm in the chilly autumn air from a distance. Before the lighting of the bonfire, a “Guy” (meaning Guy Fawkes) is made out of paper, tights (pantyhose), old clothes, etc. and moulded into the shape of a man and placed on top of the fire. You then watch as the fire takes hold and Guy Fawkes burns.

It sounds a little crazy now (watching someone burn? Yikes!), but it’s all done in good humour and for charities too. “Penny for the Guy?”

What is Bonfire Toffee?

Bonfire toffee is a hard toffee candy that traditionally contains brown sugar, black treacle (molasses), golden syrup and little other ingredients.

Bonfire Toffee is often enjoyed around bonfire night and sometimes throughout autumn and winter in the UK.

Bonfire Toffee has a very rich deep caramel molasses taste from both the dark brown sugar and the black treacle.It becomes chewy as it melts in your mouth too. Mmm!

And did I mention bonfire toffee is yummy too? If you’ve never tried bonfire toffee, be sure to make yourself a batch.

Is Bonfire Toffee Easy to Make?

Bonfire Toffee is very easy to make if you own a sugar thermometer.

It is all made on the stovetop and heated until the hard crack stage on a sugar thermometer.

Does Making Bonfire Toffee require a Sugar Thermometer?

You can purchase a sugar thermometer here: [UK] [US].

It IS possible to make Bonfire Toffee without a sugar thermometer. However, it can be quite tricky to tell which stage you’re at without a sugar thermometer if you’re not experiences with making candy.

If you do not have a sugar thermometer, you can test for hard crack stage by having a bowl of ice cold water near your stove. If you drop a little of the mixture in the cold water, the toffee should harden immediately and when pressed with your fingers [after putting in the ice water], the toffee should crack and break apart with pressure when pressed.

Yield: 500g bonfire toffee

Bonfire Toffee

Authentic tasting bonfire toffee. Rich and deep molasses taste from both the sugar and the black treacle. The perfect treat for enjoying around the bonfire.

Prep Time 5 minutes

Cook Time 15 minutes

Ingredients

450g (2 cups) dark brown sugar
125ml (½ cup) boiling water
¼ tsp cream of tartar
115g (approx. 5.5 tbsp) black treacle (molasses)
115g (approx. 5.5 tbsp) golden syrup (light corn syrup), see notes

Instructions

Line the base and sides of an A4 sized tin with non-stick parchment paper, and thoroughly grease it with non-stick cooking spray.
Put the sugar and boiling water in a heavy bottomed large pan and heat gently until the sugar is dissolved, do not stir the mixture at any point instead tilt the pan if you need to move it around.
Weigh out your remaining ingredients, if you put them in a really well-greased jug they will be much easier to pour out. Once the sugar has dissolved add all the ingredients and pop the sugar thermometer in, you can use the thermometer to give it a quick swirl but try not to mix it too much.
Bring to the boil and boil until you reach soft crack on your thermometer (270°F/140°C) This may take up to 30 minutes, be patient and do not leave the pan unattended as it can change quickly. As soon as it reaches the temp, tip it into your tin and leave it to cool.
Once cool remove it from the tin a break up with a toffee hammer or rolling pin. Store in an airtight tin or wrap up in boxes or cellophane bags to give as a gift.

Notes

Black treacle is very similar to liquid Molasses in the U.S. and can be substituted with molasses. However, for an authentic recipe, golden syrup should be used and not light corn syrup. Golden syrup can now be found in most US supermarkets [or so I hear].
TIP: To easily clean your pan and thermometer after use, fill with hot water and bring to a boil. This will melt any remaining residue making it easy to clean after.

Nutrition Information:

Yield:

Serving Size:

1
Amount Per Serving: Calories: 41Total Fat: 0gSaturated Fat: 0gTrans Fat: 0gUnsaturated Fat: 0gCholesterol: 0mgSodium: 4mgCarbohydrates: 11gFiber: 0gSugar: 11gProtein: 0g

This post was featured on:

black treacle bonfire night bonfire toffee campfire cream of tartar dark brown sugar desserts fireworks golden syrup guy fawkes guy fawkes day molasses no bake sweets treats

Posted by Lisa | Sweet 2 Eat Baking on November 3, 2012

28 Comments // Leave Some Love

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28 Comments on “Bonfire Toffee”

Laura — November 3, 2012 @11:11 pm Reply

In my high school we read Tess of the d'Ubervilles (spelling? can no longer remember), in which Guy Fawkes Day plays a prominent role. I remember it every Nov. 5 as a result lol! This candy is intriguing... I am not a huge molasses fan but I would like to try it.
Kayle (The Cooking Actress) — November 4, 2012 @1:17 am Reply

My boyfriend is obsessed with V for Vendetta so I am familiar with the 5th :P

This toffee looks deeelicious! I've never seen it before and I am very intrigued :)
rebecca — November 4, 2012 @1:58 pm Reply

great post I miss the UK this time of year
Choc Chip Uru — November 4, 2012 @7:11 pm Reply

What an incredible way to celebrate guy Fawkes day my friend, your toffee looks mouthwatering :)

Cheers
Choc Chip Uru
Choc Chip Uru — November 4, 2012 @7:11 pm Reply

What an incredible way to celebrate guy Fawkes day my friend, your toffee looks mouthwatering :)

Cheers
Choc Chip Uru
The Partiologist — November 5, 2012 @12:07 am Reply

I've not heard of bon fire night - but with a recipe as good as this, I will for sure be celebrating! I love that you have the recipe conversion for me! I love hard candy and this is one I've not tired, thanks for the recipe!
The Partiologist — November 5, 2012 @12:07 am Reply

I've not heard of bon fire night - but with a recipe as good as this, I will for sure be celebrating! I love that you have the recipe conversion for me! I love hard candy and this is one I've not tired, thanks for the recipe!
Terra — November 5, 2012 @12:23 am Reply

I feel my teeth screaming just looking that delicious toffee!!! I love how fun it looks, and the flavors are so unique:-) Yum, Hugs, Terra
Terra — November 5, 2012 @12:23 am Reply

I feel my teeth screaming just looking that delicious toffee!!! I love how fun it looks, and the flavors are so unique:-) Yum, Hugs, Terra
alison — November 6, 2012 @1:33 am Reply

No black treacle or golden syrup here in the US
(brit in the US)
alison — November 6, 2012 @1:33 am Reply

No black treacle or golden syrup here in the US
(brit in the US)
Crystelle — November 7, 2012 @7:47 pm Reply

I'm so glad you shared this! I didn't know the story, not had I heard of the toffee.... And you photo's are fab!

thanks x
Crystelle
Crystelle — November 7, 2012 @7:47 pm Reply

I'm so glad you shared this! I didn't know the story, not had I heard of the toffee.... And you photo's are fab!

thanks x
Crystelle
Colleen, The Smart Cookie Cook — November 8, 2012 @9:11 pm Reply

This looks dark & rich in the best possible way. I've never heard of Bonfire Night, so thanks for a little history lesson :)
Colleen, The Smart Cookie Cook — November 8, 2012 @9:11 pm Reply

This looks dark & rich in the best possible way. I've never heard of Bonfire Night, so thanks for a little history lesson :)
Karyn - Pint Sized Baker — November 9, 2012 @3:32 am Reply

This sounds very interesting. I had never heard of this...
The photos are wonderful, by the way.
Karyn - Pint Sized Baker — November 9, 2012 @3:32 am Reply

This sounds very interesting. I had never heard of this...
The photos are wonderful, by the way.
Aimee @ ShugarySweets — November 9, 2012 @7:16 pm Reply

I have never seen or heard of this, but I am totally intrigued!
Aimee @ ShugarySweets — November 9, 2012 @7:16 pm Reply

I have never seen or heard of this, but I am totally intrigued!
Six Sisters — November 11, 2012 @10:38 pm Reply

This Bonfire Toffee looks so delicious! Thanks for sharing this recipe on our Strut Your Stuff Saturday! We are so glad you dropped by and hope you'll be back with more great recipes. -The Six Sisters
Six Sisters — November 11, 2012 @10:38 pm Reply

This Bonfire Toffee looks so delicious! Thanks for sharing this recipe on our Strut Your Stuff Saturday! We are so glad you dropped by and hope you'll be back with more great recipes. -The Six Sisters
anyonita — March 10, 2013 @5:07 pm Reply

Hello! I love your blog & have added you to my beautiful blog roll & used one of your photos from this post. Here's a link to it my blog roll. I hope you don't mind being added in! http://anyonitanibbles.blogspot.co.uk/p/blog-page.html
Anyonita
anyonita — March 10, 2013 @5:07 pm Reply

Hello! I love your blog & have added you to my beautiful blog roll & used one of your photos from this post. Here's a link to it my blog roll. I hope you don't mind being added in! http://anyonitanibbles.blogspot.co.uk/p/blog-page.html
Anyonita
maisie browne — November 4, 2015 @11:22 pm Reply

Hi, how long does it take for the bonfire toffee to set?
1. Lisa | Sweet 2 Eat Baking — November 17, 2015 @6:19 pm Reply
  
  Hi Maisie, I'm sorry my reply is so late - I have taken a hiatus from the site for personal reasons.
  
  I can't remember the actual time the toffee took to set as it was made quite some time ago now. But it shouldn't be any more than a couple of hours. I usually make all my sweet treats in the evening anyway and allow to set overnight so if time is a problem, you could always do that. :)
  
  I hope that helps. Thanks for stopping by.
Tracey — March 19, 2018 @7:14 pm Reply

My mom used to make this for me as a kid and I loved it. I might try my hand at it here in the US.

Bonfire Toffee