Candy and toffee may seem quite similar, but there are some key differences between these sweet treats.
Ingredients – Candy Contains More Sugar While Toffee Has More Butter or Oil
The ingredients are where these treats really differ. Candy typically contains a lot more sugar, usually around 65-90% of the total ingredients. Toffee, on the other hand, uses a greater amount of butter or oil, around 20-30% of the recipe.
Sugar gives candy its characteristic sweetness and texture. Without all that sugar, candy would be brittle and crumbly. The high sugar content is what allows candy makers to create soft, chewy, and pliable treats.
Toffee, in contrast, gets its flavor and texture from copious amounts of butter, oil or cream. The fat is what gives toffee its distinctive buttery flavor and crisp, crunchy consistency. While still sweet, toffee isn’t usually as sugary as most candies.
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Some popular types of candy – like chocolate, hard candy, and taffy – use sugar as the main ingredient. Toffee also contains sugar but relies more on butter, oil or cream to achieve its signature taste and texture. If you have a hankering for something rich and buttery, toffee is probably your best bet. If you prefer lighter, fluffier or chewy treats, candy is the way to go.
In the end, while these confections do share some similarities, the specific ingredients used in each are really what set them apart. Whether you like your sweets light and sugary or rich and buttery, candy and toffee have you covered.
Texture – Candy Is Softer While Toffee Is Chewy and Firmer
Candy and toffee may seem quite similar, but there are a few key differences in how they’re made and enjoyed.
Candy typically has a soft, chewy texture while toffee is thicker, firmer, and crunchy. Toffee is made by heating sugar and butter to high temperatures which creates its signature brittle, crunchy consistency. Candy, on the other hand, has a softer, more pliable texture from not being cooked to as high of a temperature.
Toffee typically only contains a few ingredients: sugar, butter, and occasionally nuts or chocolate. Candy, conversely, can contain a wide range of ingredients like corn syrup, milk, cream, and emulsifiers to achieve its softer texture. Toffee purists prefer its simplicity while candy fans enjoy experimenting with different flavorings and add-ins.
To make toffee, sugar and butter are heated until the sugar begins to caramelize. The mixture is then poured onto a baking sheet to set. Candy undergoes a longer cooking process, as additional ingredients like milk or cream are added and the mixture is brought to specific temperatures depending on the type of candy being made. The cooking and setting process for candy can take hours compared to about 15-20 minutes for basic toffee.
Toffee is usually flavored with just brown sugar, butter, and nuts, producing a rich caramel flavor. Candy comes in a multitude of flavors from chocolate to fruit to mint and beyond. So if you’ve got a hankering for peanut brittle or peppermint patties, candy would be your choice. For a classic, buttery treat, you can’t beat delicious toffee.
Candy vs Toffee: 5 Ways These Sweet Treats Differ
Candy
- Candy typically contains sugar, corn syrup molasses and flavorings.
- Candy can have a variety of textures, from hard candies to gummies to chocolates.
- Candy is made by heating and melting sugar, then cooling and shaping it.
- Candies can have a wide range of flavors from fruity to chocolatey to minty.
- Candy comes in a rainbow of colors. Candy can be shaped into anything from sticks to bears to worms.
Toffee
- Toffee also contains sugar but is made primarily from caramelized sugar and butter.
- Toffee has a signature firm, yet chewy texture from heating sugar and butter.
- Toffee is made using the caramelization of sugar, which involves heating sugar to a higher temperature until it browns.
- The caramelized sugar in toffee results in a richer, more buttery flavor than most candies.
- Toffee often has a golden brown, caramelized appearance. Toffee usually hardens into small rectangle shapes or round disks
In summary, while candy and toffee are both sweet treats, toffee is defined by its buttery caramel flavor, chewy yet firm texture, and golden color. Candy encompasses a much wider range of flavors, textures, and appearances. But whichever you choose candy or toffee, you can’t go wrong!
