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This crunchy churro-inspired candy turns the classic cinnamon-sugar street food into a buttery, crisp delight that gets snatched up in minutes whenever I serve it. When you mix the buttery toffee base with white chocolate and dust it with that unmistakable cinnamon sugar coating, you'll end up with a snack that tastes just like biting into the real thing.
I started making this crunchy treat after a trip to Disneyland where they sell something similar. My version has quickly become what everyone asks for during our family movie nights and holiday parties.
Ingredients
- Unsalted butter: Forms the luxurious foundation of your toffee, splurge on good quality for better taste
- Granulated sugar: Delivers the perfect caramel flavor and sweetness
- Kosher salt: Boosts all the flavors and cuts through the sweetness
- Vanilla extract: Brings warmth and complexity
- Ghirardelli White Chocolate Wafers: They melt smoothly, check for actual cocoa butter on the label
- Cinnamon sugar blend: The key churro element, mix using two parts sugar to one part cinnamon
Step-by-Step Instructions
- Prepare Your Workspace:
- Cover a 15×10-inch baking sheet with parchment paper, making sure it hangs over the sides for easy lifting later. Get all your ingredients measured out beforehand since things move fast once you start cooking.
- Create The Toffee Base:
- Put butter, sugar, and salt in a medium pot over medium heat. Keep stirring with a wooden spoon or heat-safe spatula. The butter will melt completely and then the mixture will start bubbling. Don't stop stirring or it might burn.
- Monitor The Color Change:
- Keep up the stirring as everything bubbles and darkens. This part matters most. You want to see that raw almond shade that shows the sugar has properly caramelized. This usually takes between 5-8 minutes depending on your stovetop. Take it off the heat right when you see this color.
- Add Vanilla And Pour:
- Stir in the vanilla and listen for that quick sizzle that releases an amazing smell. Then quickly dump the hot toffee onto your waiting baking sheet. You'll need to move fast as it starts hardening pretty quickly.
- Spread And Level:
- Take an offset spatula to smooth the toffee to how thick you want it. Spread it thin for crispier pieces or leave it thicker for chunkier bites. Both ways turn out great.
- Add White Chocolate Layer:
- Throw your white chocolate wafers into a microwave-safe bowl and zap for one minute. Stir until they're completely smooth. Pour this over your still-warm toffee and use your spatula to cover the entire surface.
- Apply Cinnamon Sugar:
- While the white chocolate hasn't set yet, sprinkle lots of your cinnamon sugar mix all over it. The warm chocolate will grab onto it perfectly, creating that authentic churro taste.
- Allow To Set:
- Let your candy cool fully at room temperature until the chocolate hardens completely. This usually takes about 1-2 hours depending on how warm your kitchen is. Being patient pays off with perfect results.
- Break And Enjoy:
- Once it's fully hardened, snap the toffee into random chunks using just your hands or a knife. Those uneven edges are part of what makes it look so appealing.
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The key to amazing toffee is never stopping your stirring. I picked this up from my grandma who made toffee every Christmas season. She'd chat about how her mom taught her the method while I stood by the stove learning to spot that perfect golden-brown color.
Storage Tips
Your cinnamon sugar toffee will keep nicely in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 2 weeks. If you're stacking pieces, put parchment paper between them so they don't stick together. You don't need to stick it in the fridge, but doing so can help it last longer in hot weather. The flavor actually gets better after sitting for a day or two.
Troubleshooting Guide
Got grainy toffee? Sugar crystals probably formed during cooking. Next time, don't scrape the sides of the pan and keep the heat steady throughout. If your white chocolate clumps up, try adding a tiny bit of vegetable oil and warming it gently. You'll know the toffee is done when it looks like raw almonds rather than reaching a certain temperature, making this super doable for beginners.
Creative Variations
Try putting a layer of dark chocolate between the toffee and white chocolate for more flavor depth. Want some crunch? Scatter some toasted chopped almonds or pecans onto the toffee before adding the white chocolate. During autumn, add a dash of pumpkin pie spice to your cinnamon sugar for a seasonal touch. You can easily tweak this basic recipe to match whatever flavors you love.
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This cinnamon sugar toffee makes an eye-catching treat that's easy enough for beginners but fancy enough to impress friends and family. Every crunchy, cinnamon-dusted bite will have them asking for more!
Frequently Asked Questions
- → How can I keep the toffee from burning?
Keep stirring nonstop during cooking. Stop heating it as soon as the color turns toffee brown or the shade of raw almonds.
- → Can dark chocolate replace white chocolate?
Absolutely, swap it out for a more intense, bittersweet twist while keeping the flavor rich.
- → What's the best way to melt chocolate evenly?
Microwave chocolate in short intervals, stirring it regularly, until smooth and completely melted.
- → What's the best way to store it?
Seal it in an airtight container and leave it at room temperature. It'll stay fresh and crisp for two weeks easily.
- → Can I tweak the cinnamon-sugar ratio?
Totally customizable! Adjust it however you like to control the balance of sweetness and spice.