Chocolate Covered Apple Cider Toffee

My house is slowly turning into a candy factory.

This would be okay if my day was like the I Love Lucy episode where Lucy and Ethel are shoving chocolates into their hats and shirts and mouths as fast as they can…but it’s not. Instead of going home from the factory to a semi-cleaned house thanks to Ricky and Fred (and being handed more chocolates), I’m just making candy myself in the kitchen while Maggie leaves more dog-hair tumbleweeds all over the place.

apple_cider_chocolate_toffee2

Instead of working in an actual factory in a cute little hat and a fifties-style dress and heels, I’ve been stirring toffee and dipping truffles at the kitchen counter with a messy ponytail, jeans (or pajamas), and slippers. I have a feeling Lucy would be disappointed in my work-from-home outfit.

And speaking of – have I ever told you guys just how much I LOVE I Love Lucy? It’s my all time – all time –  favorite show. During the summers when I was growing up, Nick-at-Nite would play 3 hours of Lucy episodes every single Tuesday and we recorded them on VHS tapes every week. For a few summers in a row, that was pretty much all I watched – all afternoon, before bed, in the mornings before work. I took some of the tapes with me to college and still have a few hanging around. And anytime I catch an episode on tv, I have to watch it.

apple_cider_chocolate_toffee3

I’ve also already decided that my 30th birthday (coming up this year – gulp) needs to be I Love Lucy themed. I want everyone dressed up, an I Love Lucy cake, 50s themed foods and cocktails, and a marathon of episodes. Maybe I’ll even dye my hair red again.

Maybe not. I don’t think the fire engine red is a good look for me. But full skirts and pearls? I can handle that.

apple_cider_chocolate_toffee1

And this won’t be the last of the apple cider recipes. I know I’ve already done 2 drinks and now this toffee, but I still have a ton in the fridge. Apple cider overload is on its way.

So….you’re welcome?

Apple Cider Chocolate Covered Toffee
Makes: about 3 cups toffee pieces

Ingredients:

  • 2 sticks butter
  • 1 cup sugar
  • 1/3 cup apple cider
  • 1/2 tsp salt
  • 1 cup semi-sweet chocolate

Directions:

  1. Put butter, sugar, apple cider, and salt in a saucepan and heat on medium high heat until melted.
  2. Bring to a boil and let cook until mixture reaches a soft crack stage (about 285 degrees). This will take 15-20 minutes.
  3. Once your toffee is to the right temperature (or color), take off the heat.
  4. Pour your toffee onto a parchment lined baking sheet and spread out into an even layer.
  5. Let the toffee sit 20-30 minutes or until hardened.
  6. Heat chocolate in microwave and spread onto toffee.
  7. Once the chocolate has set, break toffee into bite size pieces.

31 comments

  1. First of all – I Love Lucy rocks and you absolutely have to do that as your birthday party theme!! And of course share loads of pictures. And this amazingness… you’re killing me!

  2. I don’t think I’ve ever seen an episode of I Love Lucy, I feel like I’m definitely missing out!

  3. I Love Lucy is my all-time favorite show (I have all the episodes on DVD). I think she is the best female comedian ever. And a fun fact, I grew up near the town where she was raised. She mentions places from her hometown a lot on the show, which for me is cool as I know the area very well. I love the birthday theme idea too. How much fun that would be.

    Recipe sounds awesome, I believe I will have to try this one.

    • How fun! One of my dreams is to go to her hometown – I seriously love her.

      • If you ever go, visit in the spring or summertime as the area is beautiful for outdoor activities. Not much too do in the winter unless you’re into winter outdoor activities (cross country skiing, snowmobiling, etc). Every year in May they have a LucyFest, which is pretty neat. There is also a small museum to visit that is nice and a gift shop with everything Lucy you could ever want. Not too much to see otherwise in terms of Lucille Ball, so you would definitely want to look into other local touristy stuff if you’re traveling from a distance.

  4. This toffee needs to find a way into my life. Fast.

  5. This sounds so good – and so unique – yummmm!!!

  6. First of all, this toffee looks Ah-mazing.
    Secondly, I also looove I Love Lucy! I haven’t met too many people who love it as much as I do, so I’m glad to hear it’s a fav of yours!!! :)

  7. This looks so perfect and amazing!

  8. The tumbleweeds made me laugh!

    If you brush her on weekends it should cut down on the dog hair,
    I have a english mastiff and it helps.

    Sorry I know food and hair dont mix……

  9. I want to eat a pound of this toffee:)

    • please come take some! we have WAY too much in the house, and it doesn’t help that I’ve also made brownies and truffles this week. Sugar for every meal!

  10. That sounds like such a fun party! And the color of your toffee is so perfect. Gorgeous :)

  11. I think that has to be one of the best I Love Lucy episodes ever, one of the most memorable, that’s for sure. This toffee looks amazing! And I love the idea of a Lucy birthday party!

  12. An I Love Lucy party would be just fabulous!

    And speaking of fabulous, so this is the toffee!

  13. This toffee looks amazing. I am also a huge I Love Lucy fan- I always have a minimarathon of Lucy when I am sick or overly stressed and I dressed up as her for Halloween. I think a Lucy themed b-day party would be a blast!

  14. This is such a great idea! I think I’ll have to add this to my candy making list for this weekend!

  15. That sounds like the most fun party ever! I love I Love Lucy too! This toffee looks incredible – the color and texture is perfect!!

  16. Pingback: Chocolate Covered Apple Cider Toffee | chocolate & carrots

  17. I made it and it is awesome. Thanks for the great recipe Brandi!

  18. Is there another kind of sugar you can use that would work and harden, like maybe Xylitol or Stevia or a diet baking sugar?

  19. Pingback: 37 DIY Food Gifts You Can Make This Weekend | Savvy Eats

  20. Pingback: Easy Christmas Treats for Gifts - Growing Up Gabel

  21. Pingback: Interview: Brandi from BranAppetit - Snappy Gourmet

Comments are closed.