A Guide To Using Toffee In Cocktails
More than just a candy you’ll find rattling around in the bottom of your grandmother’s purse, toffee is making a comeback in the world of trendy mixology. Toffee, known for its sweet and buttery taste, can bring a unique touch to your cocktails.
What Is Toffee?
Toffee is a firm confectionery that melds the traditional sweetness of cooked sugar, as found in caramel, with the indulgence of butter. In technical terms, toffee is essentially a type of butterscotch, resulting from the cooking of a mixture of butter and sugar to achieve the hard-crack stage.
It’s made by melting sugar and butter, resulting in a distinct sweet and slightly nutty taste. Before we delve into cocktail recipes, let's take a moment to understand the essence of toffee flavour and how it can complement different spirits.
How To Mix Toffee And Alcohol
Selecting the appropriate base spirit is crucial when working with Toffee. Bourbon, rum, or dark whisky are good choices as they align well with the caramel notes in toffee. Experiment with these spirits to find the balance that suits your taste preferences.
DIY Toffee Flavour
Enhance your cocktails by creating toffee-infused syrups or liqueurs. Combine sugar, water, and toffee bits, then simmer to make a rich toffee syrup. Alternatively, infuse toffee into your favourite liqueurs to add depth to your cocktails.
Ingredients
- 1 cup granulated sugar
- ½ cup unsalted butter
- ½ cup heavy cream
- ½ teaspoon vanilla extract
- A pinch of salt
Method
- In a heavy-bottomed saucepan, melt the sugar over medium heat. Stir it continuously with a wooden spoon until it turns into a golden-brown liquid. Be patient, and avoid stirring too vigorously.
- Once the sugar has melted and turned amber in colour, add the butter to the pan. Stir until the butter is completely melted and combined with the sugar.
- Slowly pour in the heavy cream while stirring continuously. Be cautious as the mixture may bubble up. Continue to stir until the cream is fully incorporated and the mixture is smooth.
- Remove the saucepan from heat and stir in the vanilla extract and a pinch of salt. Mix well.
- Allow the toffee syrup to cool for a few minutes before transferring it to a glass jar or bottle.
- Once the toffee syrup has cooled completely, you can use it to sweeten your coffee, drizzle it over desserts, or get creative with your culinary creations.
3 Toffee Cocktails To Try
Coffee Dream Cocktail
Ingredients:
- 60 ml Toffee syrup
- 60 ml Cream
- 45 ml Smirnoff Vodka
- Ice cubes
- Toffee drizzle (for garnish)
Method:
- In a shaker, combine 60 ml toffee syrup, 60 ml cream, and 45 ml Smirnoff Vodka over ice.
- Shake well until the mixture is thoroughly chilled.
- Strain the mixture into a glass.
- Garnish with a drizzle of toffee on top.
Toffee Apple Sparkler
Ingredients:
- 90 ml Apple juice
- 30 ml Toffee syrup
- 45 ml Soda water
- Ice cubes
- Sliced apple (for garnish)
Method:
- In a glass, combine 90 ml apple juice and 30 ml toffee syrup over ice.
- Stir well to mix the ingredients.
- Top up the glass with soda water for a refreshing fizz.
- Garnish with slices of apple.
Ingredients:
- 60 ml Cold brew coffee
- 30 ml Toffee syrup
- 60 ml Milk
- Ice cubes
- Whipped cream (for garnish)
Method:
In a glass, combine 60 ml cold brew coffee, 30 ml toffee syrup, and 60 ml milk over ice.
Stir gently to blend the flavours.
Top with a generous dollop of whipped cream.
