Gluten-Free Almond Toffee

Crunchy, buttery English-style almond toffee cooked to the hard-crack stage, topped with melted dark chocolate and toasted almonds, then broken into shards. It makes a pretty homemade holiday gift.

Prep: 10 min Cook: 20 min Total: 120 min Serves: 24

At a glance: This medium desserts recipe yields 24 servings in about 2h (10 min prep, 20 min cook). It uses 7 ingredients — including whole almonds, salted butter, granulated sugar — and walks through 7 steps. Updated October 24, 2026. Browse more desserts recipes or return to all gluten-free recipes.

As an Amazon Associate, we earn from qualifying purchases. Shop links in the ingredient list are affiliate links and do not change the recipe.

Cross-Contamination Warning for Gluten-Free Almond Toffee: When preparing this desserts recipe, many store-bought toffee bars and chocolate candies contain cookie pieces or other gluten ingredients. Make sure the chocolate chips are labeled gluten-free, and use a clean pan and spatula.

Gluten-Free Notes for Gluten-Free Almond Toffee: Butter, sugar and almonds are naturally gluten-free, and toffee needs no flour. Use chocolate chips, vanilla and almonds labeled gluten-free, since chocolate and nuts are often made on shared lines.

Scale Recipe:

servings

Ingredient amounts update automatically

Ingredients

Shop links on this page are for whole almonds, toasted and chopped, divided, granulated sugar, pure vanilla extract. Buy the package that says gluten-free. A shared production line is the usual risk with these pantry items. As an Amazon Associate, we earn from qualifying purchases, at no extra cost to you. Confirm the product is labeled gluten-free before you buy.

1 1/4 cups whole almonds, toasted and chopped, divided Shop
1 cup (2 sticks) salted butter, cut into pieces
1 cup granulated sugar Shop
3 tbsp water
1/2 tsp pure vanilla extract Shop
1 cup (6 oz) dark or semisweet chocolate chips Shop
flaky sea salt, for sprinkling (optional)

Instructions

1 Toast the almonds on a sheet pan in a preheated 350°F (175°C) oven for 8-10 minutes, until fragrant, then cool and chop. Line a rimmed baking sheet with a silicone mat or parchment.
2 In a heavy 3-quart saucepan over medium heat, melt the butter with the sugar and water, stirring until the sugar dissolves. Clip a candy thermometer to the side of the pan.
3 Cook, stirring slowly and constantly, until the mixture reaches 300°F (150°C), the hard-crack stage, and is a deep amber like the color of almond skins, about 10-15 minutes. If the butter starts to separate, stir more vigorously and lower the heat slightly.
4 Remove from the heat and quickly stir in the vanilla and 3/4 cup of the almonds. It will bubble up. Pour onto the lined sheet and spread about 1/4 inch thick with an offset spatula.
5 Wait 2 minutes, then scatter the chocolate chips over the hot toffee. Let them sit for 3-4 minutes until glossy, then spread the chocolate in an even layer.
6 Sprinkle with the remaining 1/2 cup almonds and a little flaky salt. Let cool at room temperature for 1 hour, then refrigerate for 30 minutes, until the chocolate is firm.
7 Break the toffee into pieces. Store in an airtight container at cool room temperature for up to 2 weeks.

Tips & Notes

Have the vanilla, almonds and lined baking sheet ready before you start. Toffee moves from perfect to burnt within a minute once it passes 300°F.
Check your candy thermometer in boiling water first. It should read 212°F at sea level; adjust the target temperature by however much it is off.
Hot sugar causes serious burns. Use a long-handled spoon, keep children away from the stove, and do not taste the toffee until it has cooled.

Common questions

What cross-contamination risk is specific to Gluten-Free Almond Toffee?

Check whole almonds, toasted and chopped, divided, salted butter, cut into pieces, granulated sugar before they go into Gluten-Free Almond Toffee. Many store-bought toffee bars and chocolate candies contain cookie pieces or other gluten ingredients. Make sure the chocolate chips are labeled gluten-free, and use a clean pan and spatula.

Learn More

The Science of Gluten-Free Baking

Understand why gluten-free baked goods behave differently and how to fix common issues.

Hidden Sources of Gluten You Never Knew Existed

Discover surprising foods and products that contain hidden gluten.

Share on X Save to Pinterest

Gluten Free Recipes team

Editorial team for Gluten Free Recipes

Pages on Gluten Free Recipes are published under the byline "Gluten Free Recipes team". That is the name of the site's editorial team. Recipes are written with AI tools and automation, and the team reviews flagged items. We check each page before it is published. How we make our recipes.

Recipes and images on this site are AI-assisted. They pass automated checks, and the team reviews flagged items.