Sweet Treats: Cinder toffee (Honeycomb)

Proper cinder toffee, or sometimes called Honeycomb (From The Guardian)

Good cinder toffee is hard to come by, yet so simple to make! You don't need any specialist equipment (If your brave, see below). It is part of a family of confectionery that was very popular in the previous centuries when thrifty wives could make sweets at a fraction of the cost of shop bought variates and could also experiment with flavours! Its the bicarb and it's frothing action which causes the little bubbles.
 
Ingredients:

200 g caster sugar

40 g butter

0.5 tsp vinegar

1 tsp bicarbonate of soda

2 tbsp water

100g of honey (or maple syrup etc.)

OR

• 100g caster sugar
• 3 tablespoons of golden syrup
• 1 teaspoon of bicarbonate of soda

The top version will give a richer type of cinder/honeycomb.Grease or line a suitable mould, a baking tray will suffice Put all the ingredients except the vinegar and bicarb into a pan and cook over a medium heat. Using a sugar thermometer raise to 138c without stirring. Quickly add the bicarb and/or vinegar and whisk rapidly for a few seconds before pouring it into your mould, be careful it will rise and bubble like a mini volcano!

Once it is semi-set score it with a hot knife, but not all the way through, then you will be able to break it into neat squares once it has fully set (or crack out the walkers toffee hammer) which will take about 30 minutes.

Experiment with flavourings, I think lavender and vanilla are excellent but there are many more! One could also coat them in melted chocolate to resemble a certain brand of chocolate bar.

I said you don't need specialist equipment if your brave....I use an old fashioned method of telling once its at the right temperature. I run my finger under cold water, put it into the boiling hot syrup and quickly run it back under the tap. It is ready when it forms a delicate glass like coating on your finger which holds its shape and is abit sticky. IF YOU ARE NOT CONFIDENT DO NOT DO IT THIS WAY! Sugar syrup can be over 50 degrees hotter than boiling water and can seriously hurt you.