Written By Heather King

Do you know what the difference is between toffee and brittle? If you don’t, you’re not alone. Both are delightful candy classics made with sugar, but they’re far from the same thing. 

At Cache Toffee, we know that understanding the art behind these confections is key to appreciating what makes our handcrafted toffee so special. So, let’s explore the delicious details of brittle and toffee.

The Science of Sweetness: What is Toffee Made Of?

Let’s start with the basics—what is toffee made of? Traditional English toffee begins with butter and sugar, slowly heated together until they reach the perfect “hard crack” stage. The result is a smooth, buttery candy with a deep caramelized flavor and just the right amount of crunch. Once cooled, toffee can be coated with chocolate, sprinkled with nuts, or layered into creative flavor combinations, such as our fan-favorite Tartan Turtle.

Brittle, by contrast, typically skips the butter and focuses on sugar syrup cooked to a higher temperature, resulting in a crisper, more shatter-like texture. Think peanut brittle: it’s snappy, hard, and often studded with nuts. The absence of butter gives it a lighter crunch, but it also lacks the rich, melt-in-your-mouth depth that defines great toffee.

Brittle versus Toffee: Texture and Taste Tell the Story

For candy lovers, both certainly have their place. While brittle breaks with a sharp crack, toffee offers a slower, more luxurious crunch that gives way to buttery smoothness. That texture difference all comes down to fat content—brittle’s sugar base versus toffee’s indulgent blend of butter and sometimes cream. Toffee’s flavor leans toward caramelized richness, while brittle has a cleaner, toasted sugar taste.

Why It Matters for Candy Lovers

Knowing the distinction between brittle and toffee isn’t just trivia—it’s the secret to understanding the quality behind why you love what you do. At Cache Toffee, we take the traditional craftsmanship of English toffee and elevate it with premium ingredients, local touches, and creative flavor profiles. Each batch is hand-poured, ensuring the perfect golden color and buttery snap every time.

Tartan Turtle, for instance, layers classic butter toffee with artisan bean-to-bar milk and dark chocolates, roasted pecans and cashews, and our own caramel sauce made with cream and Madagascar vanilla. It’s indulgent, complex, and deeply satisfying. The toffee base anchors every bite in flavor, while the toppings bring balance and texture in a way brittle could never achieve.

The Cache Toffee Difference

At the end of the day, brittle is simple and nostalgic, while toffee is the kind of treat you savor slowly, letting the buttery richness delight you. Whether you’re gifting a sampler box, serving it at a holiday gathering, or sneaking a piece with your afternoon coffee, our gourmet toffee brings joy to every moment.

So, the next time you’re wondering about the difference between brittle and toffee, you’ll know: it’s all about the butter, the texture, and the love poured into every handcrafted batch—especially when it comes from Cache Toffee.