Four simple ingredients work their magic to create this golden honeycombed sweet surrounded by chocolate that goes by a variety of names. Known as cinder toffee, hokey pokey, puff candy or Crunchie bar, this is an easy treat to make at home.Vinegar and baking soda react together to form many tiny bubbles before hardening into sponge toffee. What's left is a buttery confection that crunches and melts in your mouth.
Recipe
Makes one 9x13 pan
1 cup dark corn syrup
1 tablespoon vinegar
1 tablespoon baking soda
12 ounces milk chocolate chips, melted
Line a 9x13 pan with foil and spray with cooking spray.
Use a large, heavy saucepan since the mixture expands when you add the soda. Combine the sugar, corn syrup and vinegar. Cook and stir until the sugar melts. Bring to a boil and cook, without stirring, until a candy thermometer reaches 300°F (hard-crack stage).
Remove from the heat and stir in baking soda. (The mixture will bubble and expand.) Quickly pour into the prepared pan (so that mixture stops cooking and doesn't burn). Cool. Lift candy and break into pieces. Dip in melted chocolate and let stand until set. Store in an airtight container.
.jpg)
Tasting NotesIf you like Crunchie Bars, you'll love this sweet. Crushed into vanilla ice cream is another way to enjoy this treat.
Life's a whole long journey, boy, before you grow too old,
Don't miss the opportunity to strike a little gold.
Out West the folks are crossing you.
The way to make them stop, is to quick draw your Crunchie bar…
-And fill them full of choc.
Have a Crunchie Hokey pokey bar, Golden Crunchie Hokey pokey bar.
— ad from New Zealand
Links
• Vinegar + Baking Soda Explanation
• The Onion: Science Guy Bill Nye Killed In Massive Vinegar/Baking-Soda Explosion
Award
Margot from Coffee and Vanilla has given me the Beautiful Blog award (a replacement for the Inspiring Food Photography event she hosted monthly from September 07 to December 08). Check out all the amazing food bloggers and their inspiring photgraphy. I'm honored to be in such great company. Thank you, Margot!
If you like this post, share it!
If you like this blog, you can subscribe and get updates automatically.
Click here to learn about subscribing. Click here to subscribe.
If you like this blog, you can subscribe and get updates automatically.
39 comments:
yum. this reminds me of velvet crumble... acid base reaction... gotta love those volcano science projects
I've never heard of these bars, but your picture really makes me want to try them :D
This recipe is soo simple .. am gonna try to make this with my kids coming weekend . they would enjoy making this for sure
I've heard of something like this called honeycomb candy - looks like the same method? I love the description, and the candy looks delicious!
This sounds wonderful! I haven't had toffee in forever. Congrats on your award!
I love the sound of these crunchy bars. The combination of baking soda & vinegar creating magic like this is entirely intriguing. I need to whinge & say that corn syrup isn't available in India. SIGH!! I was already dreaming of making them the minute I read your opening line...
Congratulations on your well-deserved award!
I love sponge candy and am looking forward to making this, if it ever stops raining. (We're going into week 3!) This doesn't look like the kind of sweet that would be happy in a humid kitchen :)
Now that puts store-bought toffee to shame. I have got to make that.
I grew up eating Crunch Bars and every time I go home or someone comes down that is the one thing they bring!!! Now I can make it myself!!!
Wow that's pretty gorgeous!
I think you have a winner here! I went to stumble it and found I was not the first! GREG
This looks insanely good. I have to try it and soon!
What a great looking bar. And congrats on the award.
Looks good, and you can eat it without the chocolate, right? ;-)
what a neat treat! i don't really know what a crunchie bar is, but now i know i want to find one and devour it. or, if all else fails, make my own. :)
Well now, that is one stylish hunk of toffee if I've ever seen one :) I keep thinking it's bad for my teeth but when I do get my hands on some, I can't stop eating it either! :)
Oh, it sounds and looks delicious.
Congrats on your most deserved award!
Your blog is truly one of the most beautiful ones.
This is something I havent heard of, but I definitely want to try it .. like right now, sounds fantastic!!
that looks so good! I looove those crunchies!!..i shouldn't have seen this haha. yum!!
i discovered this stuff while living in sydney-- so fun to make, and eat!!
Oooooh, this looks divine!
OMG I LOVE this - I always wondered how they made those Crunchie bars! Thank you so much for sharing!!
oh my! I can't wait to try this. It looks like what I know as honeycomb--which happens to be a summer vacation treat for me from a little candy shop at our favorite beach town. Can't wait to try this at home, and maybe for gifts!
I've been meanning to make this for the longest time... but am never sure of the pot to make it in, since it could very easily overflow! PLus, the big pots I have don't have think bottoms, and I'm not sure if it is very important in the case of that candy...
Yours has turned very well I see. I'm glad you made it, now I have someone to follow after!!!
Oh wow......looks really spongy and yum....
Congrats on the well deserved award!
What lovely toffee treats!
I never knew this was so easy to make, can't possible NOT be worth it.
I've always wanted to make this but have never gotten around to it. Looks so much nicer than a Crunchie bar, though!
wow...this sounds and looks AWESOME. I would really love this. But the last time I tried candy-making, I nearly burned the house down!
WOW! This looks amazing. I have to make this immediately. :-)
I don't think I've ever heard of this treat but it looks delicious and simple! Congrats on the award - you deserve it for your gorgeous photos!
hi shari -- i'd like your blog to be featured in the "blog of the day" section of the julie and julia official website. interested? email me at ktarnol(at)gmail.com. thanks! kristen
I call them honeycombs! Love them esp in ice-creams!
~ Congrats on your Awards~
I've never heard of these bars, They look so Fabulous !
Welcome to !
http://foodcreate.com
Post, comments Join our community!
Have a great Day!
This looks absolutely divine!
Oh no, this was such a bad idea, reading about this. Now I want to make some. And probably will with the kids tomorrow.
Happy Canada Day - shall I drop some off on your doorstep? :-)
This is one of my mother's favorite treats from her childhood. She loved this when I took it over today. I only had light corn syrup and it still turned a nice golden brown. Thanks for a great (easy) recipe!
These remind me of a candy I used to buy as a kid. It was sold at Sear's in their candy kiosk and I absolutely loved it! Thanks for sharing the recipe!
Post a Comment