Homemade Sponge Toffee … Crunchie Bar and an Award

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 sugar
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.

Tasting Notes
If 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!

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