Spiced Toffee Sauce
This spiced toffee sauce is smooth, rich, and deeply aromatic. It’s infused with whole warm spices like cinnamon, clove, and star anise, which add subtle complexity without overwhelming the sweetness.
It’s incredibly easy to make, far more flavorful than anything out of a bottle, and pairs beautifully with everything from sticky toffee puddings and cakes to ice cream and baked apple crumbles.
Ingredient Notes & Substitutions
- Heavy cream: Use cream with at least 36% fat for a rich, silky sauce that holds together well.
- Brown sugar: This gives the sauce its deep toffee flavor and caramel-like color. Light brown sugar will give you a slightly milder finish, while dark brown sugar adds a stronger molasses note.
- Butter: Use unsalted butter so you have full control over the salt levels. If using salted butter, reduce or omit the added salt to taste.
- Cinnamon stick, star anise, and clove: These whole spices infuse the sauce with warm, subtle spice. Don’t substitute with ground spices.
- Sea salt: Half a teaspoon enhances the overall flavor of the sauce. For a salted version, add an extra half teaspoon, then taste and adjust with more if needed.
Step by Step Instructions
1) In a saucepan over medium-low heat, add the cream, brown sugar, butter, and sea salt.
2) Stir gently with a wooden spoon until the sugar has fully dissolved and the mixture begins to simmer.
3) Add the cinnamon stick, star anise, and clove.
4) Continue to gently simmer the sauce for 5 minutes, stirring occasionally.
5) Turn off the heat, cover the pan with cling film or a lid, and let the spices infuse for 45 minutes.
6) After infusing, strain the sauce through a fine sieve into a pan or heatproof container.
7) Use immediately or store in the refrigerator.
How Do I Adjust the Sauce’s Consistency?
If you’d like your toffee sauce thinner, then stir in a splash of cream and simmer gently for about a minute, mixing regularly. To make it thicker, reduce the sauce over medium-low heat, stirring occasionally until it reaches your desired consistency.
Storage and Leftovers
Let the toffee sauce cool completely, then transfer it to an airtight container or jar. Store in the fridge for up to 1 week.
The best way to reheat toffee sauce is in a saucepan over medium-low heat. Stir gently from time to time until the sauce is hot and smooth.
If you’re in a hurry, you can also warm it in the microwave in short bursts, stirring between each.
Recipes to Serve Spiced Toffee Sauce With
Spiced Toffee Sauce
Equipment
- Saucepan
- Fine Sieve
- Wooden Spoon
Ingredients
- 1 ¾ cups / 14 fl oz heavy cream 36% fat
- 1 cup / 7 oz brown sugar
- 3 tbsp / 1 ½ oz butter
- ½ tsp sea salt
- 1 cinnamon stick
- 1 star anise
- 1 clove
Instructions
Heat the Base:
- In a saucepan over medium-low heat, add the cream, brown sugar, butter, and sea salt. Stir gently with a wooden spoon until the sugar has fully dissolved and the mixture begins to simmer.
Infuse the Spices:
- Add the cinnamon stick, star anise, and clove.
- Continue to gently simmer the sauce for 5 minutes, stirring occasionally.
- Turn off the heat, cover the pan with a lid or cling film, and let the spices infuse for 45 minutes.
Strain and Store:
- After infusing, strain the sauce through a fine sieve into a pan or heatproof container.
- Use immediately or store in the refrigerator for later.
Notes
- Reheating: Gently warm the sauce over low heat before serving.
- Serving Ideas: This sauce pairs beautifully with sticky toffee pudding, ice cream, pancakes, or baked desserts.
- Storage: Store in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 1 week.
