Toffee vs. Caramel: Differences, Etymologies, and Recipes

If you have a sweet tooth, you are probably a big fan of confectionery products like caramel and toffee. In fact, these sweets are so similar that if you are a fan of caramel you are probably also a fan of toffee – and vice-versa. But what is the difference between them?

Caramel X Toffee

Getty Images / Moment / Ekaterina Smirnova

Caramel is a dark-orange confectionery product created by slowly heating sugar. It is used as a flavoring in puddings, filling in bonbons, or as a topping for ice cream and other desserts. Toffee is also made by heating sugar, but at a lower temperature than caramel. As a result, it tends to be hard and crunchy.