This quick and easy English toffee sauce is perfect poured warmed over ice cream, berries, and especially traditional British Sticky Toffee Pudding and Sticky Toffee Apple Pudding. Gluten-free, it comes together in a snap with only four ingredients. Make a batch today!

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Why this recipe works
- The recipe only needs four ingredients
- Sweet and buttery which complements ice cream, fruit, pound cake, and Sticky Toffee Pudding
- Takes just five minutes to make
What makes a rich molasses-flavored sponge cake made with golden syrup and dates even better? Pouring warmed English toffee sauce on top for a traditional British Sticky Toffee Pudding. Add spiced apples to that sponge, and your toffee sauce will enhance a Sticky Toffee Apple Pudding cake.
And lest you think a toffee sauce recipe is difficult and takes hours to make, think again!
Homemade toffee sauce has a thinner consistency than thick caramel sauce or butterscotch sauce, and you don't have to mess with caramelizing sugar. All the work is done for you already!
Use it on vanilla ice cream, dress up pound cake, drizzle over a mixed berry crisp, and of course, use as sticky toffee pudding sauce.
With a dessert sauce this easy to make, English toffee sauce should have a frequent place at the table!
Recipe Ingredients
You'll need the following four ingredients to make this easy toffee sauce recipe:
Ingredient Notes
Golden syrup: An invert sugar product along the lines of honey, agave, or brown rice syrup, golden syrup has a flavor like melted brown sugar crossed with butter.
You can usually find golden syrup in major supermarkets where the British foods are displayed. If you can't find golden syrup, order it online or substitute with another invert sugar. Just be aware that these substitutions can affect the final flavor.
Brown sugar: Along with sweetness, brown sugar adds its molasses notes.
See the recipe card for a full list of ingredients and measurements.
How to make toffee sauce
Step 1: Combine the ingredients
Put all the ingredients into a small heavy bottomed saucepan (photo 1).
Step 2: Heat the ingredients
Stir everything together over a low heat until the brown sugar has dissolved (photo 2).
Storage instructions
Toffee sauce can be stored in the refrigerator in a sealed container for up to a month. If it separates, re-warm it gently, either in short bursts at low power setting in the microwave or over a double boiler. Thin with a little splash of heavy cream if needed.
Questions asked and answered
Here are some questions you might have...
Use golden syrup as you would corn syrup, maple syrup, or honey in recipes, like in Dark Chocolate Hot Fudge or even in Whisky Marshmallows. The flavor is a little deeper than honey, more like liquified brown sugar.
If you can't find golden syrup, you can substitute honey, agave syrup, or brown rice syrup. Just be aware that these substitutions can affect the flavor of the toffee sauce.
More dessert sauce recipes to try
Recipe
English Toffee Sauce
Equipment
- 1-quart saucepan
Ingredients
- 6 tablespoons unsalted butter
- 4½ tablespoons golden syrup, see Recipe Notes
- ⅓ cup light brown sugar
- ⅔ cup heavy cream
Instructions
- Put all the ingredients into a small heavy bottomed saucepan. Stir together over a low heat until the brown sugar has dissolved.
- Continue to cook for 1 to 2 minutes more to make sure the mixture is smooth.
- Serve warm over sticky toffee pudding, ice cream, berries, pancakes...the list goes on. Enjoy!
- Storage instructions: Toffee sauce can be stored in the refrigerator in a sealed container for up to a month. If it separates, re-warm it gently, either in short bursts at low power setting in the microwave or over a double boiler. Thin with a little splash of heavy cream if needed.
Beverley says
can this be made ahead of time
Tammy Spencer says
Yes! Toffee Sauce can be stored in the refrigerator in a sealed container for up to a month. If it separates, re-warm it gently, either in short bursts at low power setting in the microwave, or over a double boiler. Thin with a little splash of heavy cream if needed.