• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
Menu
  • Science Experiments For Kids
  • Science Fair Projects
  • Science Facts
  • Science Questions
  • About
    • Emma Vanstone
    • About Science Sparks
Science Experiments for Kids
Menu
  • STEM Challenges
    • STEM Challenges
    • FREE STEM Challenge Templates
  • Early Years Science
    • Preschool Science
    • Sensory and Messy Play
    • Understanding of the World
    • Pirate Science Experiments
  • Primary Science
    • Baking Soda Experiments
    • Candy Experiments
    • Biology
    • Climate Change for Kids
    • Coding for Kids
    • Chemistry
    • Electricity for Kids
    • Magic Science Experiments
    • Harry Potter Experiments
    • Human Body Science
    • Air Pressure Experiments
    • Life Cycles
    • LEGO Science Experiments
    • Kitchen Science
    • Famous Scientists
    • Forces and Motion
    • Science Sparks Snippets
    • Key Stage 1 Science
      • Animals
      • Everyday Materials
      • Plants
      • Coding Activities
      • Humans and Health
      • Fine Motor skills
      • Science and Literacy
    • Key Stage 2 Science
      • Animals, Including Humans
      • Electricity
      • Light
      • Plants
      • Materials and their Properties
  • Holiday Science
    • Christmas Science
    • Halloween Science
    • Easter Science
  • Storybook Themed Science Experiments
  • Wonderful Women in STEM
  • FREE Science Resources
menu icon
go to homepage
search icon
Homepage link
  • FREE Experiments
  • Science for Kids
    • Kitchen Science
    • Climate Change
    • Egg Experiments
    • Fairy Tale Science
    • Edible Science
    • Human Health
    • Chemistry
    • Inspirational Women
    • Forces and Motion
  • Science Fair Projects
  • STEM Challenges
  • Science Sparks Books
  • Contact Science Sparks
  • Science Resources for Home and School

×
Home » Science Experiments for Kids » Chemistry » Treacle Toffee

Treacle Toffee

Modified: May 17, 2023 · Published: Oct 26, 2012 by Emma Vanstone · This post may contain affiliate links · 4 Comments

I love treacle toffee, it always reminds me of bonfire nights where we’d go out wrapped up warm in hats and scarves with everything smelling a bit smoky. This treacle toffee recipe is a great way to explore changes of state, as you have to melt the sugar first and then leave it to harden.

What you need to make treacle toffee

500g brown sugar

150ml water

¼ tsp cream of tartar

75g butter

100g black treacle

100g golden syrup

Treacle toffee recipe

  • Place the sugar and water in a pan and heat, stirring gently. The sugar will melt, and the two liquids combine.
pan of treacle toffee sugar solution
  • Add the rest of the ingredients and heat gently for about 10 minutes. You need to get the mixture to 143oC, which is known as the soft crack stage. If you don’t have a sugar thermometer, carefully drop a little of the mixture into cold water. When it separates into threads which are hard but not brittle, it is ready.
  • Pour into an oiled tin, and leave to set. You can either mark the mixture with a knife before it sets or break it with a little hammer later on.
treacle toffee ready to be cut

As we made the toffee, I showed the children the sugar in its solid state and asked them how they thought we could melt it. My 4-year-old wanted to leave it out in the sun, but we decided heating on the hob might be faster.

As the sugar melted, we could smell a toffee like smell, and as it got hotter and hotter, we saw more and more bubbles.

The science part

This experiment is a great way to demonstrate the process of changing state from solid to liquid and back again.

Everything we know exists in three states: A solid, A liquid or a Gas!

Substances can change from one state to another by different processes.

SOLID  ––> LIQUID = MELTING

LIQUID ––> GAS = EVAPORATING/BOILING

GAS  ––> LIQUID = CONDENSING

LIQUID ––> SOLID = COOLING/FREEZING

When the sugar was heated, it changed from solid to liquid which is an example of melting, and when we move back from a liquid into a solid, it is an example of cooling/freezing.

The reason this happens is that when you provide heat, the particles that make up the solid are given energy which causes them to vibrate, which breaks the bonds holding them together. As they cool, they lose this energy and so form bonds again, but not in the same shape.

At the soft crack stage, the amount of water left in the mixture is very low. This gives a hard but still chewy toffee. For harder toffees and lollipops, you need to heat to the hard crack stage when there is almost no water left.

A much simpler way to demonstrate changes of state would be to melt chocolate and make rice krispie cakes!

More kitchen science for kids

Discover the science of meringue, have a science bake off or try one of my other delicious kitchen science experiments for kids.

The sugar mixture gets very hot, always ask an adult to help

The science of treacle toffee. Learn about changing states with this delicious treacle toffee recipe.

Last Updated on May 17, 2023 by Emma Vanstone

More Chemistry

  • Pancake Syrup Viscosity Experiment
  • Clean Jewellery with Science
  • Ballon covered in pepper from a separating salt and pepper science activity
    Separate Salt and Pepper with Static Electricity
  • Two glasses on top of each other filled with water, food colouring and different amount of salt. One colour floats on top of the other.
    10 Science Experiments Using Salt for Home and School

Safety Notice

Science Sparks ( Wild Sparks Enterprises Ltd ) are not liable for the actions of activity of any person who uses the information in this resource or in any of the suggested further resources. Science Sparks assume no liability with regard to injuries or damage to property that may occur as a result of using the information and carrying out the practical activities contained in this resource or in any of the suggested further resources.

These activities are designed to be carried out by children working with a parent, guardian or other appropriate adult. The adult involved is fully responsible for ensuring that the activities are carried out safely.

Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. JDaniel4's Mom

    October 26, 2012 at 10:48 am

    This really looks delicious!

    Reply
    • ScienceSparks

      October 30, 2012 at 8:27 pm

      It was, but a bit chewy!

      Reply
  2. maggy, red ted art

    October 26, 2012 at 6:20 pm

    Oooh yummy. My kids would ADORE this.

    Reply
    • ScienceSparks

      October 30, 2012 at 8:27 pm

      It was fun!

      Reply

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Primary Sidebar

Welcome!

Imagine a world where science education is accessible to everyone and is all about hands-on, exciting discoveries. That’s the world I want to create.

More about me

Around the World in 50 Experiments

50 experiments about countries of the world

Footer

↑ back to top

Science Sparks - FREE science experiments for kids

Newsletter

  • Sign Up! for emails and updates

Contact

  • Contact
  • Privacy Policy
  • Services
  • Media Kit
  • FAQ

As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases.

Copyright © 2025 Science Sparks - Wild Sparks Enterprises Ltd