St. Patrick's Day Toffee

I love every kind of holiday or occasion because it gives me a reason to bake and create.  So with St. Patrick's day approaching I've been thinking up some Irish/Green goodies.  I am not Irish and not familiar with Irish cooking, but I'm always willing to learn.  I have a bunch of ideas for the next week.  The first one was for a toffee.  I was inspired when grocery shopping this morning and found these coconut M&M packets that had green colored candy.  I picked up some green melting candies and a shamrock mix sprinkles and got started.


Ingredients
2 cups chopped pecans
1 cup sugar
2 sticks unsalted butter
5 Tblsp water
5 oz green melting candies and 5 oz milk chocolate baking bits
Shamrock sprinkles and green coconut M and M's

Toast the pecans in a 350 degree oven for 8 minutes until fragrant, toss 1/2 way through once

Measure out 5 oz of green melting candies

 Measure out 5 oz milk chocolate baking bits

Spread 1/2 of the pecans in a 9 X13 sheet pan lined with parchment paper, leaving a little room on edges, save the other half of pecans for sprinkling on the chocolate

Add the sugar, butter and water in a heavy duty pot and heat on medium, stir to melt

Attach a candy thermometer on side of pan and keep heating and stirring until you get to 285 degrees

This is what it will look like when ready

Pour evenly over pecans

Sprinkle chocolate bits over hot toffee, let sit for 2 minutes

While thats sitting melt the candy in the microwave, following directions on bag

Spread the now melting chocolate with an offset spatula

Spoon melted green candy onto chocolate

Swirl the 2 with an offset spatuala

Sprinkle with remaining nuts, sprinkles and M and M's, pressing lightly.  Let completely set, then break up into pieces.

This turned out to be quite a tasty toffee :)

Enjoy and Happy St. Patrick's Day!