Holiday Candy with Chef Parsons

Niagara Wine Country Experiences

Traditional English Toffee 
Chef Jason Parsons, Peller Estates 

Ingredients
300mL condensed milk 
2 cups white sugar 
½ pound butter 
¾ cup golden syrup (I like Lyle brand) 
1 tsp lemon Juice 

Directions
Combine all ingredients in a heavy bottom pot. Start over medium heat, but once everything is melted increase to high. At this point you need to continuously whisk slowly; this is to avoid anything sticking and burning on the bottom of the pot. Add a candy thermometer and continue cooking until it reaches 275°F. Remove immediately and pour into a parchment lined baking tray and allow to cool. Once cooled, you can smash the toffee into desired serving pieces.  

Sponge Toffee 
Chef Jason Parsons, Peller Estates 

Ingredients 
1 ½ tbsp honey 
5 tsp baking soda 
½ tsp cream of tartar 
1 cup water 
3 ½ cups sugar 
1 ½ cups corn syrup 
3 cups milk chocolate 

Directions 
Combine the ingredients (except for the baking soda) in a large pot over medium heat. Be sure to use a big enough pot that will allow for a least triple the amount of the mixture. Do not stir, simply allow everything to melt. Once everything is a liquid, you can increase the temperature to high and continue to allow the mixture to boil. Using a candy thermometer, raise the temperature of the mixture to 300°F. As soon as the sugar reaches temperature, remove from the heat, and vigorously whisk in the baking soda. Be careful not to burn yourself as the mixture will expand a lot. Immediately pour the mixture into a parchment lined pan and allow to cool.  Once cold use the tip of a knife to break portion size pieces of the sponge toffee. 

Melt the chocolate on low in the microwave. When completely melted, dip half of the sponge toffee pieces into the chocolate and then allow to cool on parchment. This should leave half of the sponge toffee exposed and half covered in chocolate. When the chocolate is set, it’s ready to serve.  

Winter in Niagara Wine Country

Embrace the Canadian winter chill in Niagara Wine Country! Join us at the estates for holiday shopping and gifting services, cozy up by the fireplace during a romantic escape at Riverbend Inn, or enjoy the Icewine festival in both downtown Niagara-on-the-Lake and Jordan. There’s always something going on in Wine Country. Visit myWineCountry.com or call our Wine Country Concierge at 1-888-510-5537 to plan your escape today.

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As the holiday season approaches, the hunt for that perfect gift becomes an annual tradition. This year, why not surprise your loved ones with the gift of Wine Country? Niagara-on-the-Lake, a region renowned for its scenic vineyards, delectable wines, and a rich culinary scene, offers an array of experiences waiting to be unwrapped. Whether it’s a romantic getaway or a wine lover’s dream, there’s something for everyone. Here’s why gifting experiences is the perfect choice, and how you can make it happen. 

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Discover Niagara’s Best Wine Clubs. Your delivery of wine is just the beginning! As a Wine Club member, you and up to 5 guests can enjoy incredible perks at our family of wineries, including Peller Estates, Trius Winery, Wayne Gretzky Estates and Thirty Bench Wine Makers.

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