Our Candy Crushes: Dr. Ray's Toffee

By Melissa McEwen in Food on May 13, 2015 3:00PM

Recently I discovered my new favorite pairing ever: toffee and bourbon. I discovered it quite by accident because I was snacking on some Dr. Ray's Toffee that the doctor himself sent me. No, he's not a medical doctor— Dr. Ray Lauk has a Ph.D. in Educational Administration (plus an MBA), but the title allows me to make a silly joke about this toffee being exactly what the doctor ordered.

It's made with the simplest ingredients: only butter, sugar, chocolate and almonds. But from this short list he makes a snack that's delightfully crunchy from both the snap of the caramelized sugar and the dusting of almonds. As it melts in your mouth you taste the melted butter, dark chocolate and soft hints of smoke. It reminds me a bit of a Heath Bar.

Dr. Lauk has been making his toffee since 1982, when he was just a student teacher and learned how to craft it from his supervising teacher, Monte Whiteley. With a sip of bourbon it accents the spirit's own caramel notes beautifully. But no bourbon is needed to enjoy this— it also works well with a cup of coffee or just by itself.

You can purchase Dr Ray's Toffee online or across Illinois at selected stores.

Our Candy Crushes is a series focused on the most delicious of locally made candy.