This passage is describing a type of candy that is made in a similar way to toffee, but is not boiled to as high a temperature. This candy is called “caramel”. The texture of caramels can vary depending on the temperature to which they are cooked. They can be either soft or hard. The mixture used to make caramels is typically enriched with ingredients like butter, cream, and condensed milk. Because of these ingredients, the mixture needs to be stirred occasionally during the cooking process.