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This easy homemade Peanut Brittle is an old-fashioned sweet, hard candy made on the stovetop with six simple ingredients and roasted peanuts. It's a family favorite during the holidays but can be enjoyed any time of year!
There's just something special about old-fashioned recipes like peanut brittle. My other favorite old-fashioned recipes include Grandma's Oatmeal Cake, Baked Apples and Baked Rice Pudding.
Peanut Brittle
Every holiday season my grandmother used to make a few batches of peanut brittle. She always dropped a container at our house and it lasted all season. I can't help but think of her when I think of this Peanut brittle recipe.
Peanut Brittle is a smooth, flat candy (similar to toffee), with peanuts in it, that is cooked on the stovetop and poured onto a sheet pan to cool. Once it cools it's broken into small individual-size pieces of hard candy and lasts at room temperature for several weeks.
Homemade Peanut Brittle in 6 steps:
- Cook sugar mixture. Add sugar, and water to a medium saucepan and stir well. Stir in corn syrup. Cook mixture over medium heat (don’t be tempted to turn the heat up!), stirring occasionally, until it comes to a gentle boil. Cook until temperature reaches 250F.
- Stir in peanuts. Add peanuts and stir the mixture constantly until the candy thermometer temperature reaches 300 degrees F.
- Remove from heat.
- Add remaining ingredients. Immediately stir in butter, baking soda and vanilla. The mixture will foam and change texture.
- Pour into sheet pan. Carefully pour the hot mixture onto a sheet pan lined with parchment paper. Use a knife or spoon to quickly (and carefully!) spread the mixture into an even layer.
- Cool and enjoy. Allow to cool completely (at least 30 minutes) before breaking apart and eating.
Important Tips:
Temperature is Key!
You will definitely want to use a candy thermometer to make peanut brittle as the proper temperature of the candy is crucial to ensure you have peanut brittle that's not too soft or chewy and not too hard.
Baking Soda?
Baking soda is a crucial ingredient that can't be substituted in this recipe. Just as in homemade syrup or caramel corn, baking soda causes a unique chemical reaction (basically a lot of rising foam) that is crucial in creating the right texture in peanut brittle. If you make it without baking soda but you will notice the brittle is a bit harder to bite through.
Precaution!!
Wear gloves and be CAREFUL! The candy gets VERY hot and can easily spill onto your hands or wrists during pouring if you're not careful. Make sure to use cooking/oven mitts (that you don't mind getting dirty) and be sure to tilt the pan away from you and use a spatula to scrape the hot mixture onto the sheet pan.
Corn Syrup Substitutes:
If you need to substitute corn syrup in this peanut brittle recipe, you can substitute cup for cup of:
- honey
- light molasses
- agave nectar
- brown rice syrup
You could also substitute a combination of these ingredients and please note that with any of these substitutions, the peanut brittle will have a lightly different taste, texture and consistency as well.
Making Ahead, Storing and Freezing Peanut Brittle:
To make ahead: Peanut brittle can be made several days or even weeks in advance. It stays fresh at room temperature for 6-8 weeks.
To store: Once it's completely cooled, store peanut brittle in an airtight container at room temperature. Do not refrigerate as the moisture from the fridge will cause the brittle to soften. Store for 6-8 weeks.
To Freeze: Peanut brittle can be frozen and stored up to 3 months. Allow the brittle to cool completely and store it in a freezer safe, airtight container.
CONSIDER TRYING THESE HOLIDAY TREATS:
- Homemade Caramels
- Caramel Chocolate Dipped Pretzel Rods
- Peppermint Candy Cane Brownies
- Turtle Thumbprint Cookies
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Peanut Brittle
Ingredients
- 2 cups sugar
- 1 cup light corn syrup
- 1/2 cup water
- 2 cups salted roasted peanuts
- 2 tablespoons butter
- 1 1/2 teaspoons soda
- 1 1/2 teaspoons vanilla
Instructions
- Line a sheet pan with parchment paper. Set aside.
- Measure out peanuts, butter, baking soda and vanilla and have them ready.
- Add sugar, and water to a medium saucepan and stir well. Stir in corn syrup. Cook mixture over medium heat (don’t be tempted to turn the heat up!), stirring occasionally, until it comes to a gentle boil.
- Attach your candy thermometer to the edge of the pot, and make sure it is submerged in the liquid, but not touching the bottom of the pot. Cook, stirring occasionally until temperature reaches 250°F (121°C).
- Add the peanuts and stir the mixture constantly until the candy thermometer temperature reaches 300 degrees F.
- Remove mixture from heat and immediately stir in butter, baking soda and vanilla. The mixture will foam and change texture.
- Carefully pour the hot mixture onto the prepared pan and use a knife or spoon to quickly (and carefully!) spread the mixture into an even layer.
- Allow to cool completely (at least 30 minute) before breaking apart and eating.
- Store the completely cooled peanut brittle in an airtight container.
Notes
Nutrition
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
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Have you tried this recipe?!
RATE and COMMENT below! I would love to hear your experience.
The best recipe ever. I made a big pan full last night and it’s gone. I will make more this weekend. Perfect candy
This recipe is fantastic! I made it exactly as written and it turned out perfectly. The taste and texture were perfect! I am so glad that I found a great recipe for peanut brittle. Thank you!
I make this at least twice during the holiday season every year! I have double batched it and had my pans ready so it wasn’t an issue. My father in law loves this- he’s German and says it’s the best peanut brittle he’s had in years! I added the peanuts too early last time I made it, but it still turned out fine. Will be doing a double batch in a few days!
The flavor is delicious. But the cook time is vastly wrong for the 3X recipe. I stood at the stove for about 2 hours and ended up turning it off before it reached 300°. Note: don’t do that! It remains sticky and you end up with chewy brittle instead of hard!
I accidentally added the peanuts when the soft boil started, instead of at 250°. That might have also contributed to the stickiness?
I adapted this recipe and made it in the microwave; just made two batches with my microwave and I had the one that fit with my microwave. I looked on line to see how to do this. I like to use sunflower seeds too.
Just so you know… The “stir constantly” part between 250 & 300 is no joke. I burnt a few peanuts by slacking a bit on this one. Stilll excellent! Could probably add the peanuts at 275 and save a bit of pot watching.
Made it for the first time and it was great!
I made this using cashews instead (since that’s more my families style) and it was deemed FANTASTIC! Definitely takes a while to come to temp, but let it happen. A thermometer that actually hangs on the side of the pot would have been a smart idea too! Lol
Great recipe and easy to make! in fact, so great that I am making another batch right now because my husband hit the one that I was making for holiday gifts!
This brittle is awesome! Next batch I’m adding jalapeños for fun! 😆
Did your jalapeño peanut brittle turn out?
For the first time candy makers. The only thing that I would add is if someone doesn’t have a candy thermometer, is to get a small glass of cold water and test the mixture once in a while, with a small spoon and drip a little into the glass until you get a hard crack. That means that it will be hard and not flatten to the touch.
I made this recipe over the weekend for the first time ever making any kind of candy anything. By far the best peanut brittle I have ever had! The only thing I would change about the recipe is maybe giving an estimation of time from adding the peanuts until temp reaches 300 degrees on thermometer. It was taking so long on medium heat, I thought I was doing something wrong. Also I need to spread it out a little thinner when I pour it out because while good 1/2″ is a little thick and the recipe didn’t say how thick or thin to spread it. Needless to say it worked out and my patience was rewarded. Thanks for sharing!
Excellent recipe with clear instructions. Delicious! Thank goodness I only made half a recipe because I ate most of it on the first day, ugh.