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Sugary, sweet, crispy, and crunchy nutty flavor combine to make this delicious Easy Peanut Brittle. This hard toffee holiday favorite is a traditional Christmas treat.
More delicious holiday treats include these Chewy Ginger Molasses Cookies and these No-Bake Butterscotch Pretzel Bars.
Easy Peanut Brittle
Sleepily, we ease through these joy-filled moments and lazy days after Christmas. Most of our mornings often lead to afternoons spent in our pajamas. My youngest pointed this out while at a store just the other day and I was fully clad in jammies.
Though we haven’t been restful, unfortunately, yet fortunately. We’re moving in just a couple of days. Our house is currently floor-to-ceiling boxes, with the exception of Christmas treats, and we’re finding more and more to pack each day. I’ve found my rhythm in packing and snacking. As a box is full, or I’m in the process of filling it, I happily munch on a holiday treat, like this Easy Peanut Brittle.
My kitchen is almost fully packed so we’re aren’t preparing any more delicious treats. Despite my charcuterie board perfectly laid out on Christmas wrapping paper, because my platters were packed, most of our sweet consumption comes from our pre-packing kitchen encounters.
How to Make Peanut Brittle
Time needed: 42 minutes.
This candy will always be one of my favorite holiday treats, and it is perfect for sharing.
- Prep
Prepare a rimmed baking pan with parchment paper or a non-stick baking mat and set aside.
- Mix
Place the sugar, corn syrup, salt, and water into a large heavy-bottomed pot or dutch oven and clip a candy thermometer to the side.
- Dissolve
Cook the mixture over medium heat, stirring continuously, until the sugar is dissolved and liquid comes to a boil, about 6 to 7 minutes.
- Add Butter
Add the butter to the mixture and continue stirring until the temperature reaches 280℉, about 15 minutes.
- Stir in Peanuts
Stir in the peanuts and cook for an additional 10 minutes allowing the mixture to reach 305℉.
- Add Baking Soda
Remove the pot from the heat and stir in the baking soda.
- Pour and Cool
Evenly and carefully pour the mixture onto the prepared baking sheet and spread using a spatula. Let cool and harden before breaking into pieces.
Pro Tips for Preparing Easy Peanut Brittle
- Use a meat tenderizer to simply break the peanut brittle into manageable bite-size pieces.
- Once the sugar mixture reaches the correct temperature, move quickly to finish the recipe. Set up the pan you plan on pouring the brittle into before you start.
- Make sure to use a very LARGE pot when preparing this candy. The sugar bubbles up.
- Store the brittle in an air-tight container on the counter for 1 1/2 to 2 weeks. Don’t leave it uncovered as it will become sticky.
More Delicious Holiday Recipes
- The Best Homemade Wassail
- White Christmas Cocktail
- Orange Pistachio Snowball Cookies
- Homemade Eggnog
- Infused Olive Oil Recipes
- Chocolate Drizzled Popcorn
Ingredients
- 2 cups Sugar
- 1 cup Light Corn Syrup
- 1/4 teaspoon Salt
- 1/2 cup Water
- 1 cup Butter cut into small cubes
- 2¼ cups Dry Roasted Peanuts
- 1 teaspoon Baking Soda
Instructions
- Prepare a rimmed baking pan with parchment paper or a non-stick baking mat and set aside.
- Place the sugar, corn syrup, salt, and water into a large heavy-bottomed pot or dutch oven and clip a candy thermometer to the side.
- Cook the mixture over medium heat, stirring continuously, until the sugar is dissolved and liquid comes to a boil, about 6 to 7 minutes.
- Add the butter to the mixture and continue stirring until the temperature reaches 280℉, about 15 minutes.
- Stir in the peanuts and cook for an additional 10 minutes allowing the mixture to reach 305℉.
- Remove the pot from the heat and stir in the baking soda.
- Evenly and carefully pour the mixture onto the prepared baking sheet and spread using a spatula. Let cool and harden before breaking into pieces.
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