Peanut Brittle - Feeding Your Fam (2024)

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Peanut Brittle is a simple, buttery, homemade candy recipe that is always a family favorite. There is no perfect time of year to make peanut brittle because it is good year round, and especially during the holiday season. It is hard to resist this sweet, crunchy, best peanut candy.

Looking for other simple homemade treats? Check out my recipes for Homemade English Toffee, Easy Microwave Caramels and Rolo Pretzel Turtles.

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Homemade Peanut Brittle

Peanut Brittle is one of those classic, great recipes. This is a treat my grandma would have often at her home and now one I love to share with my own family. Making homemade peanut brittle can sound intimidating, but let me reassure that, with the right equipment, it is so easy to make a batch of your own at home.

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Ingredients for Peanut Brittle

This recipe only takes 7 ingredients to make, nothing too extravagant, things you can easily pick up from a local store. Here is what you will need make this delicious recipe:

  • 2 cups Sugar
  • 1 cup Light Corn Syrup
  • 1/2 cup Water
  • 2 tablespoons Butter
  • 2 cups Raw Spanish Peanuts
  • 1 teaspoon Vanilla
  • 2 teaspoons Baking Soda

For full recipe details head to the recipe card at the bottom of this post.

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How to make Peanut Brittle

Once you have all of your ingredients assembled and ready to, it’s time to get cooking. Following are the steps with some extra tips to make this peanut brittle recipe.

First, in a large, 4 quart saucepan, combine the sugar, corn syrup and water. Stir with a wooden spoon until well combined.

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Place the pot over medium heat and bring to a boil, stirring constantly. Continue to boil the sugar mixture for about 5-7 minutes, until it reaches a soft ball stage.

There are a few ways to test if the liquid has reached soft ball.

  • you can drip some of the candy liquid into a small bowl of cold water, the mixture will form a ‘soft ball’ when it hits the water.
  • use a candy thermometer on the side of the pot to keep a constant watch on the temperature
  • use an instant read thermometer to check the temperature of the candy, it should reach 235º F
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Next, you are going to add in the raw peanuts and 2 tablespoons of butter. Make sure that the peanuts are not cold, keep them at room temperature before adding into the sugar mixture.

Continue to cook and stir the candy mixture over medium heat until the candy starts to darken and reaches the hard crack stage. This will be 290º F on a thermometer or if you are dropping it in cold water, it will be hard candy and snap apart easily.

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Once the candy has reached the hard crack stage, this is where you want to move quickly, because you don’t want the candy to start cooling or even get hotter in the pan.

Remove the brittle from the stove and quickly stir in the vanilla and baking soda. The peanut brittle will bubble up and change color, which is exactly what you want the candy to do.

Quickly and carefully (remember it is SO hot at this point), pour the peanut brittle out onto a parchment lined prepared baking sheet.

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Spread the cooked peanut brittle out as thin as you can onto the prepared cookie sheet. If you don’t have parchment paper to place on the full baking sheet, you can spray the pan with cooking oil or grease with butter.

Allow the peanut brittle to cool completely (about 15-20 minutes in a cool place) before using your hands to break into pieces.

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How to Store Homemade Peanut Brittle

Now that you have a whole bunch of delicious peanut brittle all cooked and ready to snack on, let’s make you store it correctly to keep it crisp and tasty.

Store peanut brittle on the countertop in an airtight container for up to 6 weeks. Do not store the brittle in the refrigerator as any moisture can cause it to soften.

Peanut brittle can be frozen in an air tight container or freezer bag for up to 3 months.

Peanut Brittle Recipe

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Print Recipe

5 from 1 vote

Peanut Brittle

Peanut Brittle is a simple, buttery, crunchy, homemade candy recipe that is always a family favorite.

Prep Time5 minutes mins

Cook Time15 minutes mins

Cooling Time20 minutes mins

Total Time40 minutes mins

Servings: 36 pieces

Calories: 122kcal

Author: Sarah Alvord, Feeding Your Fam

Ingredients

  • 2 cups sugar
  • 1 cup light corn syrup
  • 1/2 cup water
  • 2 tablespoons butter
  • 2 cups raw peanuts
  • 1 teaspoon vanilla
  • 2 teaspoons baking soda

Instructions

  • Prepare a large baking sheet (17.7 inches x 12.8 inches) by lining with parchment paper

  • In a large 4 quart pot, combine the sugar, corn syrup and water. Stir to combine.

  • Place the pot over medium heat and bring to a boil, stirring constantly. Cook until this mixture reaches 235º F or a soft ball stage.

  • Add in the butter and peanuts and continue to cook and stir until the liquid darkens and reaches a hard crack stage, 290º F

  • Remove from the heat and quickly stir in the vanilla and baking soda.

  • Carefully pour out onto the prepared baking sheet and spread as thin as possible.

  • Allow to cool before breaking into smaller pieces.

Notes

  • Nutrition facts are just an estimate
  • Store candy in an air tight container on the counter for up to 6 weeks

Nutrition

Calories: 122kcal | Carbohydrates: 20g | Protein: 2g | Fat: 5g | Saturated Fat: 1g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 1g | Monounsaturated Fat: 2g | Trans Fat: 0.03g | Cholesterol: 2mg | Sodium: 74mg | Potassium: 61mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 18g | Vitamin A: 19IU | Calcium: 10mg | Iron: 0.3mg

Course: Candy, Dessert

Cuisine: Dessert

Keyword: Peanut Brittle

Tried this recipe?Please Rate and Leave A Comment Below!

Peanut Brittle is a simple, buttery, crunchy, homemade candy recipe that is always a family favorite.

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Peanut Brittle - Feeding Your Fam (2024)

FAQs

Is peanut brittle good or bad for you? ›

Peanut brittle has one redeeming quality: peanuts. Outside of that single ingredient, peanut brittle is painfully unhealthy. It contains: sugar, corn syrup, and butter, all of which are unhealthy for your body in different ways.

Does peanut brittle go bad? ›

To store: Store peanut brittle (once it's completely cooled) 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.

What is the story behind peanut brittle? ›

The general origin story of peanut brittle is that it came from the South, and that a Southern woman in the second half of the 19th century came up with peanut brittle by accidentally putting baking soda into her taffy instead of cream of tartar.

How do you keep peanut brittle from sticking to the pan? ›

Buttering the inside of the cooking pan will prevent sugar crystals from sticking to the sides while the corn syrup, water, sugar and butter cook to 275 degrees.

Is there a downside to eating peanuts? ›

Antinutrients. Peanuts contain a number of antinutrients, which are substances that impair your absorption of nutrients and reduce nutritional value. Of the antinutrients in peanuts, phytic acid is particularly noteworthy. Phytic acid (phytate) is found in all edible seeds, nuts, grains, and legumes.

What is the most unhealthiest peanut butter? ›

Below is a list of 13 of some of the worst peanut butter brands and why they should be avoided.
  • Peter Pan Creamy Original Peanut Butter. ...
  • Smucker's Reduced Fat Natural Style Creamy Peanut Butter. ...
  • Jif Reduced Fat Creamy Peanut Butter Spread. ...
  • Great Value Creamy Peanut Butter. ...
  • Peanut Butter & Co.
Feb 7, 2024

Why did my peanut brittle not get hard? ›

The main reason why peanut brittle doesn't get hard and have the crunch we expect is because the sugar was not cooked long enough. The sugar needs to be cooked to what is called the hard crack stage, 300ºF.

Should you freeze peanut brittle? ›

Absolutely! If you want to extend the life of your peanut brittle, you can freeze it. But, make sure it is completely cooled, as moisture is an enemy of peanut brittle. Ensure the brittle pieces are separated by parchment paper to prevent them from sticking together.

How do you freshen peanut brittle? ›

You can try placing the stale peanut brittle on a baking sheet and gently heating it in an oven at a low temperature, around 250°F (120°C), for a few minutes. This can help to soften it a bit and restore some of its original texture.

Why is peanut brittle addicting? ›

Peanut brittle is beloved by many, both young and old. There's something addicting in that salty-sweet crunch that keeps people coming back time and time again.

Why do people like peanut brittle? ›

Peanut brittle is a delicious treat that is perfect to make around the holidays. It's a sugary combination that's generously dotted with peanuts for some added crunch! There are many brittle recipes and many people make ones that are thin and almost tooth-breakingly hard.

What are some fun facts about peanut brittle? ›

In parts of the Middle East, brittle is made with pistachios, while many Asian countries use sesame seeds and peanuts. “Brittle,” a flat hardened sugar candy, is thought to be one of the first candies ever made. Peanut brittle made with corn syrups and nuts began appearing in cookbooks around the 19th century.

Can I use foil instead of parchment paper for peanut brittle? ›

To protect the counter where you will be spreading hot candy, use parchment. It works as well as aluminum foil for the purpose, plus it has a centuries-long clean record.

Why put baking soda in peanut brittle? ›

Baking soda is also very important at this stage since it reacts to the heat, creating carbon dioxide that aerates the caramel, enabling it to snap when someone bites into it rather than requiring them to gnaw at it until it breaks or pulls apart.

Why did my peanut brittle come out chewy? ›

Why Is My Peanut Brittle Chewy / Sticky / Didn't Harden? This is a temperature issue. Make sure the candy thermometer reaches exactly 300ºF / 149ºC, which is hard crack stage, before pouring onto baking sheet.

Is peanut brittle fattening? ›

Peanut brittle contains 130 calories per 28 g serving. This serving contains 4.5 g of fat, 2 g of protein and 20 g of carbohydrate. The latter is 15 g sugar and 0 g of dietary fiber, the rest is complex carbohydrate. Peanut brittle contains 1 g of saturated fat and 0 mg of cholesterol per serving.

Which type of peanut is healthiest? ›

Which types of peanuts are most healthful? Raw peanuts are the most healthful variety. Peanut butter is a great choice, offering a healthy nutritional profile and a range of health benefits. Learn about the health benefits of peanut butter.

Is broken peanuts good for health? ›

Raw broken peanuts can be put in a container and needs refrigeration storage. It has a shelf life of around 5-6 days. l Peanuts, being a legume is rich in nutrients and provides immense health benefits.

Are peanuts an unhealthy snack? ›

Peanuts are full of nutrition and make for a healthy snack. They're full of fiber, protein, and healthy fats, which can aid weight management by keeping you full longer. For best results, choose raw, roasted, or boiled peanuts free of added salt and flavoring, and be mindful of your serving size.

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