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Peanut Brittle

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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.

stack of golden brown peanut brittle

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.

broke up pieces of peanut candy on a baking sheet

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.

sugar, peanuts, vanilla, corn syrup, butter in small glass bowls

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.

large black pot will with sugar and corn syrup mixture

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
peanuts in a sugar corn syrup mixture in a large pot

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.

bubbly, golden peanut candy in a large pot

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.

hand holding up a piece of broken peanut brittle

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.

pieces of peanut candy in a candy dish

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.

small pile of peanut brittle

Peanut Brittle Recipe

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pile of golden brown peanut brittle
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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
Cook Time15 minutes
Cooling Time20 minutes
Total Time40 minutes
Servings: 36 pieces
Calories: 122kcal

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.

stack of pieces of peanut brittle

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