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Home » Dessert » Peanut Brittle

November 25, 2018 By Sara 90 Comments

Peanut Brittle

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This recipe for homemade peanut brittle is a buttery, crispy confection loaded with roasted peanuts. Break the brittle into bite sized pieces and serve for a simple yet satisfying dessert, or package up your peanut candy for gift giving.

There’s nothing better than homemade candy, some of our favorites include rocky road fudge and buckeye balls. Peanut brittle is also at the top of our list, and it tastes so much better when you make it yourself!

Peanut Brittle Recipe | Peanut Candy | Homemade Candy #candy #peanuts #dessert #sweets #dinneratthezoo #christmas Peanut Brittle Recipe | Peanut Candy | Homemade Candy #candy #peanuts #dessert #sweets #dinneratthezoo #christmas

A stack of peanut brittle pieces on a serving plate.

Peanut brittle is my mom’s favorite candy, but to be honest, it’s never really been my thing. I made this recipe for her, and let me tell you, it’s the best peanut brittle EVER. I’ve eaten way too much of it over the last few days, and that’s coming from someone who doesn’t even like this candy!

How do you make peanut brittle?

Peanut brittle is easier to make than you’d think. Corn syrup, salt, sugar and water get boiled, then butter and dry roasted peanuts are added to the mix. Everything gets cooked together until a rich and golden brown candy forms. The final step is a touch of baking soda. The peanut mixture gets poured onto a sheet pan and then it needs to cool completely before you can break it into pieces.

Butter and sugar boiling in a pot.

The trick to making peanut brittle is to get yourself a candy thermometer. This is a necessary tool for successful peanut brittle. Luckily, candy thermometers are inexpensive and widely available. Be sure to monitor the temperature of your sugar mixture carefully so that you don’t overcook or undercook the brittle. If you overcook your brittle, it could become bitter or burn, and if you don’t cook it for long enough, it can get sticky.

A sheet pan of peanut brittle before it's been broken into pieces.

Why do you use baking soda in peanut brittle?

Baking soda may seem like an odd ingredient to put into candy, but the baking soda creates a ton of tiny air bubbles that improve the texture of the brittle. Don’t be tempted to skip this step!

A sheet pan of broken pieces of peanut brittle.

Tips for peanut brittle

  • Not a peanut fan? You can substitute an equal amount of pecans or almonds for the peanuts.
  • Peanut brittle can be stored in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 1 week.
  • Use a bigger pot than you think you need for this recipe, as the sugar mixture expands quite a bit, especially after you add the baking soda.

Peanut brittle pieces in a decorative tin.

I love to package peanut brittle in gift tins and give it away to family and friends during the holidays. This candy is so much better than any store bought brittle I’ve had, and dozens of people ask me for the recipe as soon as they get a taste of this delicious treat!

More delicious candy recipes

  • Peppermint Patties
  • Chocolate Peanut Butter Fudge
  • Candy Cane Hearts
  • Crock Pot Candy
  • 50 Christmas Candy Recipes
A stack of peanut brittle pieces on a serving plate.
Print Pin
5 from 21 votes

Peanut Brittle

This recipe for homemade peanut brittle is a buttery, crispy confection loaded with roasted peanuts. Break the brittle into bite sized pieces and serve for a simple yet satisfying dessert, or package up your peanut candy for gift giving.
Course Dessert
Cuisine American
Keyword peanut brittle
Prep Time 10 minutes
Cook Time 35 minutes
Total Time 45 minutes
Servings 24
Calories 254kcal
Author Sara Welch

Ingredients

  • 2 cups granulated sugar
  • 1 cup light corn syrup
  • 1/4 teaspoon salt
  • 1/2 cup water
  • 1 cup butter cut into slices
  • 2 1/4 cups dry roasted peanuts unsalted
  • 1 teaspoon baking soda

Instructions

  • Line a sheet pan with parchment paper or a nonstick baking mat.
  • Place the sugar, corn syrup, salt and water in a large, deep pan. Clip a candy thermometer to the side of the pan. 
  • Cook over medium heat, stirring constantly, until sugar is dissolved and the mixture comes to a boil. This takes about 6-7 minutes.
  • Add the butter to the pan. Continue to cook, stirring occasionally, until a candy thermometer registers 280 degrees F. This takes about 15 minutes.
  • Add the peanuts to the pot and cook for an additional 10 minutes, stirring constantly, or until a candy thermometer registers 305 degrees F. 
  • Remove the pot from the heat and stir in the baking soda. 
  • Pour the peanut mixture evenly onto the sheet pans. Spread to a 1/4 inch layer.
  • Cool, then break into pieces and serve.

Nutrition

Calories: 254kcal | Carbohydrates: 30g | Protein: 3g | Fat: 14g | Saturated Fat: 5g | Cholesterol: 20mg | Sodium: 242mg | Potassium: 94mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 28g | Vitamin A: 235IU | Calcium: 12mg | Iron: 0.3mg

 

Filed Under: Dessert Tagged With: Candy, Christmas, Peanuts

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« Buckeye Balls (Peanut Butter Balls)
Gooey Butter Cookies »

Comments

  1. Marta Briseno says

    January 17, 2021 at 5:04 am

    5 stars
    I made half a batch. Substituted the water with a chocolate coffee and used pecan pieces since I didn’t have peanuts . Superb flavors!

    Reply
  2. Dolores says

    January 16, 2021 at 5:24 pm

    5 stars
    Best peanut brittle I’ve made yet! I used Spanish peanuts and found out to add them slowly so the temp doesn’t drop too much. My husband loves it. Our third batch since Christmas and its only jan 16.

    Reply
  3. Pennie says

    January 9, 2021 at 3:03 pm

    5 stars
    This was outstanding. I used 3 cups of Fisher oven roasted never fried peanuts, lightly salted with sea salt. I increased the baking soda by 1/4 tsp because I love, love, love the air bubbles.

    Thank you so much for sharing. This is even better than Williams Sonoma peanut brittle!

    Reply
  4. Shyrene Thompson says

    December 29, 2020 at 12:48 pm

    5 stars
    I made this recipe, it was fantastic!! Best recipe ever!! My husband who doesn’t really love peanut brittle said it was the best he has ever had. Thanks for sharing the recipe.

    Reply
  5. Kelly Starkey says

    December 24, 2020 at 2:21 pm

    I’m making this now. I can’t get candy thermometer to go over 220. It’s been about 20 minutes?

    Reply
    • Sara says

      December 24, 2020 at 3:39 pm

      Do you have the heat on high and what type of thermometer are you using, I wonder if it’s not working properly. Sometimes the mixture will stall out for a bit before the temperature starts climbing again. Also make sure the bottom of the thermometer is not touching the bottom of the pot as that can give you an incorrect reading.

      Reply
  6. Lea says

    December 19, 2020 at 9:48 pm

    I only have golden corn syrup, will that work?

    Reply
    • Sara says

      December 19, 2020 at 9:49 pm

      Are you talking about Karo corn syrup or like a golden cane syrup?

      Reply
  7. Carol Lazzaro says

    December 19, 2020 at 1:56 pm

    Hello!

    I have dry roasted peanuts but they are lightly salted……is this ok to use?

    Thank you,
    Carol Lazzaro

    Reply
    • Sara says

      December 19, 2020 at 7:53 pm

      yes that’s fine!

      Reply
  8. Christine says

    December 19, 2020 at 10:33 am

    Thank you! I made a half recipe this morning to try it out. I’ve never made peanut brittle or any hard candies before. Using my moms antique candy thermometer, the peanut brittle turned out perfect! Next time will be a double batch!

    Reply
  9. Lisa says

    December 16, 2020 at 4:33 am

    What size pan should I use?😳

    Reply
    • Sara says

      December 16, 2020 at 4:46 pm

      Use a sheet pan, mine measures 13×18 but anything around that size is fine!

      Reply
  10. Angie says

    December 14, 2020 at 6:48 pm

    5 stars
    Just made a batch (long-time baker, first time at peanut brittle) & wow, it’s fantastic. Easy recipe to follow. I mixed peanuts & cashews. Pinned this one for sure!!

    Reply
  11. Tabitha says

    December 12, 2020 at 2:57 pm

    5 stars
    My husband loved this recipe! I made one batch of peanut brittle and one batch of cashew brittle using same recipe just substituting cashews for peanuts.

    Reply
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With 3 young kids, dinner can feel like feeding time at the zoo! I'm a mom on a mission to create easy, healthy and family friendly recipes ...Read More
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