Old Fashioned Peanut Brittle
A little bit sweet, a little bit salty, this Old Fashioned Peanut Brittle is a delicious (and rather addicting) treat! It’s also surprisingly easy to make!
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Growing up, this Old Fashioned Peanut Brittle was a staple in our house during the holidays. My mother counts peanut brittle as her 2nd favorite dessert of all time, and she would always keep a can of brittle on the countertop during the holiday season. Truthfully, this old fashioned peanut brittle would make a great treat anytime during the year, but I always associate it with the holidays.
For the record, my mom and I both have the same favorite dessert – English toffee. Peanut brittle is certainly a close relative – a cousin, perhaps? – of toffee, so it’s safe to say that this batch of brittle didn’t last long in our house! Next time, I should try adding chocolate to the top similar to that toffee. It would be like chocolate covered peanuts…just in brittle form!
Old Fashioned Peanut Brittle
This peanut brittle is a classic recipe, and honestly it’s quite easy to make. There are only a handful of ingredients, but you do need a candy thermometer. (This is the one I use. It clips to the side of a pot so you don’t have to keep fiddling with it.)
The main thing to remember when making this Old Fashioned Peanut Brittle recipe is to be careful! The candy mixture is incredibly hot, and it could cause some pretty serious burns if you don’t pay attention. But as long as you aren’t trying to text your friend, fold laundry and wrap Christmas gifts at the same time, then you’ll be good. Just cook up the brittle, let it cool and then eat all the peanut brittle you want while you do your other chores. The flavor is fantastic!
Peanut Brittle is a combination of salty and sweet, and it’s a delicious snack to serve party guests…or just eat all by yourself. (I speak from experience here.) This easy homemade peanut brittle also makes for a great edible gift for friends and neighbors during the holidays. Just package this brittle up in cellophane bags or in a glass jar with a festive ribbon. *boom* Teacher or neighbor gifts done. That is unless you eat it all yourself first. “One for you, one for me. One for you, two for me….”
The one noticeable difference between making peanut brittle and toffee is the addition of baking soda. Baking soda might seem like a strange ingredient, but it actually plays a key role. When you add the baking soda, the brittle mixture bubbles up. It’s actually those tiny air bubbles that give peanut brittle candy it’s lighter, airy texture. Don’t skip that final step!
How to Store Leftover Peanut Brittle
Leftover peanut brittle should be stored in an airtight container at room temperature. (Refrigerating peanut brittle will make it soft.) To keep pieces from sticking to each other, separate layers with wax paper.
If you’re looking for a tasty sweet + salty treat, then I highly recommend making a batch of this homemade peanut brittle. It tastes just like the kind grandma used to make. It’ll also disappear faster than you realize, and I promise you’ll be making another batch soon! Cheers!
Did you make a batch of this Old Fashioned Peanut Brittle at home? Leave a comment, or better yet snap a photo and tag me on Instagram (@Spicedblog). I’d love to see your version!
Old Fashioned Peanut Brittle
Ingredients
- 2 cups granulated sugar
- 1 cup light corn syrup
- ½ tsp salt
- ½ cup water
- 2 cups salted roasted peanuts can substitute other nuts as desired
- 4 Tbsp unsalted butter cut into small cubes
- 1 tsp vanilla extract
- 1 tsp baking soda
Instructions
- Line a large rimmed cookie sheet with parchment paper. Spray parchment generously with nonstick cooking spray; set pan aside.
- Using a large saucepan, add sugar, corn syrup, salt and water; stir until well combined. Set pan on stove-top over medium heat and cook, stirring occasionally, until sugar has completely dissolved. (Note: Use a larger saucepan than you might think as the mixture expands when heated.)
- Once temperature reaches 280°F, add peanuts and butter.
- Continue cooking, stirring constantly with a wooden spoon, until temperature reaches 300°F (i.e. hard crack stage).
- Remove from heat. Immediately stir in vanilla extract and baking soda. (Note: Use caution as baking soda will make mixture bubble up.)
- Immediately pour mixture onto prepared baking sheet. Using a rubber spatula, spread mixture evenly across cookie sheet.
- Let mixture cool and then snap into pieces.
Looking for more sweet treats or holiday cookies recipes? Check out these other favorites, too:
I love sweet and salty! And there’s nothing better than giving homemade gifts. I’ll be whipping up a batch – two of this peanut brittle!
Eh- go ahead and make two batch of this one, Kathy! The first one will disappear really quickly…especially in your house with all of those elves around! 🙂
That truly is a classic, David!
Can’t ever go wrong with a classic, right? Cheers, Jeff!
Can you believe I have never had peanut brittle, David? Looking at your photos though, I do feel like I’ve been missing out and I need to give this treat a go, especially since you and your mum rate it so high! Probably safer for me though that I haven’t made it just yet – I would definitely be that person who’s triple tasking while making this hot candy mixture, especially this time of year. I shall proceed… but safely! Merry Christmas David!!
You’ve never had peanut brittle!? Oh man, you’ve gotta make some ASAP, Katerina! It will disappear surprisingly quickly. It’s not the healthiest of treats, but then again it’s the holidays! We can diet in January! 🙂 Merry Christmas, my friend!
I grew up with them as well but our peanut brittle version is darker as we dont use corn syrup and white sugar, we usually use brown sugar on our ones. This reminds me a lot of my childhood
Interesting! I like the idea of brown sugar – I’ll have to try that out next time I make brittle. Cheers, Raymund!
Such an excellent holiday treat! And perfect as an edible gift. I shared favorite desserts with my mom, too. Only too many to count. 😉 ~Valentina
Haha – sharing is the best during the holiday season, right?? That’s why we just need to make 2 batches of this brittle – so we have enough to share. 🙂 Happy Holidays, Valentina!
I used to think Christmas and winter holidays are about some extraordinary and luxurious recipes. Something really special and unique. My vision changed a few years back. While I still enjoy making some sophisticated and expensive desserts each season, holidays aren’t about this. They’re about: a) something really affordable and effortless; b) about your favourite things that often bring your childhood memories. I think this peanut brittle absolutely fits the bill, as per my description above. Such a cozy and delicious dessert. And that toffee… dear Santa, please bring me a box full of this English toffee…:)
You and me both, Ben. I think a box of English toffee would be all I need under the Christmas tree! But I do agree with your comment about the holiday season. I still enjoy making fun desserts, but we also like to save this time of the year to make all of our favorite recipes – both savory and sweet. It’s a great time to indulge a bit before the cold days of January!
This is the kind of salty sweet treat that is totally irresistible to me!! I’m a sucker for brittle of any kind and definitely need to try your recipe – looks perfect, David!
I love the salty + sweet combination, too, Marissa! Peanut brittle is one of those things that is never safe around here…especially during the holiday season when I’m snacking on treats more often! 🙂
Love sweet and salty together and this peanut brittle looks amazing! And what a great food gift idea too!
Peanut brittle is one of those treats that is never safe around our house. I just keep walking by saying “Just one more little nibble…” Haha! Happy Holidays, Michelle!
LOVE LOVE LOVE peanut brittle! But I’ve never made it before, which obviously needs to change. Definitely need to make your recipe David! That is so interesting about the baking soda. Never would have guessed, but I totally see how that would be crucial to that addicting peanut brittle texture. 😋
Oh, you totally should make peanut brittle at home, Shannon! It’s surprisingly easy to make, too. (Fair warning – it’s not a great recipe with the kids due to the boiling sugar.) I hope you are having a wonderful holiday season so far, my friend!
What kind of peanuts would you recommend?
Hey Rachel! Any sort of salted peanuts would work well here I think. I typically use salted cocktail peanuts – you know, the big containers you get in the snack aisle at the grocery store. I hope you enjoy this recipe! It’s one of my favorites – especially during the holidays!
Easy and delicious. Great instructions
Thanks Carleen! Glad you enjoyed it!
I grew up baking especially any kind of desserts with my grandma. Never had peanut brittle tho. Followed recipe to a tee and I made it 12 hrs ago and still hasn’t harden
Hey Becky! While I can’t be certain since I wasn’t in the kitchen with you, I’m nearly positive that the brittle mixture didn’t reach the 300°F mark. Sugar is funny like that – it changes drastically once it hits different temperatures. This brittle should have gotten hard as soon as it cooled. The fact that it hadn’t harden in 12 hours is a pretty big clue that it didn’t reach 300°F.
When I was a kid, my Aunty Mary would always bring over a shoebox before Christmas filled with various homemade cookies, homemade anise candy, and homemade peanut brittle. My mom never made peanut brittle. I was obsessed with it. Many years later and I am now a senior. I remembered how much I’d like the peanut brittle and dared myself to make it. Hence, finding your recipe. It is still cooling, but it was very foamy. Is that normal? My thermometer stopped dead at 100 degrees, even when I upped the heat a bit. Had to guesstimate. Hope I didn’t mess it up…. Thanks for your recipe, it was easy to follow, and the pictures helped. Maybe a picture of how to test for “hard crack”? would be helpful, to me. Thanks, David.
Hey Candace! Peanut brittle really is a classic recipe, and it’s always a favorite when we make a batch here. Whenever it comes to making candy, temperature is very important – it’s kinda hard to “eyeball it.” I hope your version turned out ok! I would recommend grabbing a candy thermometer for the next time you make a batch. And I can certainly add a photo of “hard crack” next time I make a batch – good suggestion!