Peanut brittle is holiday gift-giving magic—quick to make, endlessly giftable, and sturdy enough to survive any treat bag or box. With minimal effort, you can whip up batch after batch for neighbors and friends.
Peanut brittle is one of my favorites to make because it cools quickly and doesn’t require much labor. You can churn out batch after batch of brittle with the same pans, making this the perfect candy for a long list of neighbor and friend gifts over the holidays.
Safety Note: When making hot candy, I highly recommend wearing long sleeves, long pants, and closed-toed shoes. Candy can reach very high temperatures and frequently spatters out of the pot. I have some bad burns on my hand from a batch of peanut brittle that got a little wild. For the same reasons, you will want to keep kids and pets out of the area.
Gear and Prep:
Once the candy is ready to pour, you need to be ready, or you could risk burning a batch, or even worse, burning yourself (I’ve got the scars to prove it!). So, before you get started, you will want to gather the following:
1. Large heavy-bottom pan
2. Wooden spoon (do not use a metal spoon)
3. 2 buttered or parchment-lined sheet pans
4. Cup or spoon rest (something to hold your sticky spoon when not using)
5. Oven mitts – used to move your hot pan when ready to pour (preferably flexible mitts so you can more deftly pour and maneuver the pot)
6. Candy thermometer (if you don’t have one, you can use a glass of cold water to test the candy; it just isn’t as precise and is a bit more stressful)
Peanut Brittle Ingredients:
2 cups sugar
1 cup corn syrup
½ cup water
1 cup butter
2 cups raw peanuts
1 tsp baking soda
Step 1:
Bring sugar, syrup, and water to a boil in a large pot.
Step 2:
Stir in butter.
Step 3:
Stir often after 230°F (use a wooden spoon).
Step 4:
At 280°F, add the raw nuts and stir continuously.
Step 5:
At 305°F, turn off the heat and add the baking soda.
Step 6:
Pour onto a parchment-lined sheet pan and use the spoon or two forks to spread the nuts and stretch the candy.
Step 7:
Once cool, break into desired-sized pieces.
