Peanut Brittle (2024)

Peanut Brittle (1)Julie Clark

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A peanut brittle recipe from Amish country that is melt-in-your-mouth good. Hear our secrets for making this homemade brittle light, crisp, and airy. You’ll love it!

It’s no secret we are candy crazy in our house. Whether we are making homemade truffles or spring candies….or cookies with peanut butter cups or peanut blossoms. If there is candy (especially crack candy!), then count us in!

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Peanut Brittle Recipe

Peanut Brittle always makes me think of Christmas. When I was Maddie’s age, I loved to give my grandparents Christmas gifts but I never knew what to get them. My grandpa loved peanut brittle. I can remember often making homemade peanut brittle and giving it to him as a gift. It just holds a special place in my heart.

It had been a few years since I had pulled out my favorite peanut brittle recipe. It’s an old Amish recipe. What makes it “Amish”? I really have no idea. I’ve never compared it to other brittle recipes. I’ve never felt the need to think too much about this recipe because it is perfect just the way it is. Light, crisp, airy…mouth-watering good.

Who invented peanut brittle?

It is unknown exactly who invented peanut brittle. It was first found in an American cookbook, but it is believed to be based on a celtic recipe of caramelized nuts. (source)

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What is peanut brittle made of?

Peanut brittle is a mixture of sugars (white sugar and corn syrup) along with butter, vanilla, water, salt, peanuts and baking soda. These are basic ingredients that you’ll most likely have in your pantry. The key to a good brittle recipe is in the technique. We’ll talk about that below.

Why do you add baking soda to peanut brittle?

Baking soda is a key ingredient in making homemade brittle. When you add peanut brittle to the sugary syrup, it lets out tons of air bubbles (don’t worry…they are tiny!) and it is what gives the candy such a light, airy texture. Don’t skip it!

Without baking soda, the brittle will be hard and chewy.

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How to Make Peanut Brittle

  1. Heat the mixture to first the soft ball stage and then the hard crack stage. What in the world are these stages? There are several different stages to candy making and in order to get it right you need to have a good candy thermometer. Here’s a link to the one I have. I love it because it has clear markings for the different stages of candy making. You’ll first heat the sugar, corn syrup and water until it reaches the soft ball stage (235-245 degrees). Then you add butter, peanuts and salt and heat it until the hard crack stage(295-310 degrees). It’s called “hard crack” because the when the mixture cools, it will be hard and crisp. Seems simple, right? The hardest part of the recipe is having the patience to wait until the sugar syrup mixture gets to that temperature. I cooked my sugar mixture over medium heat for about 20 minutes to get it to the soft ball stage and then an additional 10-15 minutes for the hard crack stage. You don’t have to stir the mixture constantly…just stir it a few times here and there, mostly in the first 10 minutes or so while you are waiting for the sugar to dissolve completely. You definitely don’t want to stop cooking the mixture before it reaches the hard crack stage. That’s where the patience comes in. If you take it off the heat too early, your brittle will not be crisp. Again, I highly recommend using a candy thermometer. It completely took the guessing game out of candy making and gave us success!
  2. Add baking soda to the mixture. When the sugar mixture reaches the hard crack stage, you’ll take it off the heat and add the baking soda. It’s going to foam and the mixture will “grow” as you stir it, doubling in volume. Don’t leave out the baking soda. The carbon dioxide that is created when the mixture foams is what gives the brittle its texture. Snap a piece of brittle apart and you’ll see little bubbles or air pockets inside. Light….airy.
  3. The last step is pouring this foamy mixture out on a cookie sheet that has been lined with parchment paper and sprayed with cooking spray. Spread the mixture to the thickness that you’d like. Our brittle is about 1/4″ thick. Then let it cool. Before you know it, you’ll be able to snack on this amazing little salty & sweet snack.

Why is my peanut brittle soft?

If your peanut brittle is too soft, you didn’t cook it long enough. It’s important to use a candy thermometer and cook the sugar mixture until it reaches the hard crack stage. Watch it closely…you may be tempted to take it off the stove sooner, but don’t!!

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How long will peanut brittle last?

You can store peanut brittle in an airtight container at room temperature. If you store it properly you can keep it for about 2 months. This is great for make-ahead gifts!

Can you refrigerate peanut brittle?

There is no need to refrigerate peanut brittle. In order for it to stay crisp you’ll want to keep moisture away from it. It is best stored at room temperature.

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Peanut Brittle Recipe

4.73 from 11 votes

A peanut brittle recipe from Amish country that is melt-in-your-mouth good. Hear our secrets for making this brittle light, crisp, and airy. You’ll love it!

Servings 24

Prep Time 25 minutes minutes

Total Time 25 minutes minutes

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Ingredients

US CustomaryMetric

Instructions

  • Cover a cookie sheet with parchment paper and spray the parchment paper with cooking spray.

  • In a 3 quart saucepan, combine the sugar, corn syrup and water. Cook this mixture over medium heat to the soft ball stage (about 238 degrees) on a candy thermometer, stirring it only until the sugar dissolved. Add the peanuts, salt and butter. Cook the mixture to the hard crack stage (about 290 degrees) on a candy thermometer. Remove the mixture from the heat and add the vanilla and baking soda. Stir the mixture thoroughly.

  • Pour the mixture onto the prepared cookie sheet. Spread it to about 1/4″ thick.

  • Let the candy cool completely before breaking the candy into pieces.

  • Makes about 1 to 1 ½ pounds of peanut brittle.

Notes

The calories shown are based on the recipe being broken into 24 pieces, with 1 serving being 1 piece of brittle. Since different brands of ingredients have different nutritional information, the calories shown are just an estimate.

Nutrition

Calories: 129kcal | Carbohydrates: 19g | Protein: 2g | Fat: 5g | Saturated Fat: 1g | Cholesterol: 2mg | Sodium: 109mg | Potassium: 67mg | Sugar: 17g | Vitamin A: 30IU | Calcium: 11mg | Iron: 0.4mg

Course Dessert

Cuisine American

Calories 129

Keyword easy homemade candy, how to make brittle, peanut candy

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Peanut Brittle (2024)

FAQs

Is peanut brittle good or bad for you? ›

I've always liked peanut brittle but haven't tried it with almonds. Depending on making it with alternative ingredients to reduce the calories in the sugar and syrup (maple syrup instead of corn syrup, coconut sugar instead of regular sugar), it isn't going to be so healthy and should be eaten in moderation.

What is peanut brittle made of? ›

The perfect balance between salty and sweet, our peanut brittle recipe is made with just a few ingredients: peanuts, granulated sugar, butter, and salt. There's no corn syrup in our peanut brittle, giving it a true old-fashioned flavor and texture.

What country is peanut brittle from? ›

While numerous cultures have been whipping up nut and syrup creations for centuries, it's very likely that the peanut brittle we know and love is American in origin.

What's the difference between toffee and peanut brittle? ›

Brittles are typically composed mostly of sugar, while toffees contain a fair amount of butter and in some cases milk. This makes toffees fuller and richer in taste, while brittles are more purely sweet and sugary. Brittles are also much thinner than most toffees.

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.

Is peanut brittle a southern thing? ›

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.

Why do people like peanut brittle? ›

In the vast realm of sweet treats, few can rival the satisfying crunch of brittle. This delectable confection is a harmonious blend of sugar, nuts, and magic that has captivated taste buds around the world for centuries.

Why add baking soda to 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.

How long will peanut brittle last? ›

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 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.

What is peanut brittle in Vietnam? ›

Peanut brittle is a traditional candy made from roasted peanut, sugar and malt. To make the candy, fresh peanuts are chosen very careful to avoid rot seeds.

What country eats the most peanut butter? ›

Because of these qualities, peanut butter is enjoyed around the globe. In this article, we will take a closer look at how peanut butter is consumed by countries around the world and some of the statistics that surround it. By far, China is the country that consumes the most peanut butter.

Are peanut brittle good for you? ›

We call this Healthy Peanut Brittle a treat food. It's a little bit naughty because it's sweet – it uses some 100% maple syrup, but it's also good because it includes good fats from coconut oil and protein from peanut butter.

What makes peanut brittle chewy? ›

Why did my peanut brittle turn out chewy? The likely cause is that the sugar mixture didn't reach the proper hard crack stage temperature. Ensuring it reaches 300˚F is key to getting that classic brittle texture.

Is peanut brittle same as pralines? ›

Pralines have a lot in common with nut brittle, with the difference being mostly in the addition of cream and the cooking temperature––the sugary syrup used to coat pralines is heated to a soft-ball consistency, a lower temperature than the hard-crack stage of peanut brittle.

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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