peanut brittle

We were given a large bag of raw peanuts and have been gradually using them up. At first we did a few batches of honey roasted peanuts. But then we discovered peanut brittle, which is not too hard to make and tastes great.

You can make peanut brittle using roasted peanuts, or you can add raw peanuts to the candy while it cooks. I made a batch each way and didn't see any difference in flavor. You just have to be sure to put the raw peanuts in at the right time so they are cooked when the candy is done.


Peanut Brittle

• 2 c. sugar
• 1 cup light-color corn syrup
• 1/2 c. water
• 1/4 c. salted butter
• 2 1/2 c. whole raw peanuts
• 1 1/2 tsp. baking soda

1. Cover a baking sheet with parchment paper.
2. In a saucepan, heat sugar, corn syrup, butter, and water until it boils.
3. Reduce heat and boil gently about 30 minutes, until candy reaches soft-crack stage (275 degrees)
4. Add nuts and cook another 15 to 20 minutes, stirring often, until candy is at hard-crack stage (295 degrees).
5. Remove saucepan from heat. Pour in baking soda, stirring constantly. The candy will froth up and become filled with air. Immediately pour over baking sheet.
6. As candy cools, use two forks to stretch it out.
7. Once cooled completely, break peanut brittle into pieces.

We are still having problems with out candy thermometer, so we do not cook the candy by temperature. It works well to drop small pieces of candy into icy water every few minutes to test what stage the candy has reached.

Peanut brittle before being broken

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