Easy Homemade Peanut Brittle

Looking for an easy homemade peanut brittle recipe? This is the go to recipe in my family! It comes out perfect every time. The peanuts are cooked perfectly and the brittle is buttery. This easy homemade peanut brittle makes a delicious treat or gift. Though if you give some away, you may need two batches. One for you and one for them.

 

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More Peanut Brittle Please

As kids, my brother and I always made gifts for the extended family. Most often it was some sort of treat to share. It started with peanut butter fudge. Everybody raved about our fudge. As teenagers, my mom taught us how to make peanut brittle. After giving it away as gifts the first time, it has been a request ever since. One year, I tried to take the easy way out because I had run out of time to make gifts. I went and bought peanut brittle from the store and divided it out into smaller bags. My family caught on right away and asked if I had changed the recipe. Never again have I made that mistake.

After Christmas, we went over to my grandpa’s for New Year’s Day. He told us that he sat in his recliner and ate all of the peanut brittle before falling asleep. When he got up the next morning he was stuck to the recliner. The peanut brittle crumbs had glued him to the chair. 

This year, my mom and I decided to try a new recipe that she found in a magazine. My step dad told us to make something people would want to eat. We scoffed and put on our Christmas aprons. Then we got to work measuring, stirring, and eventually spreading. Despite following the directions to a T the peanut brittle turned out terrible. We both really wanted some so we got out the trusty old recipe for easy homemade peanut brittle. After more measuring, stirring, and eventually spreading the peanut brittle turned out perfect! We both agreed that we should have just started with the recipe we knew was amazing.

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Temperature Guide for Candy Making

Thread 

230-235 Degrees

When drizzled, the candy makes fine threads. Boiling to this stage will make a syrup, not a candy. This is the first stage we reach when making easy homemade peanut brittle. It’s when we add the peanuts. 

Softball

235-240 Degrees

This temperature is used to make fudge. When put in cold water, the candy makes a soft ball that is pliable between your fingers.

Firmball

245-250 Degrees

This temperature will make caramel. When you drop some in cold water it makes a firm ball. It is still very sticky when you squish it with your fingers though.

Hardball

250-265 Degrees

When heated to the harball stage, a drop of candy in cold water will hold its shape, but is still squishy. This stage is for taffy and marshmallows.

Soft Crack

270-290 Degrees

When you drop candy heated to the soft crack stage into cold water it can then be stretched into hard threads. Butterscotch and toffee are heated to the soft crack stage,

Hard Crack

300-310 Degrees

This is the exact same as the soft crack stage, except that the strings are brittle. This is what most recipes say to heat peanut brittle to this stage. I find that it tastes burnt when it gets this hot.

Light Caramel

320-335 Degrees

This much heat will create a glaze that when poured on a plate will be a honey color.

Dark Caramel

340-350 Degrees

This stage is also used to create a glaze, but this time it will be a reddish amber color.

Easy Homemade Peanut Brittle Recipe

Ingredients

2 cups sugar

1 cup light Karo syrup

½ cup water

1 pound raw Spanish peanuts

3 tablespoons butter

2 teaspoons baking soda

Instructions

1. First grease two parchment lined baking sheets and a wooden spatula.
2. In a 3 quart sauce pan, combine 2 cups of sugar, 1 cup of light Karo syrup, and ½ cup of water. 
3. Then boil them to the thread stage or about 235 degrees. The thread stage is when you pick up the spoon and the candy leaves little threads of candy instead of drips. Stir frequently.
4. Next add in 1 pound of raw Spanish peanuts. Cooked or roasted peanuts will not work, they must be raw. 
5. Now stir constantly until it reaches 290 degrees. 
6. Quickly remove it from the stove and add 3 tablespoons of thinly sliced butter. It must be thinly sliced to help it melt quickly enough. 
7. Then add in 2 teaspoons of baking soda. This will make it foam up.
8. Dump the candy into the 2 baking sheets.
9. Now quickly spread the candy out using the greased wooden spatula. As long as it is one peanut thick, the peanut brittle should turn out fine.
10. Once it has cooled, break it up, and enjoy. Just maybe not in your recliner.

Easy Homemade Peanut Brittle Tips

Pour the baking soda through a fine mesh strainer. This removes any clumps and make a better brittle, 

Prepare all of the pans and measure all of the ingredients before you begin. Once started the process is fairly hands on, so be prepared. 

Closely monitor the temperature with a candy thermometer to avoid burning the candy.

Medium low works best to cook the candy. Too hot and the peanuts won’t have time to cook. 

The site may contain links to affiliate websites, and we receive an affiliate commission for any purchases made by you on the affiliate website using such links. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. As a Revive EO Affiliate I earn from qualifying purchases.

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Raw Spanish Peanuts

Candy Thermometer

Wooden Spatula