
Peanut Brittle
Crunchy, salty-sweet, and one of the easiest candies to make. The baking soda is the secret — it creates tiny air bubbles that give brittle its signature shatter.
Time: 25 minutes · Yield: About 450 g (1 lb)
Ingredients
- ●200 g (1 cup) granulated sugar
- ●120 ml (½ cup) light corn syrup
- ●60 ml (¼ cup) water
- ●1 Tbsp unsalted butter
- ●200 g (1½ cups) roasted, salted peanuts
- ●1 tsp baking soda
- ●1 tsp vanilla extract
- ●½ tsp fine sea salt
- ●*Special equipment:** Candy thermometer
Method
- Line a large baking sheet with a silicone mat or well-greased parchment.
- In a heavy saucepan, combine the sugar, corn syrup, and water. Stir over medium heat until the sugar dissolves. Stop stirring once it begins to boil.
- Cook until the mixture reaches 149°C (300°F) on a candy thermometer — this is the "hard crack" stage. It should be a light amber color. This takes 12-15 minutes.
- Remove from heat. Quickly stir in the butter, peanuts, baking soda, vanilla, and salt. The baking soda will cause the mixture to foam and expand — stir quickly and pour immediately.
- Pour onto the prepared sheet and spread as thin as possible using an oiled spatula or the back of a spoon. Work fast — it sets quickly.
- Let cool completely (about 30 minutes). Break into irregular pieces.
- *Storage:** Airtight container at room temperature (with parchment between layers) for 2-3 weeks. Avoid humidity — moisture makes brittle sticky.
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