I love good peanut brittle, but really good peanut brittle can be hard to find. This "Microwave Peanut Brittle" is so easy you won't believe it and it tastes amazing. It's so much better than anything you can buy. This would be perfect for gift giving and it is also not nearly as expensive to make as some of the other homemade candies can be. Here is what you will need:
1 cup white sugar
1/2 cup light corn syrup
1/4 tsp. salt
1 1/2 cups unsalted peanuts
1 Tbs. butter
1 tsp. baking soda
1 tsp. vanilla
Place the sugar, corn syrup, and salt in a glass bowl and mix. Microwave on high for 5 minutes. Stir in the peanuts and the butter. Put this back in the microwave for 4-5 minutes. My microwave does this fine in 4 minutes. If you have a lower wattage microwave, you might need to go 5 minutes. The mixture should be bubbling and turning a caramel color. Add the baking soda and the vanilla. Stir until the foam is gone. If the children are helping make this, be very careful at this stage, this is so hot it will burn you really bad if it gets on you!
Immediately spread on a cookie sheet you have lined with either parchment paper sprayed with nonstick spray or nonstick foil. I used nonstick Reynolds Wrap. If you have read many of my recipe posts, you know I love the stuff...lol. It's great for so many uses. You have to spread this fast because it starts to set up. Use a spatula, you have also sprayed with nonstick spray to spread this thin. Let it sit out to dry and firm up for about 30 minutes.
Break it into pieces and it's ready to dive into. Store in an airtight container at room temperature and it keeps for several weeks, but it won't last that long! You could place this in decorative tins for perfect little gifts!
If possible, I'd like some input on time adjustment. In the past, the brittle always came out perfect and delicious. This year, once our microwave went kaput, we pulled out a spare. I have no idea about the wattage, however, my first batch had a very dark color, and the peanuts tasted over-roasted (I am using raw peanuts). The second batch I cut the total time down to 8 mins. The batch was better, but still seemed off. The syrup started turning brittly before I finished stirring the baking soda and vanilla, and before the foam was gone. Even though, I worked quickly, I was not able to get all the syrup out before it was hard. Any suggestions? Thank you in advance.
ReplyDeleteIt sounds like that microwave has a higher wattage so it is cooking too long. Cut the time back a minute or so on each step and see if it helps. Also, I didn't use raw peanuts which might make a difference.
DeleteThank you, Kathy. I think if I used roasted, the peanuts would have been burnt as well as the candy part. I did cut back the time. It was better but a little sticky -- so I didn't know if I made the correct corrections.
DeleteAre the peanuts raw or parched peanuts?
ReplyDeleteparched in the jar or can. I did use unsalted.
DeleteIs there any problem substituting almonds for the peanuts?
ReplyDelete