Make the most addicting homemade peanut brittle to enjoy throughout the Christmas season, plus share some with friends and family as a quick and thoughtful holiday gift!
COOK + BAKE | Updated June 19, 2023
At Christmas, it seems as though we tend to stick to our favorite recipes over something new.
Although I may try a new recipe or two during the holiday, more often than not I return to the same tried-and-true cookies and candies knowing they are what everyone enjoys most. And with so much to do during the season, I'd much prefer to spend my time preparing what I know turns out well, rather than experimenting to get the recipe right.
One of my favorite Christmas treats is my mom's homemade peanut brittle. (Chocolate covered cherry cordials and her "famous" peanut butter fudge are my other must-haves.) It is a recipe she has been perfecting for as long as I can remember.
This candy is a classic addicting sugary treat and many batches are made throughout the month of December. You'll want to keep a container filled with this peanut brittle close by because you'll be reaching for it all season!
Although you can buy peanut brittle in the store, there is nothing better than the version made over your own stove top. With minimal ingredients, it is actually a quite economical treat that can even serve as a great homemade gift for friends, neighbors, or your children's teachers. Package it in a decorative tin, glass jar, or a cellophane bag tied with a decorative tag.
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Tips for Making the Peanut Brittle Successfully
I love knowing the hints and tricks behind a successful recipe, so let me explain a few things that you can do for making the best old-fashioned peanut brittle.
MEASURE BEFORE STARTING
While I always recommend getting your baking supplies ready and measured before beginning any recipe, it is especially important with this particular one to have all of your supplies prepared before you begin.
The peanut brittle mixture is very hot and when it gets to the done stage, you need to be able to move quickly adding in the final ingredients and spreading the mixture into the pan. There is no time to waste searching for ingredients or measuring.
BAKING SHEET IN THE OVEN
The peanut brittle mixture will spread easier in a warmed pan, so it is best if you place your baking sheet into a 350° oven as you start preparing the candy. Pull it out not long before the candy is ready to be spread, setting it on a large cutting board or other heat resistant surface.
THIS RECIPE USES RAW PEANUTS
You'll want to be sure that you use raw (blanched) peanuts to make this peanut brittle. They are a light beige color, skinless, and are not salted or roasted or in the shell.
My mom has always used peanuts packaged by Howe, a company in our state of PA. You may be able to find this brand or something similar in your local grocery stores or Walmart. You can also find raw peanuts by the pound on Amazon.
MAKE SURE YOUR BAKING SODA IS FRESH
Of all the ingredients in peanut brittle, the baking soda may be the most important. It is necessary to create the right texture in the candy and allow you to spread it thin and break it into pieces. Basically, the baking soda is what makes the peanut brittle.....brittle.
It must be fresh to work properly and it is always a good idea if you haven't bought any in awhile, that you get a new box when ready to prepare this recipe.
NO CANDY THERMOMETER NEEDED
Most recipes for making peanut brittle involve using a candy thermometer. And you are welcome to research the correct temperatures and use it for this one, too. But it isn't necessary.
The trick is to watch to watch for the nuts and sauce mixture to turn a golden brown color. And when it is ready, you'll notice the mixture takes on a caramelized smell. The whole candy making process takes about 15 minutes.
What You'll Need
For your convenience, a full ingredients list, directions for making old-fashioned peanut brittle, and a printable recipe option appear further down in this article. Here is a brief overview of what you'll need to gather.
- light corn syrup
- salt
- granulated sugar
- unsalted butter- - if you use salted butter, leave the salt out of the recipe
- raw blanched peanuts - not salted, roasted, or in the shell
- baking soda
How to Make Peanut Brittle
Now that you have all the ingredients ready, it is time to make some peanut brittle!
STEP 1: PREPARE YOUR PAN
Grease a large, shallow baking sheet (half sheet size) with cooking spray. Place the pan in a preheated 350° oven. You'll be removing the pan shortly before the mixture is ready to spread.
STEP 2: COOK THE SUGAR MIXTURE
Combine the corn syrup, salt, sugar, and butter in a large saucepan. Cook over medium heat until the sugar dissolves, stirring occasionally with a wooden spoon.
STEP 3: ADD THE PEANUTS
Add the raw peanuts to the sauce and increase the heat to high, stirring constantly until the peanuts and sauce become a golden brown color. You'll notice a caramelized smell when it is ready and may hear the peanuts begin to pop. This will take approximately 10 to 14 minutes. Just before it is ready, remove the prepared baking sheet from the oven.
STEP 4: ADD BAKING SODA
Remove the pan from the heat and immediately stir in the baking soda. This causes a reaction that will make your mixture bubble up a bit, so you want to be sure that you are using a large saucepan to contain it all. The mixture is very hot.
STEP 6: POUR IT ONTO THE BAKING SHEET
Quickly pour the peanut brittle mixture from the pan and spread it into a thin, even layer onto your baking sheet with the wooden spoon. It will harden quickly. Allow it to cool completely for about 30 minutes, then break it into pieces to enjoy.
OLD-FASHIONED PEANUT BRITTLE RECIPE
Make the most addicting homemade peanut brittle to enjoy throughout the Christmas season, plus share some with friends and family as a quick and thoughtful holiday gift!
INGREDIENTS
- 1 cup light corn syrup
- 3/4 teaspoon salt
- 1 cup granulated sugar
- 1 Tablespoon unsalted butter
- 1 cup raw peanuts (about 1/2 a pound)
- 1 teaspoon baking soda
INSTRUCTIONS
STEP 1: Grease a large, shallow baking sheet with cooking spray. Place the pan in a preheated 350° oven.
STEP 2: Combine the corn syrup, salt, sugar, and butter in a large saucepan. Cook over medium heat until the sugar dissolves, stirring occasionally with a wooden spoon.
STEP 3: Add the raw peanuts and increase the heat to high, stirring constantly until the peanuts and sauce become a golden brown color. You'll notice a caramelized smell when it is ready. This will take about 10 to 14 minutes. Just before it is ready, remove the prepared baking sheet from the oven.
STEP 4: Remove the pan from the heat and immediately stir in the baking soda. This causes a reaction that will make your mixture bubble, so be sure you are using a large saucepan to contain it all.
STEP 5: Quickly pour the peanut brittle mixture from the pan and spread it into a thin, even layer onto your baking sheet with the wooden spoon. It will harden quickly. Allow it to cool completely for about 30 minutes, then break into pieces.
Frequently Asked Questions
Have some questions about making peanut brittle? Here are some frequently asked ones that might help.
WHAT IS THE PURPOSE OF THE BAKING SODA
Baking soda is crucial to this recipe. It causes a chemical reaction that creates the right texture in the candy. When it is added to the hot sugar mixture, the baking soda reacts to produce carbon dioxide gas. This creates small air pockets throughout the peanut brittle. It is always best to open a new box when you are ready to prepare this recipe to ensure that it is fresh.
HOW DO YOU STORE PEANUT BRITTLE
Peanut brittle is a long lasting treat. Once it is cooled, you can store the pieces in an airtight container at room temperature for six to eight weeks. It will last long after the holiday has passed.
If you house is abnormally humid, it would suggest separating the layer of peanut brittle with waxed paper to keep it from sticking, but otherwise, I've never had a problem tossing all the pieces into a tin or container.
Do not refrigerate peanut brittle because the moisture in the fridge will make the candy soften.
CAN THIS RECIPE BE DOUBLED
I don't suggest doubling or tripling the batch of peanut brittle because it can be hard to stir that much of the hot caramelized sauce and get it spread quickly enough before it hardens. If you need more peanut brittle, I would make separate batches on individual pans.
HOW DO YOU CLEAN THE PAN
After you have made your batch of peanut brittle, let the saucepan cool off slightly and then fill it with warm soapy water and let it sit. The water will melt off the candy. If you find that it is still hard to remove, place it back on a warm burner for a few minutes and allow the caramel to melt off the sides of the pan.
I hope that this recipe has inspired you to try making some old-fashioned peanut brittle for this Christmas season.
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Some More Christmas Recipes You Might Enjoy
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MORE CHRISTMAS TREATS YOU'LL WANT TO TRY
This post is part of the Tastes of the Season series hosted by Kristen of Ella Clair & Co. Which ones do you want to experiment with this Christmas?
Click here to see all of my previous Tastes of the Season posts.
Peppermint Whipped Cream by Ella Claire & Co. | Fondant Christmas Cupcakes by Craftberry Bush | Old Fashioned Peanut Brittle by anderson + grant | Dairy Free 6 Ingredient Salted Caramels by Zevy Joy | No Bake Healthy Coconut Bars by Tidbits
Easy Peppermint Bark by Jenna Kate at Home | Black Walnut Christmas Cake by Inspired by Charm | Chocolate Covered Marshmallows with Salted Pretzel Topping by Boxwood Avenue | Christmas Popcorn by Town and Country Living | Snowman Cheese Ball by Julie Blanner
Slow Cooker Candied Pecans by Live Laugh Rowe | Fudgy Peppermint Coconut Flour Brownies by Farmhouse on Boone | Hot Peppermint Mocha by Shabbyfufu | Homemade Take 5 Peanut Butter Cups by Chronicles of Home | Slow Cooker Chocolate Peppermint Pretzels by Nest of Posies
Berry Topped Chocolate Cake by French Country Cottage | Pecan Butter Tart Bars by So Much Better With Age | Chocolate Pinecones by My Sweet Savannah | Peanut Butter Fudge by My 100 Year Old Home | Simple Holiday Fudge by House 214 Design
Coffee Cake by Rooms for Rent
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