There is nothing like homemade peanut brittle, if you are not allergic to peanuts that is! My neighbor gave me a box many years ago and I was immediately addicted. The problem was that everybody in my family was addicted too! So, that luscious stuff was gone in a matter of minutes.
I begged my friend to give me the recipe. “There is no recipe,” she said – an obvious fib, so I kept up the campaign. I suppose she tired of the nagging because, she finally said, “O.K., you can come to my house and watch.”
Did I mention that I now make ten pounds of that peanut brittle every Christmas? Here’s how I learned to do it in my friend’s kitchen:
DOR’S HOMEMADE PEANUT BRITTLE
1 Cup of Sugar
1 Cup Corn Syrup (Light)
1 Pound Raw Blanched Peanuts Note: These are sometimes difficult to find. I get mine at an Amish country store.
1 Tbs. Butter
1 tsp Vanilla
¼ tsp Salt
1 generous tsp Baking Soda (have it measured out, in the spoon, and waiting to be added at the last minute).
Grease a cookie sheet.
Put the sugar, corn syrup, butter, vanilla, and salt in a big saucepan and bring just to the bubbling point.
Add the peanuts and Stir.
Bring the mixture back to bubbling and reduce the heat to a slow simmer.
This is the Easy Part:
Set your timer for 20 minutes.
Stir every couple of minutes.
Plan on stirring frequently, but you can leave for a minute or so at a time. I do little things to keep me busy so I don’t get bored – like putting things away or tidying up the counter, or filling the dog’s water dish. Between each little chore, I STOP AND STIR. That’s the key to “pretty peanut brittle.”
O.K. – 20 Minutes have gone by and you have done your job stirring.
Now comes the hard part.
Look at your mixture and assess its readiness. Is it a beautiful golden brown color? Or does it look too light? If it’s too light, keep simmering and stirring a bit more. Now, does it look just right? YES? Then it’s time to work – and you must work FAST!
1) Turn the heat off!
2) QUICKLY dump in the teaspoon of baking soda and stir it in as fast as you can!
3) QUICKLY spoon the mixture onto the pan as evenly as possible.
4) Use your spoon to spread the mixture around, trying to reach the outer edges of the cookie sheet. You are aiming to thin and flatten so you don’t wind up with great big thick chunks.
Breaking It All Up
Allow the peanut brittle to thoroughly cool. You can probably pick up the whole sheet at once. Swipe the bottom with a paper towel to remove any excess butter. Now just begin to break up the slab into bite sized pieces and store them in a beautiful holiday tin.
Best wishes to you and yours for a HAPPY HOLIDAY SEASON! I hope your brittle will be brittle and a lovely honey colored brown.
I haven’t done this for so long. You have inspired me to try again. I think I used a candy thermonmeter, though, if I remember correctly.
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Candy thermometers have always terrified me… another gadget I don’t know how to use. Eyeballing the color is easier for us technologically impaired. 🙂
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I’ll take ten pounds please.
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That would make for great little Christmas presents. Hmm, now, do I have the guts to enter the kitchen on such a venture?
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Yum is an understatement! I’m so glad you were persistent with the keeper of secrets a/k/a your neighbor.
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Oh thank you for this. Now, if only I can find some raw blanched peanuts, I may give this a try.
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I gained ten pounds reading this recipe!
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LOL! You are so funny Kate! 🙂 🙂 🙂
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I used to find the raw blanched peanuts in health food stores, and even once in a grocery store. Hope you can find them Georgette, and give the brittle a try.
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🙂 🙂 🙂
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I know what you mean. New recipes make me a nervous wreck.
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No promises Cindy on the 10 lbs. of peanut brittle. I do want to thank you though, for reading so many of my previous blog posts and sending your “likes.” You are amazing. 🙂
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It looks wonderful! Thanks for sharing your secret recipe. I make fudge – so easy – but have never tried peanut brittle but may try this one. I don’t do candy thermometers either! lol
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My dad loves peanut brittle! This recipe looks wonderful and I might have to try to make it for him. 🙂
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Please share your fudge recipe! I have one but it’s complicated so I never make it.
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Oh, he’s bound to like this version. Listen to me bragging…. it’s just great peanut brittle though. 🙂
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Yum! I wish I would have read this post before I bought peanut brittle today at the grocery store. Yours looks so much more delicious!
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It’s good. It’s good. Guaranteed. 🙂
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