Homemade Peanut Brittle Recipe
This homemade peanut brittle recipe is full of rich, caramel flavor and salty, crunchy peanuts. Plus, it’s super easy to make it dairy free!
Why I love this peanut brittle recipe
My mom and I had been planning on making Christmas candy the whole time that I’ve been home. Each day we put it off and did other fun stuff like going shopping. Finally, we buckled down and did it.
We made caramels first, and then we decided we had enough energy left to whip up some peanut brittle. Luckily, peanut brittle was much easier than I had imagined, and the final result was so much better than anything you can find in a store.
Looking for more dairy free candy recipes? Try this 3 ingredient, microwave fudge.
More dairy free Christmas recipes: white chocolate peppermint cookies / kitchen sink cookies / baked alaska / no chill sugar cookies / vegan caramel sauce
Ingredients:
Making changes to a recipe can result in recipe failure. Any substitutions listed below are simple changes that I believe will work in this recipe, but results are not guaranteed.
- Baking soda – This activates the sugar mixture and gives the brittle it’s distinct texture.
- Corn syrup – We used light corn syrup for this recipe. You can technically use dark corn syrup, but keep in mind that it will affect the overall flavor of the recipe.
- Sugar – You cannot cut down on the sugar in peanut brittle. You can’t substitute it with a “healthier” option. This is a candy recipe and it’s supposed to have sugar.
The following is a detailed overview of the recipe steps with added tips and tricks for recipe success. For a simplified and printable version, including ingredient amounts and more formal instructions, see the recipe card below.
How to make peanut brittle
In a small bowl, mix together the baking soda and the salt – set aside. Then heat the sugar, water and corn syrup in a large saucepan over medium-high heat until the sugar is completely melted, and don’t forget the candy thermometer!
Bring the sugar mixture to a boil, and continue boiling until it reaches 265°F (hard ball stage).
Once the temperature reaches hard ball stage, stir in the peanuts.
Keep boiling and stirring frequently until the temperature reaches 305°F (hard crack stage). It should get darker in color as it cooks. Immediately remove the pot from the heat and add the butter, vanilla and baking powder mixture. Stir until combined.
Pour onto a parchment lined cookie sheet. Be careful because this stuff is hot and the cookie sheet will get hot pretty quickly. Spread the mixture into an even thickness and allow it to set for at least an hour.
Once the brittle is set, it’s time to break it up. To get more natural looking pieces, simply drop the pan from a few inches above your work surface. It should crack on its own into nice big pieces.
You can continue to do this if you want or you can break the pieces by hand into smaller pieces. Store the brittle in an airtight container with parchment or wax paper between any layers. And, that’s it!
Frequently asked questions
More peanut recipes you will love: Thai peanut noodles / peanut chicken wraps / peanut butter pretzel bites / peanut butter cornflake cookies
Ingredients
- 3/4 teaspoon baking soda
- 1/4 teaspoon salt
- 3/4 cup water
- 1/2 cup light corn syrup
- 2 cups sugar
- 2 cups salted roasted peanuts
- 2 tablespoons vegan butter
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
Instructions
- In a small bowl, mix together the baking soda and salt – set aside.
- In a large saucepan over medium-high heat, combine sugar, water and corn syrup and heat until the sugar is melted.
- Bring to a boil and continue boiling – stirring constantly until the mixture has reached 265°F (hard ball stage).
- Add peanuts and continue boiling – stirring frequently until the temperature reaches 305°F (hard crack stage).
- Immediately remove from heat.
- Stir in butter, vanilla extract and baking soda mixture.
- Continue stirring until combined.
- Pour evenly onto parchment lined baking sheets and allow to cool for at least 1 hour or until completely set.
- Crack brittle into desired size.
Nutrition
Recipe adapted from Baked by Rachel.
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