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old-fashioned peanut brittle

(5 ratings)
stellerkitchen avatar
Blue Ribbon Recipe by
Shelley Teller
@stellerkitchen
Pittsburgh, PA

This Old-Fashioned Peanut Brittle is made by my dad every holiday. It can be made up to one month ahead of time. Note: Be sure to bring up to heat slowly and stir steadily. If you don't like peanuts, try pecans or walnuts instead.

Blue Ribbon Recipe

This old-fashioned peanut brittle is so addictive you can't just eat one piece. It's buttery caramel toffee goodness. Sweet and salty, peanut brittle is classic, but you can switch things up by adding pecans or almonds.

— The Test Kitchen @kitchencrew
(5 ratings)
yield serving(s)
prep time 2 Hr 5 Min
cook time 1 Hr 10 Min
method Stove Top

Ingredients For old-fashioned peanut brittle

  • 3 c
    sugar
  • 2 c
    water
  • 3/4 c
    light corn syrup
  • 3/4 c
    dark corn syrup
  • 1/8 tsp
    salt
  • 4 c
    raw peanuts, coarsely chopped
  • 2 Tbsp
    butter, unsalted
  • 1 c
    ice water (to test consistency)
  • 1 Tbsp
    baking soda
  • 1 tsp
    vanilla extract

How To Make old-fashioned peanut brittle

  • Baking sheets buttered.
    1
    Butter two large, heavy, baking sheets well.
  • Sugar, corn syrup, water, and salt in a pot.
    2
    Stir the sugar, water, and corn syrups in a heavy, large saucepan over medium heat until the sugar dissolves. DO NOT RUSH!
  • Bringing mixture to a boil.
    3
    Increase the heat to high and boil without stirring until a candy thermometer registers 260 degrees F. This should take about 40 minutes. DO NOT RUSH!
  • Nuts and butter added to the pot.
    4
    Reduce the heat to medium-low. Mix in the salt, peanuts, and butter. Stir steadily with a wooden spoon. Continue to stir steadily and cook until candy thermometer registers 295 degrees F. This should take about 15 minutes. DO NOT RUSH!
  • A string from the pool to the pan.
    5
    When stirring, lift up the spoon. You should get a long string from the spoon to the pan.
  • Dropping a bit of mixture into ice cold water.
    6
    Lift a string out of the pan and dip it in the ice water. It should crackle, which means the consistency is correct to proceed.
  • Mixing in baking soda and vanilla extract.
    7
    Add the baking soda and vanilla to the mixture. Stir briskly. The mixture will foam up.
  • Mixture poured onto baking sheets.
    8
    Immediately pour the mixture out onto the prepared baking sheets, dividing evenly, and spreading out as thinly as possible. Let stand until cold and hard.
  • Pieces of peanut brittle on a plate.
    9
    Break into pieces. Store in an airtight container at room temperature.
  • Last Step: Don't forget to share! Make all your friends drool by posting a picture of your finished recipe on your favorite social network. And don't forget to tag Just A Pinch and include #justapinchrecipes so we can see it too!
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