Easy Homemade Peanut Brittle Recipe

Easy old-fashioned peanut brittle is a great holiday Christmas treat to make for friends, family, neighbors, and teachers.

The easy homemade peanut brittle is a great recipe and a family favorite.

A Delicious Confection

Y’all are gonna love this peanut brittle recipe.

It’s a cinch to make and is just about the cheapest treat around. The combination of salty and sweet, with a buttery flavor, can’t be beaten.

I used to be intimidated by making peanut brittle, but this is truly an easy and quick recipe. And it turns out amazing every time.

Plus, it’s the perfect gift for the holiday season. The kid’s teachers, your neighbors, and friends will love it.

You came to the right place for some quick and easy holiday peanut brittle.

The holidays are my favorite time of year with gift giving, Christmas cookie exchanges, the build-up to the holiday feasts, and all of the holiday baking. 

I’m already dreaming of every type of cookie under the sun, amazing, melt-in-your-mouth fudge (we fight over it around here), Christmas bread, hot chocolate, anything, and everything peppermint, and of course, quick and easy holiday peanut brittle.

If you love brittle, give this pecan brittle a try!

I’ll take any type of peanut butter candy I can get my hands on, including this peanut butter fudge. 

I gave some away last year for the holidays, and people were asking for more. It’s that good! 

What Ingredients Are Needed For Peanut Brittle?

• Sugar
• Light corn syrup
• Dry roasted peanuts
• Baking soda
• Unsalted butter

Full printable recipe with measurements and instructions listed at the bottom of the post.

How To Make Peanut Brittle

1. Add the sugar, corn syrup, and peanuts to a saucepan and stir until combined.
2. Boil until temperature reaches 275 degrees, stirring often.
3. Remove from the stovetop. Add the butter and baking soda and stir.
4. Spread the brittle mixture out on a large greased cookie sheet and cool. The candy will get to room temperature.
5. Break up the pieces.

Step-By-Step Instructions

The first step is to grab one of your cookie sheets and butter it up. Cover the entire thing so the candy doesn’t stick to it, and set it aside.

I use a cookie sheet that is approximately 10″ x 15″.

Get started by adding the sugar to a saucepan and turn it on medium high heat.

Next, add the corn syrup.

Give the sugar and corn syrup a good stir. We’re just going to pretend there are not any calories in here. We can still pretend, can’t we?

Finally, add the peanuts and stir them into the sugar mixture. 

Once the peanut brittle starts to boil, put your thermometer on the edge of the pan.

I already had mine in there, but you really don’t need to add it until it starts to boil. Keep stirring on occasion, so the mixture doesn’t burn. 

TIP: Be sure not to let the thermometer touch the bottom of the pan, or you’ll get an incorrect reading.

The bottom of the pan is going to be hotter than your peanut candy.

The candy thermometer needs to reach 275 degrees, which is when it will turn into hard candy.

It may take a few minutes to get the temperature up there, but it will get there.

Be sure to stir it often. As it gets closer to 275 degrees, keep an eye on it and keep stirring, or it will burn on the bottom fast.

I think I accidentally burned a couple of peanuts, but it still turned out delicious. 

Once the temperature reaches 275-degrees, remove it from the heat and add the butter and baking soda. 

Stir it fast because the baking soda will make the mixture fizz a little. 

Pour the peanut brittle onto the large cookie sheet.

When I poured it on the cookie sheet, it was puffy. I was in a bit of a panic and thought for sure I had messed up the peanut brittle. But when it cools, it will be perfect.

Brace yourself for wanting to eat all of it–homemade peanut brittle is so delicious.

How Long Does It Take For Peanut Brittle To Dry?

It takes about thirty minutes for peanut brittle to cool and set up. Once it cools, you can break the peanut brittle recipe into small pieces.

FAQs

What Causes Peanut Brittle To Be Too Hard?

If you cook the peanut brittle past the hard-crack stage, it will become too brittle.

Candy is one of those foods that you must cook it to the right temperature. If you don’t cook it long enough, it will be tacky.

Using a thermometer is always a good plan because you will be able to know exactly when it gets to the hard-crack stage, and it’s time to take the candy off of the stovetop.

How To Store Homemade Peanut Brittle

I usually put my peanut brittle in a large Ziplock baggie and keep in a cool place. You don’t need to refrigerate the peanut brittle.

You can also keep it in an airtight container to keep it fresher.

If you’re giving the candy away, you can layer the candy with wax paper in the gift container to keep it from sticking.

But seriously, if it sticks, I’m still eating it.

What Is The Difference Between Praline And Peanut Brittle?

Praline cooks to just under the hard crack stage and it’s usually made with pecans.

Peanut brittle is made to the hard crack stage and is more crunchy candy and made with peanuts.

Why Is Peanut Brittle So Hard?

Peanut brittle is hard because it cooks to the hard candy stage. If you cook it longer, it will become even harder.

Other Holiday Desserts You’ll Love

• Snickerdoodle cookies are always a treat, and they’re easy to make. They are one of our favorite old fashioned recipes.
• Texas Cowboy cookies are a special treat that include enough ingredients to make everyone happy. 
• This list of the best homemade fudge recipes is a great place to find the most delicious treats and gifts. And they are all easy recipes.
• These white chocolate macadamia nut cookies have been a huge hit with friends. 

Peanut Brittle Recipe Card

Get the printable recipe for peanut brittle in the card below.

The recipe is perfect for Christmas gifts and for sharing around the holidays.

Easy homemade peanut brittle only requires a handful of ingredients and turns out delicious every time.

And the entire recipe is easy from start to finish.

Check out more recipes at:

Julia’s Simply Southern and South Your Mouth