Mom's Best Peanut Brittle Recipe - Real Life Dinner (2024)

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Mom's Best Peanut Brittle Recipe - Real Life Dinner (1)My Mom’s Best Peanut Brittle Recipe is my dad’s favorite Christmas Candy. My mom made it every year growing up, and even though I wasn’t a huge fan back then, I can sure appreciate it as an adult. Speaking of appreciation and favorite candy, Old Fashioned Cherry Mash Chocolates is my recipe for my mom’s favorite candy, a Cherry Mash.

I like the crisp crunch and the peanut flavor throughout my Mom’s Best Peanut Brittle Recipe. It’s tasty! After trying a few different recipes, I’ve come to the conclusion that my mom’s recipe really is THE BEST!

step-by-step video for perfect peanut brittle

HOW TO MAKE MOM’S BEST PEANUT BRITTLE

  • Grease a cookie sheet with butter. Set aside.
  • Combine butter, baking soda, and vanilla in a bowl. Set aside.
  • Combine sugar, Karo Syrup, and water in a large saucepan over medium heat. Stir constantly and bring to a boil until mixture spins a thread when drizzled from your spoon. See the step-by-step video for an example.
  • Add peanuts and continue stirring the boiling mixture until it turns light brown (approx. same color as a paper bag).
  • Add the bowl of butter, baking soda, and vanilla. Mix until butter is melted and mixture is foamy from the baking soda.
  • Pour out onto prepared cookie sheet and spread mixture out with two forks as thinly as you can (approx. 1/4″).
  • Cool completely.
  • Use a butter knife to break it into pieces. (See picture at bottom of post.)

Mom's Best Peanut Brittle Recipe - Real Life Dinner (2)

MORE CHRISTMAS RECIPES YOU’LL LOVE

  • Crazy Good Mint Fudge
  • White Chocolate Peppermint Pretzel Crisps
  • Golden Oreo Peanut Butter Truffles
  • Holiday Snowball Cookies
  • Old Fashioned Cherry Mash Chocolates

Mom’s Best Peanut Brittle Recipe is made from very basic ingredients, and you don’t have to have a candy thermometer to make it. Sure, you can use a thermometer. If you don’t have one, you don’t need to feel stressed about messing this up. Just follow the instructions and watch the step-by-step video, and it will turn out great.

Mom’s Best Peanut Brittle Recipe is relatively inexpensive to make and is a great gift for teachers or neighbors. Package it up in a cute bag with a ribbon or add a few pieces to a treat plate.

Frequently Asked Questions about making Mom’s Best Peanut Brittle

where can i buy raw peanuts?

At the local grocery store and online. I have found them in the baking section at my grocery store. Others have bought them from Trader Joe’s, from the produce department of their grocery store, a farmer’s market, and even from a peanut farm.

when using a candy thermometer, what temperature do you bring the boiling mixture to?

Hard crack stage, which is between 300-310 degrees. If you don’t have a candy thermometer, stir the boiling mixture until it spins a thread when drizzled from the spoon. It sounds crazy, but you’ll know what I’m talking about when it happens. See the step-by-step video towards the beginning of the post for an example of what it looks like.

can you use other types of nuts in this recipe?

I have only used raw peanuts, but I don’t know of any reason why other nuts would not work. A couple of readers used almonds, and it turned out good for them.

Mom's Best Peanut Brittle Recipe - Real Life Dinner (3)

CHEF’S TOOLS:

Favorite Christmas Recipes

Layered Christmas Jello Salad {TMH}Cranberry Fluff Salad with Apples and WalnutsLion House Rolls


Mom's Best Peanut Brittle Recipe

Mom's Best Peanut Brittle Recipe - Real Life Dinner (7)

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Sweet, Crunchy Candy filled with peanuts. Satisfying treat that is sure to bring a smile during the Holidays.

Recipe type: Candy

Cuisine: Christmas

Ingredients

  • 2 cups sugar
  • 1 cup Karo Syrup (light)
  • 1 cup water
  • 2 cups raw peanuts
  • ¼ cup butter
  • 1½ tsp baking soda
  • 1 tsp vanilla
  • extra butter for greasing cookie sheet

Instructions

  1. Grease a cookie sheet with butter. Set aside.
  2. Combine butter, baking soda, and vanilla in a bowl. Set aside.
  3. Combine sugar, Karo Syrup, and water in a large saucepan over medium heat. Stir constantly and bring to a boil until mixture spins a thread when drizzled from your spoon. Sounds crazy, but you'll know what I am talking about when it happens. See the step-by-step video for an example.
  4. Add peanuts and continue stirring the boiling mixture until it turns brown, like in the pictures, (approx. same color as a paper bag).
  5. Add the bowl of butter, baking soda, and vanilla. Mix until butter is melted and mixture is foamy from the baking soda.
  6. Pour out onto prepared cookie sheet and spread mixture out with two forks as thinly as you can (approx. ¼").
  7. Cool completely.
  8. Use a butter knife to break it into pieces. (See picture below.)

Don’t Forget to pin this amazing recipe to your favorite pinterest board!

More tried and true candy recipes

Merry Widow CaramelsHomemade Toffee with Chocolate and AlmondsPeanut Butter Cup Bars {No Bake}

Mom's Best Peanut Brittle Recipe - Real Life Dinner (11)

Mom's Best Peanut Brittle Recipe - Real Life Dinner (2024)

FAQs

How long does homemade peanut brittle last? ›

To store: Store peanut brittle (once it's completely cooled) in an airtight container at room temperature. Do not refrigerate as the moisture from the fridge will cause the brittle to soften. Store for 6-8 weeks. To freeze: Peanut brittle can be frozen and stored up to 3 months.

How to fix peanut brittle that did not harden? ›

Why Is My Peanut Brittle Chewy / Sticky / Didn't Harden?
  1. Break up the brittle and place it in a glass, microwave-safe bowl. Heat on HIGH heat 1-2 minutes until soft and semi-melted. ...
  2. Transfer the semi-melted brittle to a a clean saucepan. ...
  3. Immediately remove from the heat and add additional 1/2 teaspoon of baking soda.
Nov 18, 2022

Why put baking soda in peanut brittle? ›

Baking soda is a key ingredient in peanut brittle. It's what aerates the candy, giving it a nice light crunch. Why didn't my homemade peanut brittle get hard? The main reason why peanut brittle doesn't get hard and have the crunch we expect is because the sugar was not cooked long enough.

Is peanut brittle good for you? ›

Peanut brittle has one redeeming quality: peanuts. Outside of that single ingredient, peanut brittle is painfully unhealthy. It contains: sugar, corn syrup, and butter, all of which are unhealthy for your body in different ways.

How do you keep peanut brittle crispy? ›

5 Tips on How to Store Peanut Brittle
  1. #1 - Store in an airtight container. ...
  2. #2 - Separate your brittle. ...
  3. #3 - Avoid using the refrigerator. ...
  4. #4 - But, if needed, use the freezer. ...
  5. #5 - Overall, eliminate opportunities for moisture.
Nov 10, 2022

Can peanut brittle go bad? ›

Properly stored peanut brittle can last for several weeks, so you can enjoy it over time.

Why is my peanut brittle hard and sticky? ›

It uses the most basic of ingredients (sugar, corn syrup, and peanuts). What's important to know is that the corn syrup controls the grain of the brittle so adding too little and you have a grainy textured brittle, while adding too much will result in a stringy and sticky brittle.

Why is my peanut brittle not airy? ›

Working quickly, pour into prepared 10×15 pan. To keep the brittle light and airy, do not spread or flatten the mixture. Instead, let it flow freely. Place in a cool area and leave until completely cooled, about 2-3 hours.

Why is my peanut brittle darker? ›

Also do not stir the pan when the mixture is boiling, as this can cause the sugar to crystallize and give a grainy texture. The boiling sugar should turn a deep amber colour when it reaches the correct stage. Too pale and the candy will not set, too dark and the sugar will have burnt.

Why do people put co*ke in peanuts? ›

History. The combination is believed to have developed in the South during the 1920s, as a snack for blue-collar workers that did not require them to wash their hands. It quickly became popular as a summer snack, especially in rural areas. The snack became an internet trend in 2018.

Why is my peanut brittle bitter? ›

Those other liquid sugars have impurities that will burn at the higher temperature of making caramel, leading to a bitter-tasting brittle.

Can you use parchment paper when making peanut brittle? ›

You will want the cookie sheet to be non-stick. Use parchment paper, a silicone baking sheet or a greased cookie sheet. Spread the peanut brittle as thin as you can. Immediately add your sea salt.

What is the best pan for making peanut brittle? ›

Heavy 6 quart Dutch Oven pot. Mine is an old 1970's Club Aluminum. It's perfect! You need a heavy THICK pot so it won't scorch.

Can you make money selling peanut brittle? ›

If you don't think a peanut brittle business can sustain itself, think again -- while it may sound like a niche product, if you make it well, you can make a living from it. Of course, making the best brittle around isn't all it takes.

Will peanuts raise blood sugar? ›

Individuals with diabetes need foods that can help manage blood sugar and weight. Peanuts and peanut butter can be a powerful ally to reaching success. Peanuts and peanut butter have a low glycemic index, which means they don't cause blood sugar to rise sharply.

What is the lifespan of peanut brittle? ›

Sweet hard candy,made on the stovetop with and crushed roasted peanut. Shelf life..1-2 months.

How long does homemade peanut last? ›

Just be sure to store it properly in an airtight container in the refrigerator or freezer. Homemade peanut butter can last for up to 3 months in the refrigerator and up to 6 months in the freezer. If your peanut butter has gone bad, it will have a sour or rancid smell. It may also have a strange colour or texture.

What is the shelf life of candied peanuts? ›

Stored correctly, all nuts and chocolates have a 12 month expiration period. We recommend a 6 month expiration date for all Candied Nut products - Vienna Almonds, Candied Macadamias, Buttered Brazils, Candied Peanuts.

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