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Holiday Gifts – Peanut Brittle the huge gift batch

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Peanut Brittle ready to Gift

Finished one of my holiday regulars – Peanut Brittle.  It is basically a pretty simple recipe, syrup caramelized with peanuts, but can be a little tricky.  A great help is to have a candy thermometer but the most important is to remember that it is hot . . . really, really hot.  The first time I made this I was living in Germany in a tiny apartment.  The kitchen table was 24″ x 24″ and there was just enough room on each side for a chair.  While pouring the candy on to the cookie sheet, it started to drip off the sheet and the table.  Instinctively (and very wrong) I stuck my hand under to catch it so it wouldn’t get on the floor.  My entire palm blistered and believe me, I pulled it back fast!  So just a hint – be careful.

With the warnings out-of-the-way, on to the fun part!

The first step is to get your surface ready.  Usually recipes recommend using a sheet pan, but I found that foil works better (and gives a larger surface preventing burns).  Put a large towel down to protect your counter from the heat and cover it with heavy-duty foil like this:

Towlel covered with foil

Spray with cooking spray – you can butter it but I find the spray easier and I can’t tell a difference in the candy.

The ingredients are (this makes about 8 pounds)

7 cups sugar

3 1/2 cups light corn syrup

1 3/4 t salt

1 3/4 cups water

8 cups peanuts

1 tsp cinnamon

3/4 cup plus 2 T butter

2 tablespoons and 1 teaspoon baking soda

In a large heavy pot (copper if you have it) over medium high heat add the sugar, corn syrup, salt, cinnamon and water until the sugar has dissolved.

Dissolving the Sugar

Next add the peanuts and set the candy thermometer.

Add peanuts

Continue cooking, stirring frequently.

Getting there but not yet

When the candy reaches 300 degrees remove from the heat, add the butter and mix until melted, then add the baking soda and stir vigorously.  You will need to work fast and it will foam up when you add the baking soda.  As soon as it is mixed, pour the candy onto the foil (carefully).

Just poured

Let the candy cool and harden, the break into pieces.

Peanut Brittle

4 thoughts on “Holiday Gifts – Peanut Brittle the huge gift batch

  1. Cathy Fornes

    Can you tell me how long it takes to make one batch?
    Thank you!

    1. simplycooking101

      I know it will seem like forever but it takes me usually about 30 to 45 minutes to get it up to that temperature because it’s such a big batch. Good luck!

  2. cheryl

    When will the color change from clear to Brown /tan?

    1. simplycooking101

      It depends on the type of burner and size if the batch but it can take quite a while. I’ve had a small batch finish in 20 minutes and a large one almost an hour. It seems to get to 212 pretty quickly but goes slower after that.

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