In this Instructable, I will show you how to make peanut brittle from scratch. This classic homemade peanut brittle recipe is easy to make and common around the holidays. Although you can make peanut brittle any time of the year. It is a very popular candy here in the United States. All you need are a handful of ingredients, if I can do it, you can do it. Let's get started!

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Follow the easy steps below or watch the video tutorial or do both!

Step 1: Ingredients and Tools

Ingredients:

1 cup white granulated sugar (200g)
1/2 cup light corn syrup (160g)
1/4 cup water (60ml)
1/8th tsp of salt (less than 1g)
1 cup dry roasted or raw peanuts (150g)
1 Tbsp of butter, salted or unsalted (15g)
3/4 tsp of baking soda (3g)
1 tsp of vanilla extract (5ml)

Tools:

Candy thermometer
Large pot
Silicone spatula or wooden spoon
Forks
Sheet pan
Cooking spray, shortening, or butter, or parchment paper

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Step 2: Melt That Sugar

Begin by measuring out all your ingredients. You want to have them handy and ready to go.

Prepare a sheet pan by either buttering it, spraying it with cooking spray, or lay down a sheet of parchment paper.

Add a medium or heavy bottom pot to the stovetop burner. Set the heat to medium.

Add the water, sugar, salt, and corn syrup to the pot.

NOTE: If you are using raw peanuts at those at this time as well. Dry roasted peanuts will be added later.

Step 3: Heat, Stir, Peanuts

Stir occasionally until the temp starts to boil and reaches around 250 F/121 C. If sugar crystals are stuck to the side of the pot, use a basting brush dipped in warm water and brush the sugar down.

Once it reaches that temperature, add the dry roasted peanuts and stir constantly the remaining time. If you don't stir constantly the candy will burn.

It will take about 20 minutes total cooking time from start to finish. Keep stirring and heating until the candy reaches the hard crack stage (300 to 310F/148 to 154C)

Step 4: Add, Spread, Cool

Now remove it from the heat and turn the heat off. Quickly add the butter, baking soda, and vanilla extract. It will bubble up on you most likely. This will change the texture a bit and give it that classic peanut brittle taste.

Once completely mixed in, pour it out onto your prepared sheet pan or cooking sheet. Use forks to spread it apart making the candy thinner. Also, this allows you to even out the peanuts.

Allow the fresh homemade peanut brittle time to cool completely. At least 30 minutes.

Step 5: Break and Serve!

Now you can break the peanut brittle apart into smaller pieces and serve it. Store it in an airtight container at room temp for 4 to 6 weeks, although I doubt it will last that long. Enjoy!

Print the recipe here if you want.