The Best Peanut Brittle Recipe (Old Fashioned Crispy!)

The best peanut brittle recipe — a buttery sweet confection candy, crispy and crunchy and perfect for homemade holiday gifts or Christmas desserts! You can make an easy peanut brittle recipe in microwave, but we decided to cook this candy the old fashioned way like grandma used to make!

The Best Peanut Brittle Recipe For Holidays and Homemade Gifts

So, what is peanut brittle made of?

How do you make peanut brittle from scratch?

Peanut Brittle Recipe Ingredients:

• Granulated sugar
• Light corn syrup
• Water
• Roasted or Raw Peanuts (shelled)
• Salt
• Butter
• Baking soda

 

What does baking soda do in peanut brittle?

This is a peanut brittle recipe using baking soda because baking soda is a leavening agent. It creates a chemical reaction with the peanut brittle ingredients and foams. It’s what helps the peanut brittle become more light, porous, and softens the brittle to make it a little chewy. This is a fun science project part of cooking for kids!

To make proper peanut brittle (or any kind of candy), you definitely need a candy thermometer. (I like the ones that clip right to the side of your pot like this one.)

 

YOU SHOULD DEFINITELY ALSO TRY:

White Chocolate Dipped Ritz Peanut Butter Crackers

 

Before we get to the peanut brittle homemade recipe, let’s answer some common questions. (It’s good to read through these FAQs because it might help you prevent issues some people have when making peanut brittle.)

Peanut Brittle Recipe FAQs

How long does it take for peanut brittle to harden?

Once you’ve spread your peanut brittle onto parchment paper or a silicon mat to cool, it can take around 20-30 minutes for the peanut brittle to harden. Weather may affect the peanut brittle and if it’s more humid than it may take a little longer or may not harden completely.

 

What is the best way to store peanut brittle?

Once you have made the peanut brittle and broken it up, allow it to cool. Then, store peanut brittle in an airtight container, away from humidity and moisture. Do not store your peanut brittle in the refrigerator.

 

Does humidity affect making peanut brittle?

Yes, the moisture in the air can affect how your peanut brittle turns out. Also, it can make it sticky when stored. Be sure to store it in an airtight container.

 

Does peanut brittle go bad?

So, how long will peanut brittle last? Peanut brittle stored properly (in an airtight container, away from moisture) will generally keep 2-3 months.

 

Can I freeze peanut brittle?

It’s not recommended to freeze peanut brittle. Because moisture makes this brittle candy sticky and soft, after it has been frozen and defrosted the peanut brittle may lose its crunch and just be sticky.

 

 

How do you break peanut brittle?

Breaking apart peanut brittle is one of the best parts of the process. Once cooled, you can turn the peanut brittle sheet over and break it apart with your hands. However, if you have kids helping, using a wooden mallet is a lot of fun! Just be sure that you show the kids how to break the peanut brittle into bite-size pieces (and not smash it to dust!).

(We like these mallets that you use for crabs or lobster.)

 

Why is my peanut brittle too hard?

Why isn’t my brittle peanut brittle recipe soft? The most likely reason your peanut brittle got too hard is because the cooking temperature was too high. It’s important to use a candy thermometer when making peanut brittle to get the right temperature for the correct consistency.

 

Why did my peanut brittle not get hard?

A homemade peanut brittle recipe can get sticky and stay a softer texture if you do not cook it long enough at the right temperature. Peanut brittle must reach a “hard crack stage” during the cooking. That’s why it’s important to use a candy thermometer for peanut brittle recipes.

 

How do you keep peanut brittle from getting sticky?

Peanut brittle must be stored properly or it will become sticky. Do not store peanut brittle in the refrigerator. Store peanut brittle in airtight containers away from moisture.

 

You can make macadamia nut brittle, peanut brittle with pretzels recipe, or use items like pistachios, cashews, or even sesame seeds in their brittle! If you want to try it, just substitute them for the peanuts and make a no peanut brittle recipe!

 

Can you double peanut brittle recipe?

You can double a peanut brittle recipe, but it becomes more difficult because it takes longer to cook, may alter the peanut brittle recipe temperature, and then you have to work quickly to add the additional ingredients. Be sure to have all your ingredients measured and ready to go, along with the baking sheets and other supplies. 

To be honest, I never double brittle recipes because it adds an extra element of difficulty.

 

 

IMPORTANT TIP: Before you start this cooking project, it is a must that you have a candy thermometer. You may be tempted to make this yummy easy peanut brittle recipe without candy thermometer, but just… don’t.

(Trust me, we tried another candy recipe without the thermometer a few weeks ago and it did not work out. At all.)

If you want a yummy peanut brittle recipe, a thermometer for candy is a MUST.

The candy thermometers are relatively inexpensive and can be used for a variety of cooking projects.

 

Ok!
Let’s get to our recipe for peanut brittle candy!

How To Make The Best Peanut Brittle EVER!

This is the recipe for old-fashioned peanut brittle and makes the best ever nut brittle!

It was honestly the best peanut brittle candy recipe I’ve ever had — not too hard, but crispy enough! (It’s a peanut brittle recipe that won’t break your teeth!) You can also make it this peanut brittle recipe thin or thick, based on what you like!

We make peanut brittle recipe with raw peanuts, but you can use roasted peanuts, too (or even make it a peanut brittle recipe with pecans or any other nuts you love!).

Although I’ve never tried it, you can probably make this as a brittle recipe no nuts. The brittle is really good alone!

We made this one year as homemade Christmas gifts and my mom said it was the peanut brittle recipe old fashioned way that she remembered as a kid! (Dare I say the best peanut brittle in the world???) This makes a Christmas peanut brittle recipe easy gift!

This is not a quick easy peanut brittle recipe, but any time you have a homemade candy recipe it takes a little longer. It’s worth it. I PROMISE.

If you end up making this peanut brittle recipe for microwave, let me know how it turns out!

 

The Life and Times of the Peanut Children’s Book paired with the Best Peanut Brittle Recipe

If you’re new here, you may not know that we always pair our cooking recipes up with a related book or two!

For our recipe and read to make the best peanut brittle recipe, we decided to learn more about peanuts! (Of course!)

The Life and Times of the Peanut is a great book to read with this cooking project because it talks all about peanuts—the life cycle, how they grow, what category they belong to, who invented peanut butter, and even the historical influences of peanuts! (Who knew?!)

There are also a ton of great illustrations in the book!

Listed Age Range: 4-7 years

Let us know how the best peanut brittle recipe ever turns out!