Peanut Brittle | Rich, Creamy, Buttery, & Crunchy

This peanut brittle is rich, buttery, and crunchy all at the same time. And each golden piece has a sweet and salty combination and is addictively delicious. plus, this peanut brittle recipe is super fun and easy to make too!

The Best Peanut Brittle Recipe

If you've never had peanut brittle before, also known as peanut candy, then you're in for a treat. 

Peanut brittle is a crispy, crunchy homemade candy that combines melted butter with roasted peanuts to give it a creamy peanut butter flavor.  

And something I love about peanut brittle is that you can break it into any sized shape you want.

If you're in the mood for a small snack, you can break off a tiny piece. Or, if you want to really indulge, you can have a big piece for dessert.

Now, sometimes the process of making peanut brittle can be a bit intimidating. But, don't worry, this recipe is as simple as it gets.

As long as you have all the tools, and follow the four steps laid out below, making it will be a seamless process...and a delicious one too!

Ingredients For Peanut Brittle

So,  some common pantry items are all we'll need to make this peanut brittle the delicious candy it is. 

That said, here's everything you'll need to make this brittle:

• 1 ½ cups roasted salted peanuts 
• 1 ½ teaspoons vanilla extract
• 1 teaspoon baking soda
• 1 teaspoon salt
• ¾ cup water
• ¾ cup corn syrup (light or dark)
• 1 ½ cups granulated sugar 
• 2 tablespoons unsalted butter (room temperature)

Now, it's worth noting, that you'll want to use unsalted butter to make this recipe.

The peanut brittle will already be salty enough from the peanuts, and the additional teaspoon of salt. 

Oh, and if you're picking up roasted peanuts from the store, grab some shelled peanuts too. You can use them to make these Instant Pot Boiled Peanuts next!

Making This Recipe Vegan

Every ingredient in this peanut brittle is already vegan friendly, except the unsalted butter. 

To turn this recipe into vegan peanut brittle, you can either use vegan butter or coconut oil in place of unsalted butter. 

And, if you are buying vegan butter from the store, look for the unsalted vegan butter. As I mentioned above, this will ensure your peanut brittle has an ideal salty and sweet ratio. 

Now, there are two types of coconut oil to choose from, unrefined and refined.

Unrefined coconut oil - commonly labeled as virgin or pure - has a strong coconut flavor, and can be used in recipes if you want them to take on a coconut-y taste. 

On the other hand, refined coconut oil is more neutral and does not have a distinct coconut taste. For this reason, I suggest using refined coconut oil for this recipe. 

That said, whether you decide to use vegan butter or coconut oil, this peanut brittle recipe can be turned into a vegan treat quite easily.

Oh, and if you want another peanut butter recipe, try these vegan peanut butter cookies.

Making Low Sugar Peanut Brittle 

Now, if you want to reduce the amount of sugar in this recipe, you can substitute the granulated sugar for a sweetener replacement.

My two favorite sweeteners are granular swerve and Lakanto's monk fruit sweetener.

Swerve and monk fruit are both sweeteners that have the exact amount of sweetness as regular sugar. They also measure just like sugar, and do the same job sugar does in a recipe.

The great thing about these sweeteners is they have 0 calories, and 0 carbs too. 

So, if you want to knock down the sugar and calories in this recipe, but still have it taste amazing, try swapping out granulated sugar for another sweetener!

Nuts To Use

For this recipe, we are going to be using roasted peanuts which will give the brittle a smooth, peanut buttery flavor. 

If you are allergic to peanuts or do not like peanuts, you can pretty much use any other nuts for this recipe. 

Nuts that pair well in brittle are cashews, walnuts, almonds, and pecans. If one of these is your favorite type of nut, use them in place of the toasted peanuts. 

Oh, you could even use a mixture of a few or all of these nuts. It will give your brittle a trail mix feel, filling each bite with a different flavor. 

Whatever you decide to use for your brittle base, it will be a sweet, crunchy, and nutty treat.

How To Make Peanut Brittle

First and foremost, to get the best results for your peanut brittle, you'll want to use a candy thermometer and silicone baking mat. 

A candy thermometer will be crucial for knowing when the sugar mixture has reached just the right temperature for each step. 

And a silicone baking mat will create an even surface for your peanut brittle to lie on while cooling. This will also ensure each piece of peanut brittle has the same consistency. 

That said, if you don't have a silicone baking mat, you can use a greased baking sheet or parchment paper instead. Just make sure the parchment paper is completely flat on the baking sheet. 

Ok, now let's get to the good stuff and start making some peanut brittle! 

Step 1: Prep

The first thing you will want to do is gather all of your ingredients.

And having all your ingredients measured out and ready ahead of time will make this a smooth cooking process. So, don't overlook doing this small amount of prep work.

Anyway, you'll want to combine the vanilla extract and baking soda in a small cup or dish and set it aside for later.

Then, you'll want to get out your candy thermometer, a silicone spatula, and cover your baking sheet with a baking mat or parchment paper. 

And, if you have a deep medium-sized saucepan, you can take it out and put it on the stove at this point too. A deeper saucepan will make it easier to stir, but any saucepan will work!

Step 2: Making The Sugar Mixture

Ok, so to make the sugar mixture, combine the water, corn syrup, sugar, and salt in your saucepan.

Cook this mixture over medium heat, frequently stirring to make sure the sugar dissolves and the ingredients combine. 

Continue cooking the mixture until it reaches 285-290°F (140-143°C) on the thermometer.

Step 3: Adding The Rest Of The Ingredients

Now, once the sugar mixture reaches the above temperature, add in the peanuts and continue cooking.

Make sure to stir continuously until the mixture reaches 300°F (148°C) on the thermometer.

Once it reaches the desired temperature, remove the mixture from the heat and immediately stir in the baking soda and vanilla extract mixture, along with the butter.

And you'll want to stir these ingredients together until the mixture turns a golden brown color (about a minute or so).

Step 4: Finishing Touches

So, once the brittle reaches the color we're looking for, you'll want to pour out the finished peanut brittle mixture onto the silicone baking mat. Then, gently spread the brittle into a thin layer with your silicone spatula.

Now, let the peanut brittle harden uncovered until it is completely cooled. And this will take about 20 minutes to happen.

Anyway, once it has cooled and hardened, you can break the peanut brittle into any sized pieces you want to give it the iconic brittle look.

Lastly, enjoy your sweet, salty, and crunchy peanut brittle!

Storing Your Peanut Brittle

One of the best parts about peanut brittle is it lasts a super long time, rewarding you for all your hard work with a tasty snack or dessert for weeks to come. 

It will stay good in an airtight container for 6-8 weeks out at room temperature. But, you'll want to make sure to keep it away from anywhere it could melt or get overheated.

That said, DO NOT store your peanut brittle in the refrigerator. The moisture will actually cause the brittle to soften, ruining your masterpiece.

If you want to keep some brittle for a more extended period, you can store it in the freezer in an airtight container or freezer-safe bag for up to 3 months. Before enjoying though, let your peanut brittle return to room temperature.

As I alluded to earlier, my favorite thing about peanut brittle is all the different sized pieces. So, no matter what I'm in the mood for, there is a piece calling my name.

Wrapping Things Up

Anyway, this recipe is so good, it might just end up being the only candy you ever want to eat again. So, I guess it's a good thing it lasts so long!

Also since it lasts for such a long time, peanut brittle makes an excellent gift for friends or family. You can give it for a special occasion like a holiday or birthday, as a thank you, or just to treat someone you care about.

That said, I hope you enjoy this recipe enough to share it with loved ones!

Well, there you have it, homemade peanut brittle with a reduced-sugar and vegan friendly option.

As always, if you make this recipe, I would love to hear what you think in the comments below. 

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