Easy Soft Peanut Brittle Recipe (2024)

This easy Soft Peanut Brittle recipe is the perfect holiday treat! It takes less than 30 minutes to make with only seven simple ingredients! It's crunchy, sweet, salty, and addictive, making it the perfect homemade candy. Plus, it makes a great holiday gift!

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This recipe will be your new favorite this holiday season if you are a peanut brittle lover. This hard candy softens when you take a bite and tastes like the inside of a Butterfinger candy bar.

This is a great recipe for holiday gatherings because it's so simple to make and always a hit with friends and family. I love whipping up a batch of this candy in my kitchen to serve my guests when they arrive.

Serve with Christmas Crack with Graham Crackers, Chocolate Crinkle Cookies With Cake Mix, and Air Fryer Sugar Cookies.

Why you'll love this recipe

• It is sugary, crunchy, and tastes like the holidays.
• This is a perfect recipe for a last-minute holiday treat.
• It only takes 30 minutes to make.
• You will succeed even if this is your first time at candy making.
• Made with basic ingredients.
• Great for parties and for giving as gifts.

Ingredient notes & substitutions

• Sugar. I used cane sugar, but you could also use granulated white sugar or brown sugar.
• Light corn syrup. For a more robust flavor, use dark corn syrup.
• Cold Water.
• Butter. You could also use margarine. This gives the candy great flavor and makes it softer.
• Peanuts, salted. For the best flavor, the peanuts need to be seasoned or salted. Use the best peanuts you can. Do not use old peanuts; the flavor will not be as good.
• Vanilla extract. I used pure vanilla extract. You could also use artificial extract or almond extract.
• Baking soda. Baking soda gives the peanut brittle a porous, delicate texture.

See the printablerecipe cardbelowfor the full list of ingredients and ingredient amounts.

How to make soft peanut brittle candy

Quick overview

• Prepare sheet pan.
• Boil sugar mixture.
• Add butter and peanuts.
• Add baking soda and vanilla.
• Cool and break into pieces.

Step by step instructions

Follow these step-by-step instructions for the best homemade peanut brittle. Read all instructions thoroughly before beginning.

Step 1: Place parchment paper or wax paper on a large rimmed baking sheet and set aside - or grease the baking sheet with butter or vegetable spray. Combine sugar, corn syrup, and water in a large pot or Dutch oven. Clip a good candy thermometer to the side.

Step 2: Bring the syrup mixture to a boil over medium heat, stirring often until the sugar dissolves. Boil until it reaches 235 degrees F when the candy enters the soft ball stage.

Step 3: Add the butter and peanuts to the pan. Continue to cook, stirring constantly with a wooden spoon or spatula, until a candy thermometer reaches 300 degrees F, the hard crack stage.

Step 4: Remove the pot from heat when the candy thermometer reaches 300 degrees. Quickly add in the vanilla extract and baking soda and stir to combine. The baking soda will cause it to foam. Working quickly, pour candy mixture onto the prepared baking sheet.

Step 5: Let the cookie sheet cool until the candy hardens. I usually place the pan outside on the deck to cool it off quickly.

Step 6: Break the peanut brittle into bite-size portions with the tip of a knife.

See Also

Should I Go To Culinary School? - Savory Simple: A Recipe Blog90+ Vegetarian Pumpkin RecipesHomemade Biscoff (Belgian Speculoos Cookies) RecipeOscar Relish Recipe- Suprising Condiment!

Pro Tip: Cooking times may vary depending on whether you live at higher altitudes or sea level and use a gas stove or electric stove. Because a gas stove has constant heat, it will cook faster. However, because an electric element cycles on and off to maintain temperature as there is a cooling cycle, sometimes lower heat will be emitted. Therefore, it may take longer for the candy mixture to reach the right temperature.

Serving suggestions

Serve crushed peanut brittle on top of Ninja Creami Vanilla Ice Cream.

Or, for a sweet Christmas treat, serve with Copycat Starbucks Toasted White Chocolate Mocha, Starbucks Copycat Caramel Brulée Latte, or Starbucks Peppermint Mocha.

Expert tips

• Have all the ingredients measured out and ready to use before you start.
• The secret of the candy is to stir constantly and work fast. Do not walk away.
• Stir constantly so the hot mixture doesn't burn as it is cooked on high heat. It is beneficial to have someone stirring constantly while you pour in the ingredients at the right time.
• When you pour the mixture into the baking sheet, DO NOT scrape the bottom of the pan. You can scrape the sides but not the bottom. The pot is so hot when the mixture reaches 300 degrees that it burns the second you stop stirring. If you scrape the bottom of the pot, you will scrape in burnt peanut brittle mixture, and your whole pan will taste burnt.
• Soak the pot immediately after it is empty for easy cleanup.
• Place the candy outside for quick cooling.

Additions & variations

• Add pecans, almonds, cashews, or hazelnuts.
• Sprinkle some sea salt or shredded coconut on top before it cools.
• Add crystallized ginger and candied orange peel for another flavor profile.
• Drizzle with chocolate sauce or melted dark chocolate after it cools to make it extra decadent.

Related Recipe: Crockpot Candy Crack

How to store peanut brittle

Fridge: Store the peanut brittle in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 3 weeks.

Freezer: Freeze in an airtight container or Ziploc bag for up to 3 months.

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