Easy Soft Peanut Brittle Recipe

Soft peanut brittle stacked on top of each other with a pan of the rest of the brittle in the background.

4.93 from 41 votes

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!

Prep Time5

Cook Time15

Total Time20

Course: Dessert, Snack

Cuisine: American

Servings: servings

Calories: 208kcal

Author: Jeri Walker

Equipment

Rimmed baking sheet
Large pot
Spatula
Candy thermometer

Ingredients

2 cups sugar
1 cup light corn syrup
½ cup water
¼ cup butter or margarine
2½ cups salted peanuts
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
2 teaspoon baking soda

Instructions

First, place parchment paper on a large rimmed baking sheet and set it aside.
Combine sugar, corn syrup, and water in a large pot. Clip a candy thermometer to the side. 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 starts to enter the soft ball stage.
2 cups sugar, 1 cup light corn syrup, ½ cup water
Add the butter and peanuts to the pan. Continue to cook, constantly stirring, until a candy thermometer reaches 300 degrees F, the hard crack stage.
¼ cup butter , 2½ cups salted peanuts
Remove the pot from the heat when the candy thermometer reaches 300 degrees F. Quickly add in the vanilla extract and baking soda and stir to combine. The baking soda will cause it to foam. Immediately pour the candy mixture, while still foaming, onto the baking sheet.
1 teaspoon vanilla extract, 2 teaspoon baking soda
Let the cookie sheet cool, then break the peanut brittle into bite-size portions with the tip of a butter knife. When the candy cools, enjoy!

Video

Notes

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.
It is extremely helpful 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 pot. 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.
Store the peanut brittle in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 3 weeks or in the freezer for up to 3 months.

Nutrition