Peanut Brittle can be tricky to make unless you use this recipe! My peanut brittle recipe is simple to make and perfect for gifting to friends and family.
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Best Peanut Brittle
Hi folks,
Homemade buttery peanut brittle is one of those treats that instantly reminds me of the holidays – rich, crunchy, and perfectly sweet. It’s like a little piece of nostalgia with every bite, and honestly, it’s impossible to stop at just one!
What I Love About This Peanut Brittle Recipe:
- Rich Flavor: This is the best-tasting peanut brittle. It has a perfectly buttery, salty, and caramel-like base with the ideal crispy and airy texture.
- Fail-Proof Recipe: When you follow my step-by-step directions, you will get perfect results that everyone will rave about.
- Customizable: I have a list of ideas under the recipe variations section for switching up the base recipe.
Ingredients and Estimated Cost
Per Serving Cost: $0.53
Recipe Cost: $6.32
- 2 cups granulated sugar – $0.61
- 1 cup light corn syrup – $1.82
- ¼ cup water – $0.00
- 2 cups salted peanuts – $2.77
- 1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract – $0.58
- 3 Tablespoons salted butter – $0.50
- 2 teaspoons baking soda – $0.04
NOTE: The recipe prices are calculated by using grocery store websites. The recipe cost is calculated by the amounts needed for the recipe. The actual cost of the recipe will vary depending on what ingredients you already have. I updated the pricing for this recipe in December 2024.
Recipe Equipment:
- measuring cups and spoons
- baking sheet
- medium saucepan
- whisk
- candy thermometer
- rimmed baking sheet
- storage container
How To Make Brittle
***See the recipe card below for a recipe video.
- Heat sugar, corn syrup, and water in a saucepan, stirring constantly, until it reaches 285°F. Stir in peanuts and butter.
- Cook until the mixture reaches 295°F on a candy thermometer.
- Quickly mix in the vanilla and baking soda, then pour onto a rimmed baking sheet that has been buttered.
- Let it harden for 30 minutes, break into pieces, and store in an airtight container.
Recipe Variations:
- Drizzle it with white or dark chocolate after it’s broken into pieces.
- Use other nuts like pistachios, hazelnuts, cashews, pecans, almonds, or macadamia nuts. You can even use pumpkin seeds instead of nuts!
- After pouring the brittle onto the buttered cookie sheet, sprinkle it with crumbled bacon. This sweet and salty combination takes on a new level of irresistible!
- Make cinnamon brittle by adding one teaspoon of cinnamon at the same time you add in the baking soda.
- Finely crush up the brittle and use it to cover freshly dipped caramel apples.
- Make the brittle spicy by adding ½ teaspoon of cayenne pepper at the same time as the baking soda.
- Sprinkle sea salt on the brittle to get a fantastic salty-sweet sensation!
Buttery Peanut Brittle Recipe FAQs
Store the peanut brittle in a cool, dry place in either an air-tight container or a Ziploc bag. It will stay fresh for about two weeks.
Once you add the baking soda to the hot mixture, it bubbles up and becomes somewhat airy. When the brittle sets, those air bubbles dry, giving the candy its distinctive airy texture.
It takes about 30 minutes for it to dry or set.
The most common cause is the mixture not reaching the proper temperature. Use a thermometer to ensure the mixture hits 285 degrees F, which helps make the texture crunchy.
If you’re new to candy making, I suggest starting with this Peanut Brittle recipe. It’s straightforward to make. Here are three musts to make this recipe a success:
- A candy thermometer is a MUST to make this recipe.
- You must be exact with the temperatures.
- You must butter the cookie sheet and NOT use a nonstick cooking spray.
More Homemade Candy:
- Homemade Butter Mints
- Cashew Brittle
- Peppermint Bark Candy
- 3 Ingredient Fudge
- Peppermint Patty Candy
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Buttery Peanut Brittle Recipe
Video
Equipment
- baking sheet
- medium saucepan
- whisk
- candy thermometer
- storage container
Ingredients
- 2 cups granulated sugar
- 1 cup light corn syrup
- ¼ cup water
- 2 cups salted peanuts
- 1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
- 3 Tablespoons salted butter softened
- 2 teaspoons baking soda
Instructions
- Butter a cookie sheet and set aside.
- In a heavy 2-quart saucepan over medium-high heat stir together the sugar, corn syrup, and water. Constantly stir the mixture until it reaches 285 degrees F on a candy thermometer.
- Take the pan off the heat and stir in the peanuts and butter. Place the pan back on the heat and stir constantly until the mixture reaches 295 degrees F.
- Moving quickly, take the pan off the heat and stir in the vanilla and baking soda. Pour the mixture into your prepared cookie sheet and let it sit until set, about 30 minutes.
- Break the brittle into pieces and store in an airtight Ziploc bag or container.
Notes
- This recipe makes 5-6 cups of brittle.
- Before making this recipe, ensure you have your ingredients measured and ready. The recipe moves quickly, and you don’t have time to measure the ingredients between steps.
- The brittle will keep in an airtight container at room temperature for about two weeks, but I bet it won’t last that long!
- While this recipe is most popular during the holidays, I also like making and gifting it at other times, such as Valentine’s Day.
Nutrition
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I loved this detailed tutorial for an all time classic and favorite. Simple ingredients and recipe.
So glad you enjoyed it. 🙂
Peanut Brittle is a favourite in our house, thanks for all the tips on how to make it. Really like the sound of crumbled bacon on the top.
You’re so welcome!
My husband LOVES peanut brittle and sadly I have never made it for him. His birthday is coming up so think I’ll give it a try!
Such a classic sweet treat! I haven’t had peanut brittle in forever. 🙂
I couldn’t get the video to work. Also, my mom used to make this with raw peanuts…the little Spanish kind. Have you ever done this?
This would not last very long here. I am a very snacky kind of person and love peanuts!
A great recipe for peanut butter brittle, so easy to make and so good to share. Tasty little bites of deliciousness.
Peanut brittle is a huge favourite in our family – this looks super crunchy and delicious and would definitely make a fab Valentines gift!
I could dig right into that peanut brittle! It looks so fresh.
Awww thank you, Beth!! Peanut Brittle is one of my serious weaknesses and this looks PERFECT.
a friend here in Nebraska makes and sells about a ton of this at Christmas..at the Eagles club.. He uses this recipe and it turns out fantastic.. I forgot to buy a bag at Christmas and really missed it… (not that I need the extra sweets) but I think I may just try this and see how I come out with it.. I like to make fudges, divinity and other candies but have never tried it so with your encouragement I will try to accomplish a batch… love your recipes and so far have not had a mistake…
Peanut Brittle is a Christmas classic! I hope you do give this recipe a try since you’re already so experienced with other candies!
I’m so glad you love my recipes and thank you SO much for stopping by and taking the time to leave a comment! 🙂
This looks SO good and I’m glad you made it clear that I must follow rules, use a candy thermometer, and real butter 🙂 I haven’t made candy but I’ll start here, thanks Jillian (and Beth!)
You’re so welcome, enjoy!