This peanut brittle delivers your favorite sweet, peanut flavor and crunchy texture with the convenience of the microwave. Skip the boiling and save time, while still getting classic brittle!
When I think of holiday recipes, I immediately think of brittle. Peanut brittle is an old-fashioned candy that’s relatively easy to make but is usually reserved for special occasions. It’s the best combo!
I have a delicious chocolate cashew brittle that I love bringing out for everything from Thanksgiving and Christmas to potlucks. Now, I’m getting back to basics with this easy peanut brittle.
This recipe uses classic ingredients like sugar, corn syrup, and peanuts, but instead of boiling the mixture, I microwave it. It yields the same crackly texture and sweet flavor, but it’s so much easier!
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Why You’ll Love This Recipe
- Limited Ingredients: It only takes six simple ingredients to make this brittle, and all of them are most likely in your kitchen right now.
- So Easy: Using the microwave eliminates the need for tedious boiling and stirring, and using a candy thermometer.
- Classic Flavor and Texture: Although we’re using a modern appliance, the flavor and texture are classic, delicious brittle goodness!
- Customizable: You can change the nuts to easily create different brittle flavors.
- An Old-Fashioned Favorite: Brittle is perfect for the holidays and all sorts of special occasions.
- Great for Prep: This brittle will last for up to 4 weeks at room temperature or up to 3 months in the freezer, so it’s perfect for making ahead of time.
Key Ingredients
You’ll find the full list of ingredients and their exact amounts in the recipe card at the bottom of the post.
- Light Corn Syrup and Sugar: A combination of light corn syrup and sugar gives the brittle its sweetness and breakable texture.
- Cockatil Peanuts: What’s peanut brittle without peanuts?
- Baking Soda: Baking soda is the key that unlocks the breakable magic of the corn syrup.
Variations
- Nuts: You can use your favorite nuts for this recipe. You can also use different flavors. Salted, roasted, and seasoned all work. Use ANYTHING to create different flavor profiles, even sweet and savory blends.
- Drizzled: Try drizzling melting chocolate or caramel over the brittle before breaking it for more flavor, texture, and color.
How to Make This Easy Microwave Peanut Brittle
I’m including a brief overview of this easy recipe here, but you can find the exact instructions in the recipe card at the end of the post.
- Mix the sugar and corn syrup and microwave until hot.
2. Next, stir in the peanuts and microwave until golden.
3. Stir in the butter and vanilla and microwave again.
4. Then, mix in the baking soda.
5. Spread the mixture onto a prepared baking sheet to your desired thickness in an even layer.
6. Cool completely. Then, break into pieces.
Expert Tips
- Follow the microwaving times in the recipe card exactly for perfect results.
- Check your brittle sugar mix by adding a small amount to cold water. If it makes small strands that break easily, it’s ready!
- Spread your brittle mixture out quickly, as it sets up fast.
- Cool your brittle completely. It must be fully cool for that breakable texture.
- Be sure your baking soda is fresh to achieve the best results.
Microwave Peanut Brittle FAQs
If your microwave brittle comes out chewy, you probably didn’t microwave it long enough. It’s important to microwave your brittle mixture until the sugars reach the hard-crack stage. The best way to do that is to follow the cooking times exactly.
Your brittle should be golden. At that color, it has most likely reached the hard-crack stage. Test it by dropping a bit into cold water. If it forms thin strands that break easily, it’s ready.
Yes, you can. You can use any variety of nuts you like. You can even use flavored nuts for all kinds of variations.
Peanut brittle will last for up to 4 weeks at room temperature in an airtight container. You can also freeze it for up to 3 months in an airtight, freezer-safe conatiner or heavy-duty freezer bag.
More Delicious Holiday Candy Recipes
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Peanut Brittle (Easy Microwave Recipe)
Ingredients
- 1 cup granulated sugar
- ½ cup light corn syrup
- 1 cup cocktail peanuts
- 1 tablespoon butter
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 1 teaspoon baking soda
Instructions
- In a microwave safe glass bowl, or an 8 cup measuring cup, stir together sugar and corn syrup.
- Microwave on high for 3 ½ minutes.
- Stir the peanuts into the bowl and microwave for 2-3 minutes on high (2 minutes is perfect for me) until the mixture is light brown or golden color.
- Stir in the butter and the vanilla. Microwave for an additional 1 minute.
- Next, add the baking soda and mix well.
- Immediately pour the mixture onto the prepared baking sheet and spread out in an even layer to desired thickness.
- Work quickly as it sets up fast.
- Let cool completely then break into pieces
- *Microwave ovens vary so make sure your brittle doesn't get too golden.
Notes
- Follow the microwaving times in the recipe card exactly for perfect results.
- Check your brittle sugar mix by adding a small amount to cold water. If it makes small strands that break easily, it’s ready!
- Spread your brittle mixture out quickly, as it sets up fast.
- Cool your brittle completely. It must be fully cool for that breakable texture.
- Be sure your baking soda is fresh to achieve the best results.
Nutrition
