Easy Microwave Peanut Brittle Recipe (2024)

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Total Time: 15 minutes minutes

Published: November 15, 2022

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This Easy Microwave Peanut Brittle Recipe takes a delicious holiday treat and makes it easy by using the microwave. It’ll come out crunchy and with the perfect mixture of sweet and salty. You’ll never to back to stovetop!

If you’re looking for tasty holiday treats, check out my super easy Homemade English Toffee, 3-Ingredient Peppermint Bark, Churro Toffee (Disneyland copycat!), and Pecan Pie Roll-Ups.

Easy Microwave Peanut Brittle Recipe (1)

Why This Recipe Works

Sweet & Savory: One of the reasons why I love peanut brittle is that perfect combination of savory and sweet. The caramel, buttery flavor of the brittle along with the salty, nutty flavor of the peanuts just combines so perfectly. And with this easy microwave peanut brittle, you get all of that flavor made easy.

Simple: Anything that can be made in a microwave is just absolutely simple to make. Have you ever wondered how to make peanut brittle? This easy peanut brittle recipe can literally be made by anyone and it is so delicious and impressive! If you look at peanut brittle recipes and feel intimidated, don’t fret. This no thermometer brittle recipe makes things super easy without sacrificing any flavor.

Shareable: Something beautiful about this recipe is that you can whip up a bunch of it and share with friends and family as little holiday gifts! Wrap it up with a little bow, and they will absolutely love it.

Ingredients

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  • Dry Roasted Peanuts- Dry Roasted Peanuts are the best for this recipe. They are the perfect balance of salty and nutty!
  • Granulated Sugar– The brittle mixture is made of melted granulated sugar which can be perfectly melted in the microwave.
  • Light Corn Syrup– A little bit of light corn syrup is added for flavor and texture.
  • Salt– A bit of extra salt is good to balance the sweetness.
  • Vanilla Extract– Vanilla is added for extra flavor.
  • Butter– Butter makes the brittle creamier and more like caramel.
  • Baking Soda– A little bit of baking soda is added to make the brittle a bit fluffier. It will still be nice and crunchy!

Here’s How to Make It

Step by Step Instructions

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  1. Grease a baking sheet or line it with parchment paper and set aside. Pre-measure your ingredients and have them ready to go.
  2. In a microwave safe bowl, combine, sugar, and corn syrup. Microwave for 3 minutes, stirring halfway through.
  3. Stir in peanuts and microwave 3 minutes longer.
  4. Stir in butter, vanilla and salt and then microwave for 1 minute longer until mixture is a deep golden brown. Watch the mixture carefully at this step and make sure not to burn.
  5. Quickly stir in baking soda (just until mixture is foamy). Immediately pour the mixture onto a prepared baking sheet and spread as needed with a greased rubber spatula or spoon.
  6. Allow to cool for 15 minutes or until completely hardened. Break into pieces using a butter knife and enjoy your easy peanut brittle!
  7. Store any leftovers in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 10 days.
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Expert Tips

  • Be sure to pre-measure your ingredients before starting the process, as it will go fast and you’ll want everything to be ready!
  • Since every microwave is different, keep an eye on your mixture at each stage to make sure it isn’t burning.
  • This easy microwave peanut brittle recipe is versatile, so make it your own! You can add different nuts besides peanuts like almonds and cashews for a delicious nut brittle!
  • Drizzle the top with a chocolate drizzle for added flavor and sweetness!
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More Easy Dessert Recipes to Try

  • Scotcheroos
  • Easy No Bake Peanut Butter Bars
  • Sugar Cookie Bars
  • White Chocolate Cranberry Cookies
  • Raspberry Crumb Bars

Easy Microwave Peanut Brittle Recipe (6)

Easy Microwave Peanut Brittle

This Easy Microwave Peanut Brittle Recipe takes a delicious holiday treat and makes it easy by using the microwave. It'll come out crunchy and with the perfect mixture of sweet and salty. You'll never to back to stovetop!

PrintPinRate

Prep Time: 5 minutes minutes

Cook Time: 10 minutes minutes

0 minutes minutes

Total Time: 15 minutes minutes

Servings: 8 servings

Ingredients

  • 1 cup dry roasted peanuts
  • 1 cup granulated sugar
  • ½ cup light corn syrup
  • ¼ teaspoon salt
  • 1 ½ teaspoons vanilla extract
  • 1 tablespoon butter
  • 1 teaspoon baking soda

Instructions

  • Grease a baking sheet and set aside. Pre-measure your ingredients and have them all ready to go.

  • In a microwave safe bowl, sugar, and corn syrup. Microwave for 3 minutes, stirring halfway through.

  • Stir in peanuts. Return to microwave for 3 minutes.

  • Stir in butter, vanilla and salt and then microwave for 1 minute longer until mixture is a deep golden brown. Watch the mixture carefully at this step and make sure not to burn.

  • Quickly stir in baking soda (just until mixture is foamy). Pour immediately onto greased baking sheet and spread as needed with a greased rubber spatula or spoon.

  • Allow cool 15 minutes or until hardened and cooled. Break into pieces (I just use a butter knife to crack it apart), and store in an airtight container at room temperature up to 10 days.

Notes

Microwave tip: newer microwaves tend to have higher wattage and therefore cook faster. Keep an eye on your peanut brittle mixture to be sure it doesn’t burn. Refer to photos for color matching.

Nutrition

Calories: 324 kcal, Carbohydrates: 48 g, Protein: 7 g, Fat: 14 g, Saturated Fat: 2 g, Cholesterol: 1 mg, Sodium: 380 mg, Potassium: 189 mg, Fiber: 2 g, Sugar: 43 g, Vitamin A: 3 IU, Calcium: 20 mg, Iron: 1 mg

Course: Dessert

Cuisine: American

Author: Tiffany

Did You Make This Recipe?Tag @cremedelacrumb1 on Instagram and hashtag it #cremedelacrumb!

Original recipe from here.

Easy Microwave Peanut Brittle Recipe (2024)

FAQs

Why didn't my homemade peanut brittle get hard? ›

The main reason why peanut brittle doesn't get hard and have the crunch we expect is because the sugar was not cooked long enough. The sugar needs to be cooked to what is called the hard crack stage, 300ºF.

Why put baking soda in peanut brittle? ›

Baking soda is also very important at this stage since it reacts to the heat, creating carbon dioxide that aerates the caramel, enabling it to snap when someone bites into it rather than requiring them to gnaw at it until it breaks or pulls apart.

How do you keep peanut brittle crispy? ›

The candy will attract moisture from the air, making it unpleasantly sticky instead of shatteringly crisp. Once it's completely cool, transfer it to an airtight container.

What makes homemade peanut brittle sticky? ›

Whether it's during the cooking, cooling, or storage process, moisture and humidity can ruin the best batch of brittle in minutes, leaving you with a soggy, sticky mess. This is why eliminating moisture anywhere you can is our top tip on how to store peanut brittle.

Why is my peanut brittle still soft? ›

Didn't combine ingredients right. Didn't get it hot enough. You have to hit hard crack stage heat or it's not going to harden.

What makes brittle hard? ›

What Makes it Brittle? The sugar will be cooked to 300ºF (149ºC)—hard crack stage; which when set up would be hard like a lollipop. But peanut brittle is delicate and you can easily bite into it—how? The secret is in the baking soda.

Can you redo peanut brittle? ›

Reviving stale peanut brittle is possible to some extent. You can try placing the stale peanut brittle on a baking sheet and gently heating it in an oven at a low temperature, around 250°F (120°C), for a few minutes. This can help to soften it a bit and restore some of its original texture.

Can you overcook peanut brittle? ›

If you overcook the brittle, it could be bitter or burnt. If you undercook it, the brittle won't properly set and the end result will be sticky. A thermometer is an accessible and inexpensive way to monitor temperature and ensure properly cooked brittle. Make sure your baking soda is fresh and active.

Should homemade peanut brittle be refrigerated? ›

To store: Once it's completely cooled, store peanut brittle in an airtight container at room temperature. Do not refrigerate as the moisture from the fridge will cause the brittle to soften. Store for 6-8 weeks. To Freeze: Peanut brittle can be frozen and stored up to 3 months.

What is the best pan for making peanut brittle? ›

Heavy 6 quart Dutch Oven pot. Mine is an old 1970's Club Aluminum. It's perfect! You need a heavy THICK pot so it won't scorch.

What makes peanuts extra crunchy? ›

She found that by boiling the peanuts before roasting them, that the peanuts acquired a firmer and crunchier texture that my Dad prefers. The peanuts are then slow roasted in the oven for a couple of hours, before letting them sit in the oven overnight with the heat turned off.

Can you use parchment paper when making peanut brittle? ›

You will want the cookie sheet to be non-stick. Use parchment paper, a silicone baking sheet or a greased cookie sheet. Spread the peanut brittle as thin as you can. Immediately add your sea salt.

How long is homemade peanut brittle good for? ›

How long will homemade peanut brittle last? This peanut brittle recipe will keep for up to 2 months if stored in an airtight container in a cool, dry place. I recommend placing pieces of wax paper or parchment paper between the candy pieces to keep them from sticking together.

Can peanut brittle go bad? ›

Does Peanut Brittle Go Bad? Properly stored peanut brittle can last for several weeks to a couple of months.

How long does it take for brittle to harden? ›

Don't try to spread the candy once it's on the baking sheet as it starts hardening almost immediately and spreading it doesn't work well. Let the peanut brittle cool for 30 minutes, then break it into pieces. Store it in an airtight container at room temperature for up to two months.

Is peanut brittle supposed to be hard? ›

Peanut Brittle is a smooth, flat candy (similar to toffee), with peanuts in it, that is cooked on the stovetop and poured onto a sheet pan to cool. Once it cools it's broken into small individual-size pieces of hard candy and lasts at room temperature for several weeks.

Why did my peanut butter fudge not get hard? ›

The main reason is that your Fudge has not reached the optimum temperature. If your mixture only reaches 110 or 112 degrees Celsius it will always be soft. That's why we recommend investing in a sugar thermometer. Another reason your Fudge is not setting is that the ratio of liquid to sugar is too high.

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