Microwave Peanut Brittle is about the easiest candy you can make! If you need a last-minute gift, a box of freshly made peanut brittle would be very well received!
Texas Peanut Nostalgia
Texas grows lots of peanuts. One of our favorite road snacks growing up were peanut bars so the aroma of roasting peanuts is very nostalgic for me. Check out my recipe for Texas Hot Peanut Dressing which is delicious on raw vegetables or roasted meats, even pan fried tofu. I know peanuts are a global crop, but for me, peanuts are the flavor of old-time Texas.
Even though Microwave Peanut Brittle is easy, I don’t consider this a beginner’s recipe as boiling sugar can be very dangerous. This may sound silly, but the first rule of making candy is to wear shoes! So many home chefs cook barefooted (I do!) but this is a no-no! A single drop of melted sugar can cause third degree burns! Make sure your pets and children are secured in the next room!
The next safety tip is to find a potholder that will truly protect your hand. Kitchen towels or worn out oven mitts with holes are not sufficient protection. Aprons and long pants are also a good safety choice.
Once you have on good protective gear, it’s time to make peanut brittle! I have a large glass bowl that works beautifully in the microwave. Simply add the ingredients, stir and microwave!
Make sure you are using a good quality 1000 watt microwave oven. This will ensure that your Microwave Peanut Brittle will cook evenly.
Parchment for easy clean up
I also like using parchment paper for easier clean-up after I make Microwave Peanut Brittle. Use vegetable spray to grease the parchment paper that you use to line your metal baking pan. Once the peanut brittle is cooled you can wrap the candy in the same piece of parchment paper and store in an airtight container.
Microwave Peanut Brittle
- Prep Time: 2 minutes
- Cook Time: 10 minutes
- Total Time: 12 minutes
- Yield: 16 servingsnu 1x
Ingredients
1 cup raw peanuts (125g)
1 cup sugar (200g)
½ cup light corn syrup (120ml)
1/8 tsp. salt (<1g)
Vegetable spray
1 tsp. butter (5g)
1 tsp. vanilla (5ml)
1 tsp. baking soda (6g)
Instructions
Place peanuts, sugar, corn syrup and salt in a 2 quart (2lt) microwavable bowl. Heat on high for 4 minutes. Remove the bowl from the microwave, stir and heat again for 3 minutes.
Meanwhile, line a cookie sheet with parchment paper and spray the paper with vegetable spray. Set aside.
Remove the bowl from the microwave, add the butter and vanilla and stir to combine well. Return the bowl to the microwave and heat for another 1.5 minutes.
Remove the bowl from the microwave and add the baking soda. As you stir together, the mixture will become foamy. Pour the mixture onto the prepared parchment paper. Allow to cool for 30-60 minutes.
Once the peanut brittle is cool, break into pieces and store in an airtight container.
Microwave is the easiest & safest. One year, my oldest Daughter came home from college for Christmas break & she & her sister decided to make peanut brittle…..on the stovetop. It was awkward to hold the hot pan while the other scraped the boiling brittle out & my college Daughter ended up with some flipped onto her hand, resulting in a terrible burn.
All the caution before the recipe is right on.
Very kind words! I think with watching so many social media videos online on how to make candy, people forget that it is boiling sugar! Candy makers have skills and lots of safety awareness! But a little caution will lead to a delicious result! Happy Holidays!