This wonderful Brown Sugar Peanut Brittle recipe and photos are courtesy of Cynthia Detterick-Pineda of Andrews, TX.
Check out more of Cynthia's
Southwest Recipes.
More wonderful
Candy Recipes.
Brown Sugar Peanut Brittle
Recipe Type:
Candy,
Peanuts
Yields: 2 pounds
Prep time: 20 min
Cook time: 20 min
Ingredients:
1 cup granulated
sugar
1 cup firmly-packed light brown sugar
1 cup light corn syrup
1/2 cup water
1/8 teaspoon salt
1/4 cup butter or margarine
2 to 3 cups shelled raw peanuts
1 1/2 teaspoons baking soda
Preparation:
Butter a baking pan or Cookie Sheets> (with sides) or line with Silicone Baking Mats; set aside.
In a large heavy sauce pan (at least 3-quart size), combine granulated sugar, brown sugar, corn syrup, water and salt. Cook over medium high
heat until all the sugar is dissolved. Continue to cook, stirring constantly, until the mixture comes just to a full boil.
Stir in the butter. Continue to cook, without stirring, until a
candy thermometer reached 230 degrees F. Once it has reached this temperature a thread should form when the spoon is dipped into the
mixture and lifted up. Cook and stir until you reach 280 degrees F, or the soft crack stage. (If you don’t have a thermometer, place a small drop of the mixture into a bowl with room temperature water, the mixture should be make a
firm ball that is slightly crunchy).
This
is the type of cooking thermometer that I prefer and use in my cooking. I get many readers
asking what cooking thermometer that I prefer and use in my cooking and baking. I, personally, use the
Thermapen Thermometer shown in the photo on the right. Originally designed for professional users, the
Super-Fast Thermapen Thermometer is used by chefs all over the world. To learn more about this excellent
thermometer and to also purchase one (if you desire), just click on the underlined:
Thermapen Thermometer.
When you have reached 290 degrees F, add the peanuts (all
at once) and stir in. Continue to stir constantly until you reach 300 degrees F,
or the hard crack stage (a small amount of the mixture will make a hard ball when dropped into the water). I was taught to keep on
stirring until you hear the peanuts begin to “pop”, and then remove the pot from the heat.
Stir in the baking soda, and mix well.
It is going to “foam” up, which is what gives you light,
airy brittle. Stir it well, but don’t stir it all the way flat, unless you
really want flat hard crunchy brittle.
Pour the candy onto a buttered cookie sheet. Tilt, shake and “shimmy” the candy until
is has spread out as far as possible on the pan.
Allow to cool until it is room temperature, then lift the
pan up and drop it onto the table (at least that is how I do it, you can crack it into pieces with the back of a heavy knife, or even with
your hands if you wish.)
You now have about 2 pounds of wonderful, crunchy peanut brittle! So enjoy!
