Microwave peanut brittle is a simple but delicious homemade candy that takes less than 15 minutes to whip up! The peanut brittle makes a great Christmas treat or homemade present.
Peanut brittle was a holiday favorite at my house growing up. My grandma would make batches of her famous peanut brittle around Christmas each year.
Microwave peanut brittle is a quick and easy take on that classic recipe. It takes less than 15 minutes to make, and the recipe makes delicious homemade peanut brittle with just a few pantry-staple ingredients.
Ingredient notes and substitutions
- Peanuts: The salt helps to balance out the sweetness of the brittle. I don’t recommend using unsalted nuts, but you can use unsalted nuts if you prefer. The brittle will just have more of a sweet, flat flavor without the salt.
- You can also use a different type of nut, like almonds or cashews.
- Salted butter: You can use unsalted butter if you prefer.
- Baking soda: The baking soda makes the brittle foam and helps to give the peanut brittle its light texture.
How to make microwave peanut brittle
Here you’ll find step-by-step photos showing how to make this recipe. The full recipe, including instructions, is given below.
Step 1: Line a 12-by-17-inch rimmed sheet pan with parchment paper. Set aside.
Step 2: In a large, glass, microwave-safe bowl, mix together the sugar and corn syrup.
Step 3: Microwave on high for 3 minutes. I use a 1200 watt microwave, so your timing may vary depending on your microwave wattage.
Step 4: Stir in the peanuts.
Step 5: Microwave on high for 1 minute.
Step 6: Carefully stir in the butter and vanilla.
Step 7: Microwave on high in 30 second intervals until amber in color. It should take about 3 minutes, but it may vary depending on your microwave.
Step 8: Carefully take the bowl out of the microwave and stir in the baking soda. This will cause the mixture to foam and bubble up.
Step 9: Quickly pour the mixture into the prepared jelly roll pan, spreading it out evenly.
Step 10: Place it on a cooling rack to cool for at least 30 minutes.
Step 11: Once cool and set, use your hands to break up the peanut brittle.
Recipe Tips!
- Candy thermometer: You can use a candy thermometer to check the temperature to make sure that the mixture has gotten to hard crack stage (300F-310F).
- Caution: The peanut brittle mixture will be very hot and very sticky coming out of the microwave. Please be very careful not to get it on yourself as you pour it into the pan and spread it out.
- Freezing peanut brittle: Store the peanut brittle in a freezer-safe container and freeze. It will keep for up to 3 months in the freezer.
Storage
Peanut brittle should be stored in an airtight container at room temperature. It will keep for several weeks, up to about 6 weeks, when properly stored.
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Microwave Peanut Brittle
Equipment
- 12×17-inch rimmed baking sheet
Ingredients
- 1 ½ cups granulated sugar
- 3/4 cup light corn syrup
- 1/4 cup water
- 1 ½ cups lightly salted dry-roasted peanuts
- 2 tablespoons salted butter
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 1 ½ teaspoons baking soda
Instructions
- Line a 12-by-17-inch rimmed sheet pan with parchment paper or a silicone baking mat. Set aside.
- In a large, glass, microwave-safe bowl, mix together the sugar and corn syrup.
- Microwave on high for 3 minutes. I use a 1200 watt microwave, so your timing may vary depending on your microwave wattage.
- Stir in the peanuts.
- Microwave on high for 1 minute.
- Carefully stir in the butter and vanilla.
- Microwave on high in 30 second intervals until amber in color. It should take about 3 minutes and should reach 300F-310F, but timing may vary depending on your microwave.
- Carefully take the bowl out of the microwave and stir in the baking soda. This will cause the mixture to foam and bubble up.
- Quickly pour the mixture into the prepared jelly roll pan, spreading it out evenly.
- Place it on a cooling rack to cool for at least 30 minutes.
- Once cool and set, use your hands to break up the peanut brittle.
Notes
- Peanuts: The salt helps to balance out the sweetness of the brittle. I don’t recommend using unsalted nuts, but you can use unsalted nuts if you prefer. The brittle will just have more of a sweet, flat flavor without the salt.
- You can also use a different type of nut, like almonds or cashews.
- Salted butter: You can use unsalted butter if you prefer.
- Nutrition values are estimates.Â
Nutrition
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