Peanut Brittle

A holiday memory that pops into my head whenever December rolls around is my Dad's love of peanut brittle.  Around the holidays, Dad would almost always receive his brittle as a homemade gift, packaged in a tin box.  This special box was sometimes shaped as a bell, but more likely star shaped and usually topped with the requisite adhesive bow.  As my Dad walked into and out of the kitchen each day, he could never resist quietly opening that tin lid and sneaking a piece of the crunchy, peanut-laced candy.  As a kid, I would sometimes sneak a piece too, but it never held the same appeal to me as it obviously did for my Dad.  As I find myself getting ready for Christmas this year, I've decided to make my Dad some of his cherished brittle. I used roasted, salted peanuts but I'm sure this candy would be divine with any nut. Carefully boil sugar, syrup and peanuts.  Add a bit of butter, baking soda, vanilla and salt.  Spread out on a silpat-lined baking sheet.  Let cool.  Quite easy, and completely buttery, crunchy and delicious.  A nostalgic, old-fashioned candy that is sure to please anyone in your family this holiday.

Peanut Brittle
adapted from this recipe

1 cup granulated sugar
1 cup light corn syrup
2 1/2 cups roasted and salted peanuts
1 Tbsp butter
1 Tbsp baking soda
1 tsp pure vanilla extract
1/2 tsp kosher salt

note:   a Silpat liner works great here, but if you don't have one just generously grease your pan with butter before spreading out the hot brittle.

Line a rimmed baking sheet with a Silpat mat and set aside.

In a large sauce pot, combine sugar, corn syrup and peanuts.  Stir gently to combine.  Bring to a boil over medium-high heat, gently stirring occasionally with a heat-proof rubber spatula until a candy thermometer reads 295 degrees.  Be sure to watch the boiling sugar and peanuts carefully as they can very quickly burn.

Remove the pot from the heat and immediately stir in the butter, baking soda, vanilla and salt.  Use caution as the mixture will bubble.  Pour the mixture onto the Silpat and spread out as thinly as possible.  Allow brittle to cool completely. Crack brittle into small pieces, package in an airtight container and enjoy.

A silicone sheet makes easy work of clean-up. 

Spread the hot candy onto the sheet and let cool.

Makes a handsome holiday gift packaged in a mason jar and sealed with a bow.