Friday, December 18, 2009

Santa's Sweetest Wish


"Oskar, what should we leave under the tree for Santa?"  "PEANUT BRITTLE!"

We got our recipe from the Granite State Candy Shoppe.  Here it is:

3 c sugar
1 c corn syrup
1/2 c water
4-1/2 c peanuts
4 T unsalted butter
2 tsp baking soda

Takes about 1-1/2 hours, 30 minutes active.

Coat a 12x17 inch low-sided pan with spray oil (or rub with butter).

In a heavy 5 qt saucepan with a tight fitting lid, combine sugar, corn syrup and water.  Cover the pot and bring to a boil over high heat, stirring occasionally.

Once the sugar has boiled, leave cover on another minute (creates steam to wash sides of pan).

Remove the lid and reduce heat to medium.  Continue stirring until it reads 230F on candy thermometer (soon, maybe 1 minute).  Add the peanuts and stir with wooden spoon until mixture reaches 300F.  This will take a while, but keep a close eye on it -- the final five degrees happen fast!

Immediately remove from the heat and stir in butter and baking soda.  It will foam up.  Stir thoroughly.

Pour into center of prepared pan and spread out with wooden spoon.  Allow to cool for 1 hour.

Turn brittle out of the pan and snap into pieces.  Enjoy!


We cover the empty peanut cans with our own labels (this one says "I'd rather be eating peanut brittle").  Makes great gifts!

5 comments:

KatB said...

Looks wonderful - I can't wait to try it! :)

The JR said...

Looks good. I always thought you had to have some special kind of raw peanut to make it.

Johanna said...

Ah, no, you want the saltiness of the peanuts in the sweetness of the candy -- delicious! I've even seen recent recipes where you sprinkle grainy salt on top of the cooling candy for an outer coating of salt!

Leah said...

Yum Christmas goodies all around!I've been reading your blog this am and enjoy it very much. Leah

Anonymous said...

Great recipe and it works well with cashews too!