Why is it that I only see peanut brittle around Christmas? None of the ingredients are seasonal. Besides the peanuts, you probably have the other 4 ingredients on hand–water, sugar, light corn syrup and baking soda. That’s it!

This was my first Christmas I’ve attempted making peanut brittle. The first batch turned out nearly perfect which prompted me to ask my husband how someone could mess it up. I was about to find out.

After the peanut brittle disappeared rather quickly, I proceeded to make a second batch at my mother-in-law’s house. This batch was not hard enough and stuck to my teeth.

Conclusion—it was undercooked.

Important lesson learned—use a candy thermometer to make sure the mixture reaches hard ball and let the peanuts cook.

I made a third batch on New Year’s Eve. This turned out like the first batch. Careful not to drop the thermometer in the pan. It’s difficult to read the temperature when it is floating around the bottom of the pan, it is a pain to fish it out, and it gets really sticky.

Tips:

• Use a candy thermometer
• Set up your station – cookie sheet with parchment or foil and a hot pad to set the hot pan on
• Measure everything out before turning on the heat
• Print out the recipe

Classic Peanut Brittle

INGREDIENTS

1 cup        Sugar
½ cup     Light corn syrup
½ cup     Water
1 cup        Spanish peanuts
1 tsp         Baking soda

DIRECTIONS

1. Set out a cookie sheet with parchment paper or foil to pour hot peanut brittle onto.
2. In high-wall pan combine sugar, water and corn syrup. Cook at medium-high heat, stirring regularly. Bring mixture to hardball temperature of 250 to 265 degrees F. This will take approximately 10 minutes.
3. Once at hardball, add peanuts (which may pop). Let the mixture turn a light clear brown and the peanuts will start to smell.
4. Remove from heat. Quickly add baking soda and stir into mixture. It will foam up.
5. Immediately pour onto cookie sheet and spread with spoon. Move quickly as it will start to harden right away. Let cool completely. Break into pieces.

Classic Peanut Brittle Recipe to download and print.