This crunchy peanut brittle was my father’s favorite candy.
My father’s birthday was December 9th. Even though he passed away 20 years ago, I still miss him. So on his birthday, I try to make this peanut brittle. He loved peanut brittle. I am pretty sure it was his favorite candy. It may sound silly but when I am making his favorite dishes or eating them, it helps me remember some good times we enjoyed. If you have lost a loved one, it can be extremely difficult during the holiday season. I do not want my children growing up and not knowing anything about their grandfather who was an extremely generous, funny, and kind man. My heart goes out to everyone who is missing someone during this Christmas season. Take time to celebrate the good memories you had with your loved one. Trying making their favorite candy.
Peanut Brittle – My Father’s Favorite Candy
Peanut Brittle - Adapted from Silver Dollar City’s Recipes From America’s Heartland Cookbook.
2 cup sugar, 1 cup light corn syrup, 1/4 teaspoon salt, 1/2 cup water
Combine in a large heavy saucepan. For better results use a cast-iron skillet or Dutch oven. Bring the sugar, salt, water, and corn syrup to a boil over medium heat, stirring until the sugar is dissolved. Place a candy thermometer in the pan.
- 265 degrees
Allow the candy to reach 265 degrees F. Once it reaches 265 degrees F add 3 tablespoons unsalted butter, cut into pieces, 2 cups unsalted peanuts.
Return the pot back to the burner and continue cooking until the candy reaches 300 degrees F. (hard-crack stage). If the candy thermometer is attached to the side of the pan, it is not sitting on the bottom of the pan. You need an accurate reading. You can also drop some candy in a glass of water it will form hard brittle strings once it has reached the hard crack stage.
- Remove from heat and stir in 2 teaspoons baking soda, 1 teaspoon vanilla, and 1 teaspoon butter flavoring.
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- Peanut Brittle once it has reaches 300 degrees F. Stir in the baking soda, vanilla, and butter flavoring.
- Carefully pour on an oiled marble slab or a chilled rimmed baking sheet. Spread the mixture out quickly with a spoon that has been sprayed with a non-stick cooking spray.
- Pull the candy very thin. You can use two forks.
Pull Peanut Brittle thin using two forks before it cools.
Allow the candy to cool and then break it into small pieces. Store in an air tight container.
*Please be extremely careful when cooking candy. It can be really dangerous if it gets on your skin. It is a great idea to keep children and animals out of the kitchen while cooking candy.
“But the Helper, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, he will teach you all things and bring to your remembrance all that I have said to you.”
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Blessings Always, 
Thanks for visiting! My name is Diane and I grew up in Mobile, Alabama. I learned how to cook at a very early age due to family circumstances.
Monty Moreland December 8, 2012 at 8:01 am
My dad still makes this every Christmas. He calls it the 321 recipe. I think he uses 3 cups of sugar instead of 2… maybe it was the peanuts. I like what the baking soda does to the candy. It causes so many bubbles that the candy almost seems fluffy. When we first moved away from Memphis, we tried to make this at Christmas and ended up with a sticky, hard blob of candy in our candy dish because I did not cook it hot/long enough. I hope you have a Merry Christmas. Monty
dianeroark December 8, 2012 at 11:15 am
Monty, Thank you for visiting Recipes For Our Daily Bread. It is really difficult to judge how long to cook Peanut Brittle without a candy ther. My dad did it all the time but he had experience. You can use a cup of cold water like he did which really does work but I need to test it alot. This time I used a candy ther. and still got the brittle to dark. This time 5 to 10 degrees before hard crack stage, I grabbed my camera when it was almost ready and took a quick shot. The brittle temperature climbed extremely fast to 310 degrees. It is a little darker than I would like it but it taste great. The next time I make peanut brittle I am going to try it in the microwave. I have found many recipes for it. Blessings, Diane Please tell your dad hello for me.