Microwave Peanut Brittle Recipe (2024)

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By: Shinee

Published: Apr 21, 2016

Updated: Jun 08, 2021

4.54 from 15 votes

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No candy thermometer is required for this no hassle microwave peanut brittle candy recipe. And it takesonly 10 minutes of hands-on time. It can’t get easier than this!

{scroll down for video tutorial}

Microwave Peanut Brittle Recipe (2)

My mother-in-law’s friend, Leo, makes the most addicting peanut brittles that I’ve ever had! It’s sweet and nutty, melt-in-your-mouth crunchy. I don’t know if that last part make any sense at all, but it basically means it’s not rockhard, orstick-to-your-teethchewy that you’d pray not to lose a teeth while eating it.

No, nothing like that. Instead this peanut brittle has light and airy texture with the most satisfying crunch.

Every Christmas my MIL shares her bag of treats from Leo with me, because she knows how much I love them. Well, this past January she brought yet another bag full of amazing brittles for me and my mom.

My mom lovedthose brittles so much so she insisted me to call Leofor the recipe, and I obliged. Don’t know why it took me so long, butI’m so glad I did.

And today I’m going to show you how to make the easiest and most addicting candy ever. Ready?

Microwave Peanut Brittle Recipe (3)

As I said earlier, these are the easiest peanut brittles in the world! No exaggeration here, because 1. You don’t need candy thermometer. 2. No stirring sugar mixture over hot stovetop for a long time. 3. It only takes 10 minutes of hands on time, one bowl with a lid, a microwave, and handful of simple ingredients.

Here’re my tips and tricks for success:
  • Prepare and measure out all the ingredients before starting. The process goes super quick and you want that margarin, thatbaking soda right now!
  • Speaking of margarin. Yes, you do need margarin. And no, you can’t use butter, I tried it tono avail. (<- I got rock hard brittles!) I gave in and bought a package of margarin just for this recipe, but it’s so worth it.
  • Microwave-safe bowlwith a lid is essential. Leo stressed that the bowlhas to have a lid, or you’ll risk burning the mixture.
  • Baking soda is what makes the candy so airy and light. After mixing in soda, the mixture will foam up. Don’t be alarmed, because it’s a good thing. Don’t take too much time mixing though, just a few good stirs until the mixture is evenly foamed up and pour it on a buttered baking sheet. I use 2 forks to spread it out evenly, but nottoo thin.
  • Directions on timing in this recipe are for 1000Watt microwave.

I now know the recipe by heart, as I’ve made countless batches to feed my mom’s craving. I even sent some to my sisters back in Mongolia, and they all loved it. Well, I mean, what’s not to love here??

Microwave Peanut Brittle Recipe (4)

Hope you give this fool-proof recipe a try.

Microwave Peanut Brittle Recipe (5)

4.54 from 15 votes

The Easiest Peanut Brittle

By Shinee

No candy thermometer is required for this no hassle microwave peanut brittle candy recipe. It takes only 10 minutes of hands-on time. It can’t get easier than this!

Prep: 20 minutes mins

Cook: 10 minutes mins

30 minutes mins

Total: 1 hour hr

Servings: 1 pound

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Ingredients

  • 1 cup (125 g) dry-roasted peanuts
  • 1 cup (200 g) granulated sugar
  • 1/8 teaspoon salt
  • ½ cup (150 g) light corn syrup
  • 1 tablespoon (14 g) margarine, or unsalted butter
  • 1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
  • 1 teaspoon baking soda

Instructions

  • Before you begin, check your microwave power. (Mine was written at front when you open the door.)The time directions in this recipe for microwaves with 1000Watts.

    Measure and prepare all the ingredients before moving forward.

  • Prepare a baking sheet and spray with non-stick spray.

  • In 1-quart microwave-safe bowl with a lid (stay away from plastic container though, I prefer a glass bowl), combine peanuts, sugar, salt and corn syrup.

  • Cover the bowl and microwave the mixture for 3 minutes. (TIP:If you don’t cover the mixture, it’ll get burnt.) Take it out and give it a nice stir.

  • Then cover and microwave for another 3.5 minutes. Take it out and stir in margarine and vanilla extract.

  • Cover and microwave again for 2.5 minutes. Take it out and add baking soda.

  • Quickly stir, as the mixture foams. And pour the mixture onto the prepared baking sheet.

  • Using 2 forks, spread it out into even layer.

  • Let it cool and harden, about 30-45 minutes. Store in a ziplock bag for up to a week.

Tips & Notes

For video directionsand additional notes, readthe post above.

Nutrition

Calories: 2246kcal, Carbohydrates: 364g, Protein: 36g, Fat: 86g, Saturated Fat: 13g, Polyunsaturated Fat: 26g, Monounsaturated Fat: 42g, Sodium: 2644mg, Potassium: 1005mg, Fiber: 12g, Sugar: 337g, Vitamin A: 501IU, Vitamin C: 1mg, Calcium: 110mg, Iron: 3mg

Course: Snack

Cuisine: American

Microwave Peanut Brittle Recipe (6)

Did you make this?Share a comment or a review below!

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Microwave Peanut Brittle Recipe (7)

Hi, I’m Shinee!

Welcome! I’m so happy you’re here! I believe anyone can cook restaurant-quality food at home! And my goal is to help you to become a confident cook with my easy-to-follow recipes with lots of tips and step-by-step photos.

New? Start here

More about me

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Lemon Poppy Seed Muffins

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Microwave Peanut Brittle Recipe (2024)

FAQs

Why is my microwave peanut brittle too hard? ›

Peanut brittle can end up too hard when the temperature gets too high during the cooking process. With a microwave peanut brittle recipe like this one, you may need to adjust the cooking times based on your microwave.

Why is my peanut brittle rubbery? ›

Why Is My Peanut Brittle Chewy / Sticky / Didn't Harden? This is a temperature issue. Make sure the candy thermometer reaches exactly 300ºF / 149ºC, which is hard crack stage, before pouring onto baking sheet.

Why is my peanut brittle not crunchy? ›

Make sure you cook the brittle all the way to 311°F. Undercooking the sugar will result in candy that is too soft or chewy.

Why do you add baking soda to peanut brittle? ›

Baking soda is also very important at this stage since it reacts to the heat, creating carbon dioxide that aerates the caramel, enabling it to snap when someone bites into it rather than requiring them to gnaw at it until it breaks or pulls apart.

How to keep peanut brittle from getting too hard? ›

Using baking soda usually prevents peanut brittle from being too, well, brittle.

Why do you put water in peanut brittle? ›

Water: Water helps the sugar completely dissolve. Salt: A pinch of salt enhances the other flavors. If you opt for salted butter, you can skip this ingredient.

Can I fix chewy peanut brittle? ›

So, I Googled Salvaging Undercooked Peanut Brittle and followed Tiffany's helpful instructions to throw the pieces back in the pan, turn the heat up and stir, stir, and stir to a raging boil and wait to pour it in the pan until it reaches 300 degrees.

Can you pour peanut brittle on parchment paper? ›

QUICKLY POUR ON A COOKIE SHEET/JELLY ROLL PAN.

You will want the cookie sheet to be non-stick. Use parchment paper, a silicone baking sheet or a greased cookie sheet. Spread the peanut brittle as thin as you can. Immediately add your sea salt.

Should you refrigerate peanut brittle? ›

To store: Store peanut brittle (once it's completely cooled) in an airtight container at room temperature. Do not refrigerate as the moisture from the fridge will cause the brittle to soften. Store for 6-8 weeks. To freeze: Peanut brittle can be frozen and stored up to 3 months.

Why is peanut brittle bad for you? ›

Outside of that single ingredient, peanut brittle is painfully unhealthy. It contains: sugar, corn syrup, and butter, all of which are unhealthy for your body in different ways. But, peanut brittle becomes terrible for your teeth once all of those ingredients are combined into the final product.

What if my peanut brittle is too dark? ›

Too pale and the candy will not set, too dark and the sugar will have burnt. If you feel the outside edge of the boiling sugar is turning too dark too quickly then you can swirl the pan gently once or twice to even out the boiling sugar mixture but do protect your hands from splashes and again, do not stir.

Is peanut brittle crunchy or chewy? ›

If you're looking for a killer recipe for Peanut Brittle, this is IT! Super crisp yet and addictively crunchy yet not tooth-breakingly so, it's sweet, irresistible and utterly divine!

Why do people put co*ke in peanuts? ›

The combination is believed to have developed in the South during the 1920s, as a snack for blue-collar workers that did not require them to wash their hands. It quickly became popular as a summer snack, especially in rural areas. The snack became an internet trend in 2018.

What is the interfering agent in peanut brittle? ›

Examples of interfering agents include corn syrup and cream of tartar. A key step in making brittle is heating the syrup to the proper temperature. Typically, this is the hard crack stage or 300° to 310°F. This caramelizes the sugar to an amber color.

What's the difference between praline and peanut brittle? ›

Pralines have a lot in common with nut brittle, with the difference being mostly in the addition of cream and the cooking temperature––the sugary syrup used to coat pralines is heated to a soft-ball consistency, a lower temperature than the hard-crack stage of peanut brittle.

How do you soften peanuts in the microwave? ›

Microwave oven roasting: Pour peanuts into colander or wire basket and wet thoroughly. Sprinkle with salt. Pour into small microwave safe casserole or pie plate. Microwave for 2 1/2 minutes; stir, microwave 2 1/2 minutes longer.

How do you soften hard peanuts? ›

Thoroughly rinse the raw unshelled peanuts in water. Put the water, salt, seasoning, peanuts in a large stockpot, bring to a boil: Cover and reduce the heat just enough to maintain a low boil. Boil for 2 to 3 hours or longer (some boil their peanuts all day), until peanuts reach desired level of softness.

Can you microwave peanut butter to make it soft? ›

Place the peanut butter in the microwave, and heat it for 30 seconds. Once the 30 seconds is up, stir the peanut butter to makes sure it's melting evenly. Place the peanut butter back in the microwave for another 30 seconds, and stir again. This will probably take a few rounds to get to your desired consistency.

How do you soften hard peanut butter? ›

When using peanut butter only, the key is heat. Peanut butter is naturally high in fat, but that fat is nearly solid at room temperature. In order to soften it up, you need some heat. In my case, I heated two tablespoons in a heat-proof bowl and then stirred like crazy.

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