Microwave Peanut Brittle – no candy thermometer required! Only 6 ingredients and ready in 6½ minutes! Cocktail peanuts, sugar, light corn syrup, butter, vanilla extract, and baking soda. SO easy and SO delicious! Great for parties! Makes a great homemade holiday gift!!
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Pin This RecipeEasy Microwave Peanut Brittle Recipe
This is my Mom’s recipe for peanut brittle. It is really easy to make and doesn’t require a candy thermometer! You make this brittle in the microwave! I make this peanut brittle every year for Christmas, and everyone loves it. This recipe takes 6½ minutes to make and has the same crispy and crunchy texture as the classic stovetop version. No one would ever know it was made in the microwave!
How to Make Peanut Brittle in the Microwave
This candy is very easy to make in the microwave with only a few simple ingredients. Start with mixing sugar and corn syrup in a large microwave-safe bowl. Microwave the sugar mixture just until it starts to turn golden brown. With a silicone spatula, stir in unsalted butter, peanuts, and vanilla extract. Microwave the mixture again. Remove the bowl from the microwave and immediately stir in baking soda. Spread the brittle mixture on a silicone baking mat, a greased baking sheet, or onto aluminum foil sprayed with cooking spray to cool. Once the brittle has cooled, break into squares and enjoy!
Tips for Making Peanut Brittle
- This recipe is formulated for a 1200 watt microwave oven. The cooking times will vary depending on your microwave wattage.
- Watch the candy mixture to make sure it doesn’t get too brown on the last cooking time.
- You may have to play with the cooking times and adjust them to your microwave. All microwaves are different.
- It is best to have all of the brittle ingredients measured out and ready to use before making the candy. You want to move fast!
- I use a large 2-qt glass bowl. When you add the baking soda the brittle mixture will foam up and expand. You need a large enough bowl so the candy doesn’t spill out of the bowl.
- Why do you add baking soda? Adding baking soda to the hot sugar mixture makes the tiny air bubbles that give the brittle its signature texture.
- I used Karo Light Corn Syrup.
- I use Planters Cocktail Peanuts in this recipe. Feel free to substitute raw peanuts.
- Can use any nut you prefer – pecans, cashews, almonds, or walnuts all work great.
- The less you spread the brittle the lighter it will be, or more air bubbles it will have.
- I suggest a silicone baking mat (Silpat) for this recipe. It works great – the candy never sticks.
- You can add a layer of chocolate on top of the brittle if you want to get super fancy. Sprinkle some semi-sweet chips on top of the hot brittle. Wait a minute for the chips to melt and gently spread the chocolate over the surface.
- Store peanut brittle in an airtight container at room temperature.
Easy Homemade Holiday Gift
This peanut brittle is a holiday favorite. It is great for snacking and gift-giving. Package the brittle in a plastic bag with a ribbon or in a a cute holiday box and you are set.
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Microwave Peanut Brittle
Equipment:
Ingredients:
- 1 cup sugar
- ½ cup light corn syrup (Karo Syrup)
- 1 Tbsp butter
- 1 tsp vanilla
- 1 cup cocktail peanuts
- 1 tsp baking soda
Instructions:
- Combine sugar and syrup in a microwave safe bowl (I use a glass bowl), stir. Microwave on high for 5 minutes.
- Add butter, vanilla and peanuts; stir. Microwave on high for 1 minute 30 seconds.
- Remove bowl from microwave and quickly stir in baking soda.
- Immediately pour mixture onto parchment paper, aluminum foil or a Silpat. Spread into a rectangle and let cool for 1 hour. Break into pieces and enjoy!
Notes:
- Have everything measured out and ready to use before making the candy.
- Use a large glass bowl. When you add the baking soda the mixture will foam up. You need room for the candy mixture to expand.
- I suggest a silicone baking mat (Silpat) for this recipe. It works great – the candy never sticks.
- I used Planters Cocktail Peanuts in this recipe. Feel free to substitute raw peanuts.
- Can use any nut you prefer – pecans or walnuts work great.
- Drizzle cooled brittle with chocolate for a fancy treat!
- I used Karo Light Corn Syrup.
- Watch the candy mixture to make sure it doesn’t get too brown on the last cooking time.
- You may have to play with the cooking times and adjust them to your microwave.
Steph
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I made this years ago and came out great! (Even beat my MIL’s candy thermometer recipe!!). But this year my brittle won’t harden. It is more like really tough taffy. What do you think I should adjust on the next batch I try? Longer initial cook time? Longer second cook time? Or both?
This is an awesome recipe. I used whole pecans, and it is to die for!!
I used my pyrex measuring cup to cook this in but please be aware that it bubble over. Not large enough. Next time I will definitely use a larger bowl. Other than that, it turned out great. Thanks for a fast and easy recipe.
cassy88 – you can use whatever nut you wish. I've never made this with dark syrup. I think the dark syrup should be fine, the brittle will probably be really dark though. It might not look appetizing.
this seems like a great recipe but I was wondering if I can use slivered almonds in place of the peanuts? Also I only have dark Karo syrup can I use that in place if the light syrup? Thanks 🙂
J Bear – it will keep a few weeks. I make it and mail it. It is always good when it arrives.
Does anyone know how long the brittle lasts for before going stale/bad? I want to make it a little ahead of time as xmas gifts and I want to make sure it'll still taste good by the time it reaches the hands of its recipients!
Awn – just run it under hot water for a minute and the sugar will come off. You can let it soak and you can scrape the sugar off the bowl.
I've never doubled the recipe. I don't have a bowl big enough to do that.
Anyone have a tip on cleaning the bowl after? And can you double the recipe? Does that change the cook time? We made the first batch just now but need to make 3 more and that sugar-encrusted bowl is laughing at us.
This recipe is AWESOME!! Made four batches this morning and it is delicious. It's so easy and works every time! Thanks!
Just made this, so simple and easy and delicious ! Thanks so much for sharing. Merry Christmas to all.
Lyn – I'm so glad the recipe worked out for you. I love how easy and delicious this is too.
I found this recipe on pinterest. I made this (2 batches)as a gift for our Thanksgiving host-and they loved it. I am now going to make 2 more batches for a Christmas party and a gift for one of my neighbors. I love this recipe-easy to make and tastes great!
This looks soo good! I will have to try it out! Thanks
My family loves peanut butter and this recipe is so much easier than mine. Thanks for sharing.
so, i just tried out this recipe!!! it is SO tasty and SO easy. i had some problems getting the concoction to spread out to cool, but i just plopped it onto some parchment paper, waited an hour, and then took my meat beater to it! great way to get out some aggression too ;)! will DEF be doing this again 🙂 thank you for such a great blog! <3 from wyoming!
That easy???? I can't wait to make me a batch, I LOVE peanut brittle.
Stephanie, I had a microwave peanut brittle recipe years ago that seems to have gotten lost. I was getting ready to Google for one, but afraid to trust just any ol version. Thanks so much for posting this.
I have this same recipe and have used it for years…never has it failed me.
Thanks for reminding me to get peanuts so I can make it for Christmas. 🙂
xo bj
P.S. Wish I had such a cute bowl to serve mine in. :))
Oh I have to make this! Thanks! Steph!
I'm going to have to try this one, cause the last recipe I used wasn't that good.
Thanks!
Looks very good Steph – I really like the homemade version.