This Easy Soft Peanut Brittle Recipe is the perfect holiday treat. It takes minutes to make, and it’s so addicting! It’s the perfect homemade candy to make; it’s easy, tastes fantastic, and is so good! Make this Soft Peanut Brittle Recipe in less than 30 minutes with only seven simple ingredients! Plus, it makes a tasty holiday gift! So crunchy, sweet, salty, and so easy to make, this Soft Peanut Brittle Recipe is the perfect holiday treat!

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This recipe will be your new favorite if you are a peanut brittle lover. It has a mouthwatering flavor, and it has a soft texture that melts in your mouth. It is perfect for those who love to snack on this sweet treat!

This is a great recipe for holiday gatherings because it’s so simple to make, and it’s always a hit with friends and family. I love whipping up a batch of this candy in my own kitchen to serve my guests when they arrive.

Serve it to your guests with Christmas Crack with Graham Crackers, Chocolate Crinkle Cookies, Air Fryer Sugar Cookies, Christmas Fudge, and Copycat Starbucks Toasted White Chocolate Mocha for a sweet Christmas treat!

What is Peanut Brittle and Why Should You Make it?

Peanut brittle is a type of candy with a sweet and salty taste. The salty taste comes from the peanuts mixed with the sugar and spread evenly throughout the brittle. The peanuts also give this candy its crunchy texture.

Peanut brittle is a very popular holiday recipe usually eaten during the Christmas season. It is sugary, crunchy, and tastes like the holidays.

Peanut brittle is a staple in most households. It has a sweet and salty taste that goes well with ice cream, cakes, and other desserts. This is a perfect last-minute holiday recipe that will have your family asking for more!

What is the Difference Between Hard & Soft Peanut Brittle?

There are two main types of peanut brittle, hard and soft.

The most common type of peanut brittle is hard. It is crunchy and flavorful because the sugar syrup used to make it is boiled until it turns into a caramelized form, which gives the candy its brittle texture.

Soft peanut brittle has a softer texture than hard because the sugar syrup used to make it is boiled for less time. This makes the finished product melt-in-your-mouth instead of crunchy.

Soft peanut brittle will not break your teeth when you bite into it, and it almost melts in your mouth. It is so good, and sure to be everybody’s favorite.

Ingredient notes and substitutions

This is the perfect recipe when you need to whip up a batch of easy peanut brittle for your company’s holiday party or give away as quick gifts. It is a hard candy that softens as soon as you take a bite and tastes like the inside of a Butterfinger candy bar. All that is required are the following simple ingredients:

• Cane sugar. I used cane sugar, but you could also use granulated white sugar or brown sugar.
• Light corn syrup. Light corn syrup has a mild sweet flavor. For a more robust flavor, use dark corn syrup.
• Cold Water.
• Butter. You could also use margarine. This gives the candy great flavor and makes it softer.
• Peanuts, salted. For best flavor, the peanuts need to be seasoned or salted. Use the best peanuts you can. Do not use old peanuts, the flavor will not be as good.
• Vanilla extract. I used pure vanilla extract. You could also use artificial extract or almond extract.
• Baking soda. Baking soda gives the peanut brittle a porous, delicate texture.

See the recipe card for quantities.

How to make soft peanut brittle candy

Follow these step-by-step instructions for the best homemade peanut brittle. Read all instructions thoroughly before beginning.

Step One: Place parchment paper on a large rimmed baking sheet and set it aside. You can also use wax paper. You can also grease the baking sheet with butter or vegetable spray.

Step Two: Boil The Sugar In A Saucepan With Water And Corn Syrup. To a large saucepan, combine sugar, corn syrup, and water. Clip a candy thermometer to the side of the pot. Bring the syrup mixture to a boil over medium heat, stirring often until sugar is dissolved. Boil until it reaches 235 degrees F when the candy starts to enter the soft ball stage.

Step Three: Add the Butter and Peanuts To The Hot Sugar Mixture And Mix Well. Add the butter and peanuts to the pan. Continue to cook, constantly stirring, until a candy thermometer reaches 300 degrees F, the hard crack stage.

Step Four: Remove from Heat and add Baking Soda and Vanilla. When the candy thermometer reaches 300 degrees, remove the pot from heat. Quickly add in the vanilla extract and baking soda and stir to combine. The baking soda will cause it to be a foamy mixture. Pour candy mixture, while still foaming, onto the baking sheet. For an optional treat, sprinkle sea salt on top.

Step Five: Cool. The last step is to let the cookie sheet cool, then break the peanut brittle into bite-size portions. Use the tip of a knife to do this easily. I usually place the pan outside on the deck to cool off quickly.

That’s all there is to it! So when the candy cools, enjoy!

NOTE: Cooking times may vary depending on whether you live at higher altitudes or sea level and use a gas stove or electric stove. Because a gas stove has constant heat, it will cook faster. However, because an electric element cycles on and off to maintain temperature as there is a cooling cycle, sometimes there will be lower heat emitted. Therefore it may take longer for the candy mixture to reach the right temperature.

Variations

Here are some ideas for other flavor combos you can try out if you’re looking to mix it up a little:

• Add pecans, almonds, or hazelnuts for variations.
• Add crystallized ginger and candied orange peel for another flavor profile.
• Serve on top of ice cream or whipped cream
• Drizzle with chocolate sauce or melted dark chocolate after it cools to make it extra decadent.
• Use chocolate covered peanuts instead of regular peanuts

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Equipment

To make this homemade peanut brittle, you will need a good candy thermometer, a large pot, a rimmed baking sheet, and a large spoon or spatula to stir.

How to store peanut brittle

Fridge: Store the peanut brittle in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 3 weeks.

Freezer: Freeze in an airtight container or Ziploc bag for up to 3 months.

Top tips

The following are some tips and tricks to ensure your peanut brittle comes out perfect every time:

• Have all the ingredients measured out and ready to use when you are ready for them.
• The secret of the candy is to stir constantly and work fast. Do not walk away.
• Stir constantly so the hot mixture doesn’t burn as it is being cooked on high heat. If you can have someone stirring constantly while you pour in the ingredients at the right time it is extremely helpful.
• When you pour the mixture into the baking sheet DO NOT scrape the bottom of the pot. You can scrape the sides, but not the bottom. The pot is so hot when the mixture reaches 300 degrees that it starts to burn the second you stop stirring. If you scrape the bottom of the pot, you will scrape in burnt peanut brittle mixture and your whole pan will taste burnt.
• Soak the pot immediately after it is empty for easy cleanup.
• Place the candy outside for quick cooling.

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