Microwave Peanut Brittle – Homemade Nut Brittle with a Delicious Crunch

This microwave peanut brittle is simple to make but looks like you made a trip to the candy shop. It comes together in just minutes and tastes amazing. Homemade nut brittle is one of our favorite Christmas recipes.

Peanut brittle is not just for the holidays. Keep that taste coming in January, too, by celebrating National Peanut Brittle Day on January 26! We’ll be honoring the day with some microwave peanut brittle.

Nothing says Christmas to me quite like walking into a candy store and buying a box of peanut brittle.  The sweet, hard caramel surrounding crunchy peanuts is a real treat!

Christmas is such a busy time of the year, and most homemakers spend a lot more time in the kitchen than normal. Having a microwave version of a traditional holiday classic sweet treat saves time and tastes just as good as the stove part recipes do.

For a decadent touch, try dipping the peanut brittle pieces into melted dark chocolate.  Your party guests will love this version!

There are lots of recipes for making peanut brittle at home, but most of them need a candy thermometer or have a water drop step as part of the instructions.

This recipe for homemade peanut brittle is an updated version of the traditional stove top classic but is made in the microwave. Gone are the days of making candy like this:

Making Microwave Peanut Brittle

The difference with this recipe is that the brittle is made in the microwave, not on the stovetop, so there is no need for the old-fashioned water drop method, which I must admit I do not care for.  Soft ball?  Hard ball?  I never seem to get it just right.

I like the taste of dry roasted peanuts, so I used them in this recipe, but really any sort of nut that is your favorite will work as well. The recipe is faster with shelled nuts but whole nuts give a fresher taste, so they could be used, too.

Raw peanuts can also be used, but they normally have no salt, so extra salt (or salted butter) would be a great addition to the recipe.

One of the great things about making this homemade nut brittle in the microwave is how quickly it comes together.  20 minutes and you are ready to let it harden!

Start by heating the sugar and corn syrup in the microwave for 3 1/2 to 5 minutes. I give it all a good stir after the first 2 minutes.

Mix in the peanuts and continue heating for another 2-4 minutes. The mixture will get a golden brown color and you know that it’s just about ready.

Add the butter and vanilla and cook for another minute.

The last step is to stir in the baking soda.  You’ll be surprised to see the whole thing foam with this step.

Spread the mixture onto a large baking sheet lined with a silicone baking mat or parchment paper, and let it harden.

Once the homemade nut brittle has hardened, break it into pieces.

Tasting the homemade nut brittle

This is the best microwave peanut brittle recipe ever!

The recipe for homemade microwave peanut brittle has so much going for it.  It’s sweet and crunchy and salty – everything a good nut brittle should be!

This microwave peanut brittle makes a great Christmas gift too. Line a pretty festive box with holiday tissue paper and add the brittle. Your friends will love both the brittle and your thoughtfulness.

The mixture makes about 1 pound of peanut brittle.

This microwave Peanut Brittle recipe is a really easy and simple recipe that comes together in 30 minutes with no fuss. Your party guests will think you spent all day working on it!

Wrap some in colorful plastic wrap with a pretty ribbon for guests to take home. Be sure to attach the recipe. They will want it, for sure.

Why is my microwave peanut brittle chewy?

If you find that the texture of your peanut brittle is chewy and not crisp and firm, the reason is most likely that you didn’t cook it long enough.

Even in the microwave, the peanut brittle has to reach the hard crack stage, so that the sugar strands will break easily and not feel sticky.

The next time you make it, cook it for a little longer.

A note on cooking times:

Microwaves vary a great deal as to how long to cook sugar.  Start with less minutes than I ask for and heat in increments.  It is easy to burn if your microwave heats more quickly than mine does.

Would you like a reminder of this recipe for microwave peanut brittle?  Just pin this image to one of your cooking boards on Pinterest.

Admin note:  This post for homemade nut brittle first appeared on the blog in November of 2013. The post has been updated with new photos, nutritional information and a video for you to enjoy.

Yield: 1 pound

Homemade Microwave Peanut Brittle

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This microwave peanut brittle is simple to make but looks like you made a trip to the candy shop. Homemade nut brittle is a favorite of ours at the holidays.

Prep Time 20 minutes

Cook Time 10 minutes

Total Time 30 minutes

Ingredients

• 1 cup granulated sugar
• 1/2 cup light corn syrup
• 1 1/2 cups of dry roasted peanuts
• 1 tablespoon of unsalted butter
• 1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
• 1 teaspoon baking soda
• melted dark chocolate

Instructions

1. Heat the sugar and the corn syrup in the microwave on high for 3 1/2-5 minutes, stirring after the first 2 minutes.
2. Add the peanuts and continue heating for another 2-4 minutes until the mixture is a golden brown color.
3. Add the butter and vanilla. Stir until the butter is melted and microwave another minute.
4. Stir in the baking soda (the mixture will foam with this step.)
5. Spread the mixture onto a large baking sheet. Cool completely and then break into pieces.
6. Optional: dip the peanut brittle in melted dark chocolate for a decadent touch to the peanut brittle recipe

Notes

Please note: microwaves vary a great deal as to how long to cook sugar. Start with less minutes than I ask for and heat in increments. It is easy to burn if your microwave heats more quickly than mine does.

The range of cooking times that I give is for microwaves in the 900-1100 power range.

Recommended Products

As an Amazon Associate and member of other affiliate programs, I earn from qualifying purchases.

• 
  Karo Light Corn Syrup 32 Fl Oz. .95l
• 
  Hall's Peanut Brittle, 13 oz
• 
  Anchor Hocking 77897 Fire-King Measuring Cup, Glass, 4-Cup

Nutrition Information:

Yield:

12

Serving Size:

38 g
Amount Per Serving: Calories: 234Total Fat: 11gSaturated Fat: 2gTrans Fat: 0gUnsaturated Fat: 7gCholesterol: 3mgSodium: 116mgCarbohydrates: 33gFiber: 2gSugar: 30gProtein: 5g

Nutritional information is approximate due to natural variation in ingredients and the cook-at-home nature of our meals.

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