Make your own delicious and crunchy Peanut Brittle at home with this easy old-fashioned recipe. Perfect for satisfying your sweet tooth or gifting to friends and family during the Holiday season! Only 7 simple ingredients needed to make this tasty brittle recipe!

Don’t you just love an old-fashioned, vintage recipe? Not only is this Peanut Brittle recipe a salty and sweet anytime treat, but it is a favorite especially during the Holiday season! Dating back to the 1800’s, this homemade peanut brittle has been a tried and true recipe that offers a tasty change from other classic Holiday favorites such as Buckeye Balls, Fantasy Fudge, Peanut Butter Blossoms, and more!

What is Old Fashioned Peanut Brittle?

Brittle is a type of sweet treat consisting of flat broken pieces of hard sugar candy embedded with nuts such as pecans, almonds, or peanuts. Peanut Brittle specifically uses roasted, salted peanuts and is cooked on the stove-top, then poured onto a sheet pan to cool.

The general origin story of the first time peanut brittle came about is that it came from the South, and that a Southern woman in the second half of the 19th century came up with peanut brittle by accidentally putting baking soda into her taffy instead of cream of tartar. Since then, it has been a Holiday tradition in many families to make this during the Holiday season.

Peanut Brittle Ingredients Needed

Below is a brief overview of each ingredient needed. To see the printable recipe card with exact ingredient amounts, scroll to the bottom of this post.

Sugar– this adds the perfect amount of sweetness throughout.
Corn Syrup– light corn syrup is best and is the key ingredient to brittle. It gives the brittle it’s shine and texture.
Water– you’ll need ¼ cup water for this recipe.
Salt– opt for kosher sea salt if you can.
Peanuts– roasted and salted peanuts as this will offer the best salty flavor to the sweet brittle.
Butter– unsalted butter is best since the peanuts have salt and you will be adding kosher salt.
Baking Soda– creates all the little air bubbles in peanut brittle, giving it a perfect crunchy texture.

How to make Peanut Brittle

Line a baking sheet with parchment paper, and set aside.
In a medium saucepan, combine sugar, corn syrup, water, and salt.
Heat over medium heat, stirring frequently, until the mixture begins to boil.
Add the peanuts, and a candy thermometer, and continue to boil at a gentle boil, until the temperature reaches 300 degrees Fahrenheit.
Stir in the butter and baking soda.
Pour the mixture onto the prepared baking sheet and carefully smooth into a thin layer.
Allow the brittle to cool and harden.
Use a rubber mallet to break the brittle into pieces. Serve and enjoy or store in an airtight container.

Tips for Success

Temperature is KEY! You don’t want the candy too hard or too soft, so be sure to use a candy thermometer and watch that it doesn’t exceed 300 degrees.
Don’t skip the baking soda and don’t use baking powder. Baking soda causes a chemical reaction when combined with the other ingredients and creates the perfect texture.
Be careful when pouring the mixture onto the parchment lined baking sheet and it gets VERY hot. Tilt the pan away from you and wear oven mitts so you do not burn yourself.
Do not place the brittle in the refrigerator. Room temperature is best! If placed in the fridge, the moisture will cause the brittle to soften.
If you don’t want to use peanuts, you can also use almonds, cashews, or pecans!
Also check out my Cornflake Brittle for a tasty variation!

Storing Peanut Candy

This recipe will keep for up to 2 months if stored in an airtight container in a cool, dry place. Place pieces of wax paper or parchment paper between the candy pieces to keep them from sticking together.
You can make this recipe up to 2 weeks in advance!
To Freeze: Wrap pieces in wax or parchment, then store in an airtight container or freezer bag for up to 3 months. Thaw at room temperature.