This Peanut Brittle Recipe Is an Ode to My Grandma (2024)

FAQs

How long does peanut brittle last after you make it? ›

To store: Once it's completely cooled, store peanut brittle 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.

The main reason why peanut brittle doesn't get hard and have the crunch we expect is because the sugar was not cooked long enough. The sugar needs to be cooked to what is called the hard crack stage, 300ºF.

In parts of the Middle East, brittle is made with pistachios, while many Asian countries use sesame seeds and peanuts. “Brittle,” a flat hardened sugar candy, is thought to be one of the first candies ever made. Peanut brittle made with corn syrups and nuts began appearing in cookbooks around the 19th century.

A type of confection prepared with sugar, corn syrup, peanuts, and butter that has the flavor of buttery, caramelized sugar surrounding a flat layer of peanuts. The candy is quite hard and brittle, hence the name; a result of cooking a sugar syrup with moderate heat until the syrup reaches 300ºF (hard crack stage).

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.

Reviving stale peanut brittle is possible to some extent. You can try placing the stale peanut brittle on a baking sheet and gently heating it in an oven at a low temperature, around 250°F (120°C), for a few minutes.

If you overcook the brittle, it could be bitter or burnt. If you undercook it, the brittle won't properly set and the end result will be sticky.

What's important to know is that the corn syrup controls the grain of the brittle so adding too little and you have a grainy textured brittle, while adding too much will result in a stringy and sticky brittle.

It is important to coat cookie sheets with butter and put in the freezer to get them really cold before you need to pour the brittle. After you pour the candy you should put the pans in the fridge or outside if it is cold, so the brittle will set up quickly and stay fluffy.

One thing to note before we begin: I highly recommend making this recipe on a dry, low humidity day (so winter is a great time to start practicing!). Any moisture in the air can be re-absorbed into your candy, making it softer, and we want our candy to be hard and brittle (hence the name!).

Is peanut brittle good or bad for you? ›

Peanut brittle has one redeeming quality: peanuts. 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.

The general origin story of peanut brittle 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.

Peanut brittle's prominence during holidays and celebrations solidified its place in American culinary traditions. The southern United States, known for its love affair with pecans, introduced another star to the brittle scene: pecan brittle.

While numerous cultures have been whipping up nut and syrup creations for centuries, it's very likely that the peanut brittle we know and love is American in origin.

This tale has the Irish bringing the recipe to America circa 1830. But whatever its origins, peanut brittle became America's sweetheart, and even provided energy for soldiers in the midst of battle.

In cool, dark, and dry conditions, peanut brittle will last for an extremely long time. If kept vacuum sealed, it would last even longer. Your two biggest spoilage factors for peanut brittle would be moisture and rancidity.

We recommend a 6 month expiration date for all Candied Nut products - Vienna Almonds, Candied Macadamias, Buttered Brazils, Candied Peanuts. The best way to store nuts and chocolates is in an airtight jar/container, in a cool dry position, away from direct sunlight, such as a pantry.

The general rule is that most nuts retain quality for a few months. However, this does not mean that nuts will remain in good condition for an extended period. Shelled nuts stored at room temperature are expected to last six to nine months. Non-shelled nuts will last for four to six months.

In general, homemade peanut butter can last for about 2 to 3 months when stored properly. However, there are a few factors to consider: Ingredients: If you use only peanuts in your homemade peanut butter, it can last longer compared to adding other ingredients like honey, oils, or additives.