Description
Alton Brown’s peanut brittle brings classic Southern charm to sweet crunchy confections. Caramelized sugar and roasted peanuts create a perfectly balanced treat you’ll savor with nostalgic delight.
Ingredients
Scale
Dry Ingredients:
- 3 cups sugar
- 1 ½ cups (0.36 kg) lightly salted, roasted peanuts
- ½ teaspoon (2.5 ml) cinnamon
- ½ teaspoon (2.5 ml) cayenne pepper
Liquid Ingredients:
- 1 ½ cups (0.36 liters) water
Cooking Preparation:
- Vegetable oil, for coating the saucepan
- Softened butter for a spatula
Instructions
- In a small mixing bowl, thoroughly combine roasted peanuts, ground cinnamon, and cayenne pepper. Set the spiced nut mixture aside for later use.
- Lightly grease the interior of a medium-sized heavy saucepan with vegetable oil. Add granulated sugar and water, then place over high heat, gently stirring with a wooden spoon to ensure even heating.
- Cover the saucepan and allow the mixture to boil for 3 minutes without disturbing its contents. Uncover and continue simmering on medium heat, occasionally stirring until the sugar transforms into a delicate amber hue.
- Swiftly introduce the seasoned peanuts into the caramelized sugar, quickly stirring to prevent temperature drop and ensure complete coating.
- Rapidly transfer the hot nut mixture onto a baking sheet lined with parchment paper or a silicone mat, working with precision to maintain the mixture’s temperature.
- Using a buttered spatula, quickly spread the mixture into an even, thin layer across the prepared surface. Work efficiently to prevent premature hardening.
- If necessary, place a second buttered baking sheet on top to help create a uniform distribution of nuts. Allow the candied peanuts to cool completely before cutting or breaking into desired pieces.
Notes
- Peanut placement requires lightning-fast movements to prevent sugar crystallization and maintain smooth candy consistency.
- Coat your spatula with butter beforehand to guarantee effortless mixture spreading without sticky residue.
- Parchment paper becomes your best friend, allowing precise distribution for perfectly crisp, uniform brittle texture.
- Temperature control matters significantly – too slow means grainy results, too fast risks burning delicate ingredients.
- Cooling happens rapidly, so work quickly and confidently when transferring hot mixture to prepared surface.
- Breaking the brittle becomes easier when you score lines immediately after cooling begins.
- Store your finished candy in airtight containers to preserve crunchiness and prevent moisture absorption.
- Wooden cutting boards work wonderfully for initial breaking of hardened candy into manageable pieces.
- Kitchen safety matters – wear protective gloves when handling extremely hot sugar mixtures to prevent painful burns.
- Precision matters more than perfection when creating this classic sweet treat.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 20 minutes
- Category: Snacks, Desserts
- Method: Boiling
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 12
- Calories: 811
- Sugar: 48 g
- Sodium: 170 mg
- Fat: 67 g
- Saturated Fat: 9 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 58 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 75 g
- Fiber: 3 g
- Protein: 22 g
- Cholesterol: 31 mg