Microwave Peanut Brittle

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It only takes 6 ingredients to make this easy Microwave Peanut Brittle. It’s sweet, salty, crunchy, and a great holiday treat or homemade gift.

Microwave peanut brittle in a clear jar.


 

Recipe ingredients:

Microwave peanut brittle ingredients in various bowls.

At a Glance: Here is a quick snapshot of what ingredients are in this recipe.
Please see the recipe card below for specific quantities.

Ingredient notes:

  • Baking soda: Adding baking soda to the hot sugar syrup makes lots of tiny air bubbles that give the candy the porous, honeycomb texture it’s famous for.
  • Peanuts: I use regular roasted peanuts, but readers have shared they have had better success with raw.

Step-by-step instructions:

  1. Line a baking sheet with parchment or a silicone mat. In a large microwave-safe bowl, stir together the sugar and corn syrup and microwave on HIGH power for 4 minutes.
    Sugar and corn syrup mixed in a bowl.
  2. Next, using a silicone spatula, stir in the peanuts and microwave on HIGH power until the picture is a light golden brown. Keep your eye on it during this crucial stage. In most microwaves, this could be anywhere between 3 and 5 minutes.
    Sugar, corn syrup, and peanuts in a bowl.
  3. Then stir in the butter and vanilla and microwave on HIGH until the peanuts are lightly toasted, 1 to 2 minutes longer.
    Microwave peanut brittle ingredients mixed together in a clear glass bowl.
  4. Stir in the baking soda. The mixture will get very foamy and light in color.
    Microwave peanut brittle in a clear glass bowl with a rubber spatula.
  5. Quickly pour the hot mixture onto the prepared baking sheet and tilt the pan one way and then the other to let the brittle spread out.
    Microwave peanut brittle on a cutting board.
  6. Let cool for 30 minutes before breaking into pieces.
    Microwave peanut brittle on a cutting board.

Recipe tips and variations:

  • Yield: This recipe makes about 1 pound of peanut brittle.
  • Grease the pan: Butter a baking sheet or line it with parchment so the brittle doesn’t stick.
  • Let it flow: Don’t try to spread it with a spatula; just let it flow like lava.
  • Clean-up: Spray the bowl and the spoon or spatula with a non-stick cooking spray before you use them. It will make the hot brittle less sticky and make clean-up a little easier.
  • Microwaves: Each appliance is a little different and your results may vary.
  • Storage: Store covered at room temperature for up to 2 months.
  • Chocolate peanut brittle. Sprinkle a layer of semi-sweet chips as soon as you pour the hot brittle onto the pan. Then wait a minute for the chips to melt and gently spread the chocolate over the surface. Amazing!
  • Without corn syrup. Unfortunately, there isn’t a good method for microwaving peanut brittle without corn syrup.

Frequently Asked Questions

What does baking soda do for peanut brittle?

Adding baking soda when making peanut brittle makes the hot sugar syrup foam, creating lots of tiny air bubbles that give the candy the porous, crispy honeycomb texture it’s known for.

Why didn’t my peanut brittle turn out?

If your peanut brittle is light in color and chewy, it was not cooked long enough. If it is too dark and brittle, it was microwaved too long.

Undercooked vs. overcooked peanut brittle.

More holiday treats

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Microwave peanut brittle in a clear jar.

Microwave Peanut Brittle

It only takes 6 ingredients to make this easy Microwave Peanut Brittle. It's sweet, salty, crunchy, and a great holiday treat or homemade gift.
Cook Time 10 minutes
Cooling time 30 minutes
Total Time 40 minutes
Servings 8 servings
Course Dessert
Cuisine American
Calories 267
4.98 from 144 votes

Ingredients 

Instructions 

  • Line a large cookie sheet with parchment paper or a silicone mat. In a deep microwave-safe bowl, combine sugar and corn syrup. Mix thoroughly and microwave on HIGH for 4 minutes.
  • Stir in peanuts and microwave on HIGH until the mixture is light brown, about 3 to 5 minutes longer.
  • Stir in butter and vanilla until combined. Microwave on HIGH until peanuts are lightly browned, about 1 to 2 minutes longer.
  • Stir in baking soda until mixture is light and foamy. Pour onto prepared pan and cool 30 minutes. Break into pieces to serve and store in an airtight container.

Recipe Video

Notes

  1. Baking soda: Adding baking soda to the hot sugar syrup makes lots of tiny air bubbles that give the candy the porous, honeycomb texture it’s famous for.
  2. Yield: This recipe makes about 1 pound of peanut brittle.
  3. Grease the pan: Butter a baking sheet or line it with parchment so the brittle doesn’t stick.
  4. Let it flow: Don’t try to spread it with a spatula; just let it flow like lava.
  5. Clean-up: Spray the bowl and the spoon or spatula with a non-stick spray before you use them. It will make the hot brittle less sticky and make clean up a little easier.
  6. Microwaves: Each appliance is a little different and your results may vary.
  7. Storage: Store covered at room temperature for up to 2 months.
  8. Chocolate peanut brittle. Sprinkle a layer of semi-sweet chips as soon as you pour the hot brittle onto the pan. Then wait a minute for the chips to melt and gently spread the chocolate over the surface. Amazing!
  9. Without corn syrup. Unfortunately, there isn’t a good method for microwave peanut brittle without corn syrup.

Nutrition

Serving: 2ouncesCalories: 267kcalCarbohydrates: 44gProtein: 5gFat: 10gSaturated Fat: 2gCholesterol: 1mgSodium: 159mgPotassium: 136mgFiber: 2gSugar: 41gVitamin A: 16IUCalcium: 22mgIron: 1mg
Did you make this recipe?Tag @culinaryhill on Instagram so we can admire your masterpiece! #culinaryhill
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Meggan Hill is a classically-trained chef and professional writer. Her meticulously-tested recipes and detailed tutorials bring confidence and success to home cooks everywhere. Meggan has been featured on NPR, HuffPost, FoxNews, LA Times, and more.

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Comments

  1. Works with chopped pecans too, even better!
    Since my pecans were already toasted, I added them with the butter and vanilla.5 stars

  2. I just made the microwave peanut brittle. Can’t wait to taste it. Super easy and it looks great. Thank you.

    1. Hi Terri, I haven’t myself, but another reader wrote that they doubled the recipe. I would make sure to keep an eye on the color of the peanuts while microwaving. I hope you love it! – Meggan

  3. Delicious. Every now and then, I overcook a bowl of peanut brittle. I toss it out and make another. It’s me, not the recipe@ eat up!

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