5 Ingredient Peanut Brittle without a Candy Thermometer

Making candy always seemed so daunting and like one needed fancy equipment.  Well, we are here to share that you can make this 5 ingredient peanut brittle without a candy thermometer! This peanut brittle is the perfect sweet/salty combination because it’s topped with flaky sea salt. It’s crunchy like peanut brittle is, and just such a delicious holiday candy.

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What ingredients do I need to make my own candy brittle?

• Baking soda – this ingredient helps the magic happen in the recipe.
• Sugar – where a lot of the sweetness in this recipe comes from.
• Corn syrup – you’ll use light corn syrup in this recipe.  This is a the base of a lot of candy recipes.
• Peanuts – dry roasted nuts are used in this recipe; a plain nut is best.
• Sea Salt – flakey sea salt on the top of the brittle is the perfect addition to compliment the sweetness. Our favorite is Maldon flakey sea salt.

How do I make peanut brittle without a candy thermometer?

1. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper and spray with cooking spray.
2. Measure baking soda and set aside.
3. In a medium pot over medium-high heat add sugar, corn syrup and peanuts; stirring constantly until peanuts start to turn light brown and smell cooked – approximately 8 – 10 minutes. The batter will be clumpy and will turn into a bit of a ball before it starts melting.
4. Remove from heat.  Add in baking soda.  The mixture will puff up when you add the baking soda, so be cautious!
5. Pour onto prepared baking sheet and sprinkle with sea salt. Allow to cool completely and then break up.
6. Store in an airtight container for up to two weeks.

Once the peanut brittle has cooled and it comes time to break into pieces, get ready to use your muscles!  The brittle is going to be a little thick and therefore you have to use some strength to crack it. An option is that you could put another piece of parchment paper over it and use a hammer (or a can or something heavy) to break it.

But, just use the right angle and pressure and it’s easy peasy!

This recipe is on all of our lists to make in bulk and give as gifts this holiday season because who doesn’t love a good food gift?

This 5 ingredient peanut brittle without a candy thermometer is the easy treat you’ve been looking for and is so crazy delicious!

If you’re looking for some other easy Christmas food-gift ideas, I’d suggest:

• Peppermint fudge
• Red wine brownies in a jar
• Anything goes granola
• Sea salt turtle cups

5 Ingredient Peanut Brittle without a Candy Thermometer

This recipe for a 5 ingredient peanut brittle without a candy thermometer is super easy to make and perfect to give as a gift!

4 from 15 votes

Print Rate

Cook Time: 12 minutes

Servings: 8 servings

Equipment

• Saucepan
• Measuring spoons

Ingredients

• 1 tsp baking soda
• 1 cup sugar
• 1/2 cup light corn syrup
• 1 cup dry roasted peanuts
• 1 tsp flakey sea salt

Instructions

•  Line a baking sheet with parchment paper and spray with cooking spray.
• Measure baking soda and set aside.
• In a medium pot over medium-high heat add sugar, corn syrup and peanut; stirring constantly until peanuts start to turn light brown and smell cooked - approximately 8 - 10 minutes. The batter will be clumpy and will turn into a bit of a ball before it starts melting.
  
• Remove from heat.  Add in baking soda.  The mixture will puff up when you add the baking soda, so be cautious!
  
• Pour onto prepared baking sheet and sprinkle with sea salt.
  
• Allow to cool completely and then break up
  
• Store in an airtight container for up to two weeks

Notes

Please note the serving size on this is completely subjective - this makes about 8 smaller sized servings with everyone having a couple of pieces, but if you want to give this as gifts, I'd say about 4 gift-size servings, or you could easily double the recipe.

The nutrition information presented on this site should be considered an estimate as the calculations will change based on the exact products you use in your own kitchen.

Nutrition

Calories: 267kcal | Carbohydrates: 45g | Protein: 4g | Fat: 9g | Saturated Fat: 1g | Sodium: 589mg | Potassium: 123mg | Fiber: 2g | Sugar: 42g | Calcium: 13mg | Iron: 1mg