Grandma's Christmas Brittle
Country Woman
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Whenever my grandmother was in the kitchen, everything had to be "just so" to guarantee her time-tested results. Watching her make this brittle is one of my favorite memories, and I'm glad I can pass on this delicious recipe.
SERVINGS: 20
CATEGORY: Dessert
METHOD: Other stovetop
TIME: Prep: 15 min. Cook: 15 min. + cooling
Ingredients:
- 3 cups sugar
- 1/2 cup light corn syrup
- 1 cup water
- 1/4 cup butter, cubed
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 1 jar (16 ounces) unsalted dry roasted peanuts
- 1-1/2 teaspoons baking soda
- 1 teaspoon water
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
Directions:
Grease two baking sheets and keep warm in a 200° oven. In a large saucepan, combine the sugar, corn syrup and 1 cup water. Cook over medium heat, stirring constantly, until a candy thermometer reaches 240° (soft-ball stage). Stir in butter, salt and peanuts. Continue heating, stirring constantly, until the mixture reaches 300°.
Meanwhile, combine the baking soda, 1 teaspoon water and vanilla. Remove saucepan from the heat. Stir in baking soda mixture. Quickly pour half the mixture over each baking sheet. Spread with a buttered metal spatula to a 1/4-in. thickness. Cool. Break into pieces. Store in an airtight container. Yield: about 2-1/2 pounds.