Mom's Best Peanut Brittle Recipe - Real Life Dinner (2024)

FAQs

How long will homemade peanut brittle stay fresh? ›

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.

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.

But did you know that this popular treat may very well be an American invention? That's right. And an American folk hero of yore may have helped garner its fame. In fact, peanut brittle's place in American pop culture is certainly an established one.

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.

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.

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.

Lastly, avoid making brittle in a humid environment. The candy will attract moisture from the air, making it unpleasantly sticky instead of shatteringly crisp. Once it's completely cool, transfer it to an airtight container.

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.

In parts of the Middle East, brittle is made with pistachios. Many Asian countries use sesame seeds and peanuts. Peanut brittle is the most popular brittle recipe in the United States. The term "brittle", was first printed in 1892 meaning food, though the candy itself has been around for much longer.

What is a unique fact about peanut brittle? ›

“Brittle” , a flat hardened sugar candy, is thought to be one of the first candies ever made. Peanut brittle made with corn syrups & nuts began appearing in cookbooks around the 19th century. Because we find peanut brittle recipes most commonly in American cookbooks, it is generally recognized as an American recipe.

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.

Peanut brittle is a traditional candy made from roasted peanut, sugar and malt. To make the candy, fresh peanuts are chosen very careful to avoid rot seeds. Malt is also one indispensable ingredients to make peanut brittle.

Brittles are typically composed mostly of sugar, while toffees contain a fair amount of butter and in some cases milk. This makes toffees fuller and richer in taste, while brittles are more purely sweet and sugary. Brittles are also much thinner than most toffees.

The flavor of jumbo Virginia peanuts goes perfectly with the thick, rich, sweetness of our golden brittle. Old-fashioned Peanut Brittle is a sweet treat for holidays, get togethers with friends and family, or just because.

#1 - Store in an airtight container

It should come as no surprise that storing your peanut brittle in airtight containers is one of the best ways to store peanut brittle. Keeping air out helps maintain your brittle's freshness by minimizing the amount of moisture that might come into contact with your sweet treat.

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.

Store peanut brittle in an airtight container (for best results use wax or parchment paper to divide pieces as they may stick together) in a dry place, but not in the refrigerator. Peanut Brittle will keep up to 2 months.

Shelf life is over 6 months, if kept away from high humidity (do NOT refrigerate). Keep in your pantry, and for long-term storage seal in an airtight container.