Clean Eating Peanut Brittle Recipe (2024)

ByTiffany McCauley

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Use this recipe to learn how to make peanut brittle without corn syrup! Then, you can enjoy the old-fashioned candy without feeling guilty about the calories, sugar, and processed ingredients. It makes a great holiday food gift!

When I was a little girl, my grandma would make a similar homemade peanut brittle recipe every year for Halloween and Thanksgiving. It was a staple in her house and I looked forward to it all year long. She had an electric skillet she used and I loved digging it out for special occasions because I knew only something good and tasty would come from it.

Clean Eating Peanut Brittle Recipe (1)

While it’s definitely a once-in-a-while treat (it still has lots of sugar, even if it is honey), it’s a tradition I’m keeping alive for Mini Chef.

I just got an electric skillet for $20 off craigslist (don’t you just love craigslist???!!!) and we immediately got to work on this recipe. You don’t have to have an electric skillet for this, but it sure helps because you can set the temperature so easily. But again, totally not necessary.

There is no light corn syrup or processed white sugar to deal with. You can sprinkle on a little salt before putting it in the freezer if you like the sweet/salty thing.

About The Ingredients

Roasted, lightly salted peanuts – Make sure they are not sweetened.

Honey – Any honey will work here. Use what you have on hand or have access to.

Butter – Most recipes call for unsalted butter. But I’ve used salted butter here too, and I actually like it better. The choice is yours.

Baking soda – Make sure it’s on the fresher side. Old baking soda won’t do a very good job on this.

Pure vanilla extract – Do not use vanilla flavoring.

Clean Eating Peanut Brittle Recipe (2)

How To Make Peanut Brittle

  1. Prep your freezer so you have a place to set your cookie sheet. Remember, the bottom will be hot.
  2. Spread the peanuts out over a parchment-lined, rimmed baking sheet, spreading them out in an even, single layer.
  3. Using an electric skillet, large, stainless-steel pan, or 3-quart saucepan, heat the honey until it reaches 302 F. on a candy thermometer.
  4. Stir in the butter first, melting it completely and letting it come back to a soft boil over medium heat.
  5. Then stir in the baking soda and finally the vanilla (which will sizzle). You want to stir everything in pretty quickly. Don’t dawdle.
  6. Let it cook for about 30-60 more seconds to let everything combine well, stirring constantly.
  7. Pour the boiling syrup over the peanuts on the prepared baking sheet and using oven mitts, transfer the tray to your freezer for about 1 hour. It’s okay if it doesn’t reach the sides of the cookie pan. Just make the whole thing as level as you can.
  8. Make sure you can lift the brittle out of the pan after freezing. Loosen the edges if needed. Break into pieces of an appropriate size and store in a zipper-top bag in the freezer until you are ready to eat.

Recipe Notes And Tips

  1. The first batch we tried didn’t get hard enough and was pretty sticky. But the issue was that I tried to make it without using a candy thermometer and that did not work out so well. I also heated the honey to the temp in the recipe I adapted from (275 F.), and it just didn’t do the trick. Maybe it was my cooking method or a difference in altitude or any other number of things. It’s hard to say. So the second time around, I took the temp up to 302 F. (hard crack stage) using a candy thermometer and it did much better.
  2. Please know that the parchment paper called for is an absolute necessity unless you want to scrape hard candy off your cookie sheet for an hour or two, or waste the whole thing by soaking it off. So don’t skip that!

Recipe Supplies

Clean Eating Peanut Brittle Recipe (3)
Clean Eating Peanut Brittle Recipe (4)
Clean Eating Peanut Brittle Recipe (5)
Clean Eating Peanut Brittle Recipe (6)

More Naturally Sweetened Candy Recipes

  • Naturally Sweetened Peanut Butter Cups
  • Chocolate Turtles
  • Easy Homemade Marzipan
  • Homemade Chocolate Bars

Peanut Brittle Recipe W/Out Corn Syrup

Recipe adapted from The Nerdy Farm Wife.

Clean Eating Peanut Brittle Recipe (8)

Peanut Brittle Recipe without Corn Syrup

I make this once a year, and once a year, I suddenly have long lost friends who track me down. ThisClean Eating Peanut Brittle Recipe is absolutely perfect for the season.

4.56 from 9 votes

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Course: Dessert

Cuisine: American

Prep Time: 15 minutes minutes

Cook Time: 1 hour hour

Total Time: 1 hour hour 15 minutes minutes

Calories: 6976kcal

Ingredients

  • 1 lb. roasted, lightly salted peanuts
  • 3 cups honey
  • ¾ cup good quality butter
  • 2 tsp. baking soda
  • 1 tbsp. pure vanilla extract

Instructions

  • Prep your freezer so you have a place to set your cookie sheet. Remember, the bottom will be hot.

  • Spread the peanuts out over a parchment-lined, rimmed baking sheet, spreading them out in an even, single layer.

  • Using an electric skillet, large, stainless-steel pan, or 3-quart saucepan, heat the honey until it reaches 302 F. on a candy thermometer.

  • Stir in the butter first, melting it completely and letting it come back to a soft boil over medium heat.

  • Then stir in the baking soda and finally the vanilla (which will sizzle). You want to stir everything in pretty quickly. Don’t dawdle.

  • Let it cook for about 30-60 more seconds to let everything combine well, stirring constantly.

  • Pour the boiling syrup over the peanuts on the prepared baking sheet and using oven mitts, transfer the tray to your freezer for about 1 hour. It’s okay if it doesn’t reach the sides of the cookie pan. Just make the whole thing as level as you can.

  • Make sure you can lift the brittle out of the pan after freezing. Loosen the edges if needed. Break into pieces of an appropriate size and store in a zipper-top bag in the freezer until you are ready to eat.

Notes

Nutrition data given is for the entire recipe. This recipe makes quite a bit and you’ll be breaking the brittle into small pieces. So don’t panic. Divide the data by the number of pieces you break this into.

Nutrition

Serving: 1entire recipe | Calories: 6976kcal | Carbohydrates: 919g | Protein: 132g | Fat: 361g | Saturated Fat: 122g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 82g | Monounsaturated Fat: 136g | Trans Fat: 6g | Cholesterol: 366mg | Sodium: 5289mg | Potassium: 4109mg | Fiber: 42g | Sugar: 837g | Vitamin A: 4255IU | Vitamin C: 5mg | Calcium: 557mg | Iron: 15mg

Recipe from the Gracious Pantry archives, originally posted 12/7/15.

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Clean Eating Peanut Brittle Recipe (2024)

FAQs

Are peanut brittle healthy? ›

Peanut brittle has one redeeming quality: peanuts. Outside of that single ingredient, peanut brittle is painfully unhealthy. It contains: sugar, corn syrup, and butter, all of which are unhealthy for your body in different ways.

Why put baking soda in peanut brittle? ›

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.

Why didn't my homemade peanut brittle get hard? ›

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.

What makes peanut brittle too chewy? ›

Why did my peanut brittle turn out chewy? The likely cause is that the sugar mixture didn't reach the proper hard crack stage temperature. Ensuring it reaches 300˚F is key to getting that classic brittle texture.

Why do you put water in peanut brittle? ›

Water: Water helps the sugar completely dissolve. Salt: A pinch of salt enhances the other flavors. If you opt for salted butter, you can skip this ingredient. Peanuts: Of course, you'll need peanuts for this classic treat!

Why do people put co*ke in peanuts? ›

The combination is believed to have developed in the South during the 1920s, as a snack for blue-collar workers that did not require them to wash their hands. It quickly became popular as a summer snack, especially in rural areas. The snack became an internet trend in 2018.

How long is homemade peanut brittle good for? ›

To store: Store peanut brittle (once it's completely cooled) 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.

How do you keep peanut brittle crispy? ›

Once cooled and cracked, peanut brittle should be stored in an airtight container (it's okay to stack). Store in a cool dry place.

Can you use parchment paper when making peanut brittle? ›

You will want the cookie sheet to be non-stick. Use parchment paper, a silicone baking sheet or a greased cookie sheet. Spread the peanut brittle as thin as you can. Immediately add your sea salt.

Why does peanut brittle stick to my teeth? ›

Second, it's not what's in the brittle. It's what's missing — corn syrup. A common brittle ingredient, Asare said, corn syrup causes brittle to go all gooey, gummy and tooth-clingy as it melts in your mouth, whereas sugar crunches, crumbles and dissolves.

What's the difference between toffee and 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.

Why is baking soda added to peanut brittle? ›

When the sugar mixture reaches the hard crack stage, you'll take it off the heat and add the baking soda. It's going to foam and the mixture will “grow” as you stir it, doubling in volume. Don't leave out the baking soda. The carbon dioxide that is created when the mixture foams is what gives the brittle its texture.

Can you salvage undercooked peanut brittle? ›

So, I Googled Salvaging Undercooked Peanut Brittle and followed Tiffany's helpful instructions to throw the pieces back in the pan, turn the heat up and stir, stir, and stir to a raging boil and wait to pour it in the pan until it reaches 300 degrees.

Does weather affect making peanut brittle? ›

I've learned that brittle is better when made on a cool, dry day. When I've made the candy on a warmer, humid day, it tends to be a stickier brittle. This is because the brittle takes longer to cool, and it reaches a point where it is no longer evaporating moisture into the air.

Are crunchy peanuts healthy? ›

Peanuts are high in unsaturated fat, mostly monounsaturated fat (the type that is also in olive and rapeseed oil). This means they're high in calories. But they're also a source of fibre, protein and a range of vitamins and minerals.

Are peanuts an unhealthy snack? ›

Peanuts are full of nutrition and make for a healthy snack. They're full of fiber, protein, and healthy fats, which can aid weight management by keeping you full longer. For best results, choose raw, roasted, or boiled peanuts free of added salt and flavoring, and be mindful of your serving size.

Is broken peanuts good for health? ›

Raw broken peanuts can be put in a container and needs refrigeration storage. It has a shelf life of around 5-6 days. l Peanuts, being a legume is rich in nutrients and provides immense health benefits.

Is crunchy peanut butter a healthy snack? ›

As long as you are choosing a peanut butter that's all natural and pesticide free, in addition to being free from added salt or sugar, any peanut butter will be a healthy choice. However, crunchy peanut butter has a little more fiber and less saturated fat, making it overall more nutritious, even if only slightly so.

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