Microwave Peanut Brittle Recipe

Microwave peanut brittle recipe is an easy sweet, salty and buttery peanut brittle that takes minutes to make. No- fuss, full proof method that requires no stove top candy thermometer!

Peanut Brittle Recipe

Holiday recipes can mean anything from sweet corn casserole to fresh green beans, marshmallow fluff to deliciously sweet cookie dip.

But one thing that reminds me so much of a vintage holiday is peanut brittle.

Probably because the last time I could seriously enjoy it without worrying about a filling falling out was in my child hood (or maybe because of that) but nonetheless, peanut brittle is a delightful and enjoyable no bake Christmas dessert that also easily doubles a gift. 

But with this peanut brittle, you need nothing more than a microwave, ingredients and a little care to not over cook or under stir.  Sweet and salty, this simple dessert is nothing more than sugar, syrup and peanuts!

Can the best peanut butter brittle recipe GET any easier? I think not! 

Microwave Peanut Brittle Recipe

Have you ever wanted to learn how to make peanut butter brittle in the microwave?

Skip the stove top and opt for this easy microwave version that creates your own homemade candy in minutes. With only about 15 minutes prep time, its also a dessert that is quick with simple steps.

Just please read my notes below about working with sugar and microwave times.

• 1 cup white sugar
• 1/2 cup light corn syrup
• 1 cup raw peanuts (I used dry roasted, lightly salted peanuts)
• 1 teaspoon butter
• 1 teaspoon vanilla
• 1 teaspoon baking soda

Making Peanut Brittle Tips

1. Making peanut brittle is a candy process and that means big heat. Even though this is a microwave oven, your sugar and corn syrup are gonna get scalding, so take serious care not burn yourself on the bowl or while stirring.  Get some oven mitts~
2. Prepping goes a long way (with pretty much all cooking) so to keep your candy from pre-maturely hardening, make sure you have everything measured and ready to go. 
3. Want to gift your microwave peanut brittle? Once complete hard and broken down into smaller bits, I like to gift in mason jars!
4. Like with all candy making, if you have an issue cleaning out your bowl from hardened candy, just let sit in a bowl of water. The water will break the sugar down, takes about 30 minutes.
5. Seal in a tight container to keep moisture from getting in and leave in a room temperature environment. Do not refrigerate! If you need to do a double layer, put parchment paper in between or the top layer could easily stick to the bottom. It is candy after all. 

Scalding Sugar

When working with sugar, even in the microwave, its easy to BURN it.

You will know you burned it if you start smelling burnt! The times in this microwave peanut brittle are based on my microwave, but you may need to shave 30 seconds off if you have a very powerful microwave.

In the pictures below, I made peanut brittle at the full times listed AND redid it with a minute shaved off of the 1st and 2nd microwave times.

You can see the color difference with less time.  It also tastes less roasted, but the consistency is the same.

How to make Peanut Brittle In the Microwave

Line a baking sheet with parchment paper and spray with nonstick cooking spray. Set aside.

Add white sugar and corn syrup into a large microwave safe bowl. Glass gets super hot.

Microwave for 3 1/2 to 4 minutes.

You want a large bowl because as you microwave, the mixture will double in size and bubble.

Mix well and quickly after you pull it out. Move to next step. 

 

Add peanuts and return to microwave for 2 1/2 to 3 minutes.

Mixture will bubble and double in size again and begin to brown in color.

Stir well and very quickly  before next step.

Add butter and vanilla and cook for 1 minute more.

Your butter may steam up as it hits the scalding sugar.

Mix well for a few seconds

Add baking soda and mix.

Mixture will change color (cloudy) and bubble with air bubbles, this is fine and normal.

Use a spatula to quickly pour into prepared baking sheet.

NOTE ON SPREADING THE BRITTLE:

You don’t want to pop all the bubbles out of the baking soda, so do your best to rotate the baking sheet back and forth to spread your peanut brittle. You can use a spatula to spread a little if necessarily, but don’t go overboard. 

It doesn’t spread like chocolate would. 

 

Let set to harden.

I put in the freezer 15 minutes to harden immediately because I have almost no patience, but you can sit on the counter for an hour and it should harden naturally. 

Once hard, use a sharp knife or break with your hands into pieces.

Store in an airtight container on the counter.