Microwave peanut brittle is an easy 15 minute candy recipe perfect for the holidays. It’s a family favorite sweet at every Christmas!
Microwave Peanut Brittle Recipe
This Microwave Peanut Brittle recipe has been a family favorite for as long as I can remember. My mom makes it every single Christmas and everyone always loves it. It has a light melt in your mouth texture with a sweet and salty flavor that is to die for! Whether you are making a batch to share with your family at the holidays or looking for a great homemade gift idea, this peanut brittle is perfection.
Homemade Microwave Peanut Brittle
I had been telling my mom that she needed to get a new microwave since I was a teenager. It took FOREVER to heat things up. I knew it was old and loosing power but she wouldn’t hear it. Needless to say, 10 years later when she finally moved to a new home and tried to make her microwave peanut brittle recipe in her new microwave it burnt! The cook time was far too much in a fully powered microwave. HAHA!
The old microwave happened to be located in our basement yet seeing we are the ones who bought their old house. After her first failed attempt, she immediately requested her old microwave back. She could gladly have it.
Now every Christmas season, my Dad has to haul the old microwave upstairs from the basement storage room just so Mom can make her amazing Microwave Peanut Brittle!
How to Make Peanut Brittle in a Microwave
Needless to say, I had to rework the cook times so it would work in a normal microwave. After a few different tests, I figured it out so it tastes just like my Mom’s peanut brittle and will work in everyone’s normal microwave.
Everything comes together in a glass casserole or mixing bowl. The first step is to stir the corn syrup and granulated sugar together and microwave for 3.5 minutes. Next, stir in peanuts and microwave for 3 more minutes, until light brown. Add the butter and vanilla to mixture and stir until well combined. Microwave for an additional 1.5 minutes.
You will need to work quickly for the next step, so be sure to have your buttered baking sheet already to go. Add the baking soda to the mixture and gently stir until light and foamy. Quickly pour the foamy mixture onto the greased cookie sheet. Do NOT use a spoon to spread the mixture around. Instead, gently rotate the pan to spread the mixture around until it is about 1/2 inch thick.
Let the peanut brittle cool for 1/2 hour. When it is cooled, break the candy into small pieces and store in air-tight container.
Microwave Peanut Brittle
Ingredients
- 1 c. sugar
- 1/2 c. corn syrup + 2 Tbsp
- 1 1/4 c. roasted salted peanuts
- 1 1/2 tsp. butter
- 1 1/2 tsp. vanilla
- 1 tsp. baking soda
Instructions
- In a glass 1.5 qt casserole or mixing bowl, stir the corn syrup and granulated sugar together and microwave for 3.5 minutes. Stir in the peanuts and microwave for 3 more minutes until light brown. Add the butter and vanilla to the mixture and stir until well combined. Microwave for an additional 1.5 minutes.
- You will need to work quickly for the next step, so be sure to have your buttered cookie sheet ready to go. Add the baking soda to the mixture and gently stir until light and foamy. Quickly pour the foamy mixture onto the greased cookie sheet.
- Do NOT use a spoon to spread the mixture around. Instead, gently rotate the pan to spread the mixture around until it is about 1/2 inch thick. Work quickly, because it will began hardening very fast.
- Let the peanut brittle cool for at least 1/2 hour or until it is hard and smooth to the touch. When it is cooled, break the candy into small pieces and store in an air-tight container.
More easy holiday treats!
Salted Caramel & Pretzel Chocolate Bark
I always make mine in the microwave! We love it and it’s so easy!
My daughter does her peanut brittle like this and it’s always so good! Way easier than the old fashioned way!
My mom always made her peanut brittle this way because it’s so much easier! I have yet to try and I need to change that!!
Honestly, I don’t think I have ever made peanut brittle! I have been too scared to do it! But this recipe looks so easy, I just might give it a try!
I have always used raw peanuts for this recipe but I’m going to try the roasted peanuts…this is so easy but be careful when working with the hot candy as it will burn anywhere it touches immediately…I’m going to try this year, to do this with pecans or cashews…fingers crossed!!