Microwave peanut brittle is an easy 15 minute candy recipe perfect for the holidays. It’s a family favorite sweet at every Christmas!
Easy Homemade 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 an easy homemade gift idea, this microwave peanut brittle is perfection.
Peanut Brittle in the Microwave
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!
Microwave wattage for Peanut Brittle
So this presents an issue that is common with making any sort of desserts in the microwave. Whether you are whipping up a batch of Microwave Caramel Corn or Snack Mix, it is important to have a grasp on the power of your small appliance.
The cooking times for this Microwave Peanut Brittle Recipe are for a 1,000 watt microwave.
If your microwave has a different wattage, keep a close eye and nose during the final steps of cooking. It may take you one or two tries to perfect it depending on the wattage and age of your microwave. As microwaves get older, they tend to loose power.
But once you get the recipe down, tuck it away in a special cookbook and keep it for the life of your microwave, because its that amazing! I promise you it is worth the potential failed attempt, because once you master the cooking times of your microwave, it is such an easy recipe that you can crank out batch after batch with ease.
This may all sound overwhelming, but it really is such an easy recipe. The effort doen’t even compare to how much work it is to make peanut brittle on the stove with a candy thermometer.
How to Make Peanut Brittle in the Microwave
After testing this Microwave Peanut Brittle recipe for my new KitchenAid 1,000 watt microwave multiple times, I am excited to share it with you!
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.
How do you make Peanut Brittle
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. Do NOT over stir. Only stir enough to mix in the baking soda in, in more of a folding motion.
The baking soda adds air to the mixture, which creates more of that melt in your mouth texture. If you stir too hard or too much, it will break down the air bubbles and the brittle will be thin and hard.
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.
Peanut Brittle Candy
I remember the stress of first time I made microwave peanut brittle myself very well. Not only was I worried it wouldn’t turn out like Mom’s, but I stared at the bowl with crusted on caramelized sugar when I was all done and thought “Oh crap, I am never going to get this clean!”
The good news is that you just need to soak your glass bowl with soap and water and it all comes off super easy. Just be sure not to add cold water to a hot glass bowl or you will have broken glass!
More delicious holiday sweets!
If you are looking for more great treats for the holidays, check out some of these fantastic dessert recipes!
- Peppermint Chocolate Candy Cane Cupcakes
- Eggnog Fudge
- Cranberry Orange Custard Pie
- Salted Dark Chocolate Pomegranate Tart
Microwave Peanut Brittle
Microwave peanut brittle is an easy 15 minute candy perfect for the holidays. It's a family favorite recipe at every Christmas!
Ingredients
- 1 cup granulated sugar
- 1/2 cup light corn syrup + 2 Tbsp
- 1 1/4 cup roasted salted peanuts
- 1 1/2 tsp. butter
- 1 1/2 tsp. vanilla extract
- 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.
Notes
Cooking times are for a 1000 watt microwave. If your microwave has a different wattage, keep a close eye and nose during the final steps in cooking. It may take you one or two tries to perfect it depending on the wattage and age of your microwave.
Soak your cooled glass bowl in soap and water and it will come clean very easily.
Nutrition Information:
Yield: 8 Serving Size: 8 ServingsAmount Per Serving: Calories: 122Total Fat: 1gSaturated Fat: 0gTrans Fat: 0gUnsaturated Fat: 0gCholesterol: 2mgSodium: 167mgCarbohydrates: 29gFiber: 0gSugar: 29gProtein: 0g
Provided nutrition data is only an estimate. If you are tracking these nutrients for medical purposes, please consult an outside, trusted source.
I always make mine in the microwave! We love it and it’s so easy!
Do you microwave on high?
yes!
My daughter does her peanut brittle like this and it’s always so good! Way easier than the old fashioned way!
Do I need a higher wattage oven for it to work better?
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!!
Put cookie sheet in the oven about 200° take out just before peanut brittle is ready and then butter it makes it spread out easier when you shake it
Love that tip!
Awesome tip! I’m going to try this.
Why does it say aft the end of the directions microwave for an astronautical 15 minutes?
I’m not sure where you are seeing the extra 15 minutes of microwave time. Perhaps you are seeing the Total Time to make which is 15 minutes.
I know, I was confused until I read the total cooking and prep times.
3.5 was surprising, 35 mins seemed alot
1.5 at the end
I’m going with 3 to 5 and 1 to 5 mins
Tks
3.5 is 3 1/2 and 1.5 is 1 1/2
3 . 5
1 . 5
there is a period in between
3.5 meaning =Three and a half min
As in
1.5 means = one and a half min
The period for fractions is hard to see .
So I tried to double the recipe and it is more like crunchy caramel. ? what would you suggest on cooking time for doubling? Or are single batches better?
We never double this recipe. I always just make subsequent batches in the microwave using the same bowl.
I have always made this BUT this year it was kind of burned. I followed the same receipt. What advise do you have on that ?
Did you use a different microwave? Honestly each microwave will vary a little bit in their power. I just made a batch at my mom’s house and it was a little more done than when I make it at my house. Reduce the cooking time by a couple minutes if you end up with burnt brittle. I know that doesn’t help the burnt batch, but you will know how to cook it in your microwave from now on.
I have made 2 batches . They turned out great. I followed instruction exactly. I have a 1100 watt microwave. I love Peanut Brittle but most of the ones you buy are so hard. This is crispy , crunchy. Perfect.
So glad you loved it! My Dad always says its the best because it almost melts in your mouth.
Just made a batch, it tastes great, but it is kind of sticky! It sticks to your teeth! Where do you think I went wrong ? Thank you
Sounds to me like it might have been a bit undercooked. Perhaps your microwave is a bit older or just a little lower power. In that case, just add a minute or two in the beginning of the cooking time.
Thanks so. Much !! I will try that. Peanut Brittle is one of my favorites! This is so easy that I can whip up a batch anytime ?
1 point 5 minutes. Just like the first time is 3 point 5 minutes. her font used it is hard to see the” points”.
Its 1.5. There’s a decimal point between 1 and 5
Can it be done on the stove??
I have never made this recipe on the stove.
Yes it can be done on the stove but you need a candy thermometer or know how to do the crackle test in water
Why don’t you post the wattage of the microwave you used. Terms old and new/modern whatever aren’t helpful.
If we know your wattage we can guesstimate better our changes needed.
Please everyone post your wattageand changes to help us all.
@Pam who posted her trial at 1100 watts — thank you!!!
You are absolutely right and thank you for pointing that out. Sorry I didn’t include this before. I made this recipe in a 1,000 watt microwave.
I cooked it on a 700 watt and times were 4 minutes 3mins, and 3 minutes, came out sticky and chewy? Do I add minutes to all three steps? Or just step one? Thanks
700 watts will definitely need a couple extra minutes. I’d add the extra time to the second round and watch closely to the color. Just make sure it doesn’t get dark.
What size cookie sheet are you pouring in onto?
I’ve used larger and smaller ones. Heck I even used a pizza pan the other day for my 3rd batch. lol Any pan larger than 9×13 will work.
If I omit the salt could I use salted cashews?
The peanuts are salted, so no need to omit salt unless you just prefer less salt.
Hi there my microwave is a 900 watt can ŷou tell me time scale for that and is there any chance of recipe in grams please
Sorry, I don’t have a 900 watt microwave to test the recipe with, but most likely you will need to add an extra minute. Just keep a close eye on it and make sure it is a nice golden brown before adding the baking soda in the last step.
Just want to add– don’t stir too much or too hard after adding the baking soda. The soda adds air to the mixture, which makes it lighter, less solid to bite, and more “melt-in-your-mouth” as the cell walls are thinner. If you stir TOO much after the soda, you will break down the wonderful air bubbles and your brittle will be more solid and hard to bite.
Yes, absolutely! I didn’t think to add this comment as it was just second nature to me, but thanks for pointing that out. I will definitely add it to the post!