Description
Alton Brown’s peanut brittle recipe blends classic Southern candy-making techniques with precise culinary science. Professional bakers will appreciate the balanced sweetness and satisfying crunch of this traditional treat.
Ingredients
Scale
- 1 ½ cups (0.36 liters) water
- 3 cups sugar
- 1 ½ cups (0.36 kg) lightly salted, roasted peanuts
- ½ tsp (2.5 ml) cinnamon
- ½ tsp (2.5 ml) cayenne pepper
- Vegetable oil, for coating the saucepan
- Softened butter for a spatula
Instructions
- Preparation: Combine roasted peanuts with ground cinnamon and cayenne pepper in a bowl, setting the spiced mixture aside for later incorporation.
- Sugar Transformation: Lightly oil a heavy saucepan, then add sugar and water. Heat on high, gently stirring to promote even caramelization. Cover and boil for 3 minutes without disturbance, then uncover and simmer on medium heat until the sugar develops a golden amber color.
- Nut Integration: Quickly fold the seasoned peanuts into the caramelized sugar, stirring vigorously to ensure complete and rapid coating while maintaining optimal temperature.
- Cooling and Shaping: Immediately pour the molten mixture onto a parchment-lined or silicone-matted baking sheet. Use a buttered spatula to spread the brittle into a thin, uniform layer. Optionally, place a second buttered baking sheet on top to help distribute the nuts evenly.
- Finishing: Allow the peanut brittle to cool completely before breaking or cutting into desired fragments. The result should be a crisp, spicy-sweet confection with a satisfying crunch.
Notes
- Spice Up Smartly: Mix cinnamon and cayenne precisely before starting to enhance peanut flavor and prevent uneven spice distribution.
- Watch Sugar Carefully: Monitor caramelization closely to avoid burning, aiming for a delicate amber color that signals perfect candy stage.
- Work Quickly and Confidently: Once sugar reaches amber stage, move rapidly when adding nuts and spreading mixture to prevent premature hardening.
- Use Proper Equipment: Heavy saucepan and silicone mat/parchment paper are crucial for even heat distribution and preventing sticky catastrophes.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 20 minutes
- Category: Snacks, Desserts
- Method: Boiling
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 11
- Calories: 300
- Sugar: 60 g
- Sodium: 160 mg
- Fat: 12 g
- Saturated Fat: 2 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 8 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 55 g
- Fiber: 3 g
- Protein: 6 g
- Cholesterol: 0 mg