No need for complicated recipes or candy thermometers to make this delicious Microwave Peanut Brittle. With only ten minutes of prep time, you can have this candy perfect for gifting ready in just an hour!
When I was a little girl my great-grandpa was a farmer in southeastern Virginia where peanuts are one of the main crops. I remember seeing a HUGE statue of the Mr. Peanut character from Planters on the side of one of the rural highways we’d often travel. Needless to say, peanuts were a big staple in the recipes my family made.
Homemade peanut brittle always reminds me of back then, and while I love it there’s no way I have time for all the complication of candy thermometers and the rest of the old-fashioned process for making it.
What I do have time for is this incredibly easy, super fast Microwave Peanut Brittle and I think you’re going to just love this recipe!
Ingredients
- sugar
- peanuts
- light corn syrup
- salt
- margarine
- vanilla extract
- baking soda
DO NOT make this recipe without reading the tips section below, it contains important information necessary to make this recipe work!
Step by step
- Prepare a baking sheet with a silicone mat or non stick spray. Set aside.
- In a medium microwave-safe bowl (with a lid) combine sugar, peanuts, corn syrup, and salt. Mix well. Cover and microwave for 2 minutes and 30 seconds.
- Remove the bowl and stir quickly. Cover and microwave an additional 2 minutes and 45 seconds. (see picture below)
- Remove bowl and stir in margarine and vanilla extract. Cover and microwave for 1 minute and 45 seconds.
- Remove bowl and stir in baking soda. Quickly mix, then spread onto the prepared baking sheet.
- Use to forks to spread the brittle into an even layer on the pan.
- Allow to cool 45 minutes before breaking into pieces.
Important tips for best results
It’s really important that you read these notes before making this recipe. This is not a recipe you can tweak or play around with…it just won’t work.
You need to follow it perfectly or you’ll end up with a burnt mess. Nobody likes wasting ingredients or stinking up the house so let’s just follow these guidelines:
- Measure out all of your ingredients before starting the recipe. The process works quickly and you need to have everything ready before you start microwaving.
- Use a covered glass bowl to make your brittle. If you won’t have a bowl with a cover, use a plate, like pictured above. Do not attempt to microwave this uncovered, you WILL burn it. Believe me, I know!!
- Finally, this recipe is correct for 1200 watt microwaves. If you open the door to your microwave there should be a sticker there somewhere that has the wattage. If you have a lower watt microwave you’ll need to increase the time. I’d recommend adding 30 seconds per step for a 1000 watt microwave. I don’t have experience yet making this in any microwaves with a lower wattage than that but you could experiment.
How to prevent sticky peanut brittle
There are two main reasons brittle turns out sticky: it either was not heated enough to reach the “hard crack” stage OR there is a lot of humidity in the air. While I cannot guarantee that it can be salvaged 100% of the time, there are a few things you can try to fix sticky peanut brittle.
One option is to try to repeat the last cooking steps with the sticky brittle but this doesn’t always work. Another option is to place the brittle on a Silpat (affiliate link) on a baking sheet and bake in a 325-degree oven 10-15 minutes. This method has had the best turnout rate that I’ve heard over the years.
If you do have a candy thermometer, the brittle should reach a temperature of 305-310 degrees in order to reach “hard-crack” stage.
This is a picture of the mix after the second microwave session. It’s clear and bubbly. No burning here!
This is the microwave peanut brittle just after being spread onto the prepared pan and spread. After this step simply leave it at room temperature to harden, easy-peasy!
FAQs
The microwave peanut brittle should set up in about 30 minutes. If you want to speed it along you can pop the tray in the refrigerator.
Unfortunately I do not have any recipe variations with good results without the corn syrup.
Yes! Baking soda adds lots of tiny air bubbles that give the brittle its classic texture, you don’t want to skip adding it!
I hope you enjoy this microwave peanut brittle recipe! Here are some other easy recipe I love to make and gift for Christmas and other occasions:
- Microwave Pralines
- Microwave Caramel Popcorn
- Dark Chocolate Toffee Truffles
- White Chocolate Nut Pretzel Bark
If you try this recipe, please comment and rate it below, I love hearing from you!
Print
Homemade Peanut Brittle
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Total Time: 15 minutes
- Yield: 18 1x
- Category: dessert
- Method: microwave
- Cuisine: American
Description
No need for complicated recipes or candy thermometers to make this delicious Microwave Peanut Brittle. With only ten minutes of prep time, you can have this candy perfect for gifting ready in just an hour!
Ingredients
- 1 cup sugar
- 1 cup dry-roasted peanuts
- ½ cup light corn syrup
- ⅛ teaspoon salt
- 1 tablespoon margarine
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 1 teaspoon baking soda
Instructions
- Prepare a baking sheet with a silicone mat or non stick spray. Set aside.
- In a medium microwave-safe bowl (with a lid) combine sugar, peanuts, corn syrup, and salt. Mix well. Cover and microwave for 2 minutes and 30 seconds.
- Remove the bowl and stir quickly. Cover and microwave an additional 2 minutes and 45 seconds.
- Remove bowl and stir in margarine and vanilla extract. Cover and microwave for 1 minute and 45 seconds.
- Remove bowl and stir in baking soda. Quickly mix, then spread onto the prepared baking sheet.
- Use two forks to spread the brittle into an even layer on the pan.
- Allow to cool 45 minutes before breaking into pieces.
Notes
- Prepare ALL ingredients ahead of time, you need to move quickly when making this and will not have time for measuring.
- This recipe is for a 1200 watt microwave. If your microwave wattage is different you will have to adjust the cooking times accordingly or risk burning your brittle.
- You MUST cover the bowl in the microwave or you will burn the brittle. No exceptions. If you do not have a glass bowl with a lid you can cover the bowl with a plate.
- If brittle turns out sticky it was not heated enough OR there is a lot of humidity in the air, you can try to repeat the last cooking steps with the sticky brittle but this doesn’t always work. If you do have a candy thermometer, the brittle should reach a temperature of 305-310 degrees.
- Store in an airtight container up to one week.
Keywords: peanut brittle
My turned out like a toffee consistency. Any suggestions?
I was feeling brave today, so I tried your recipe. I have an 1100 watt microwave, I added 15 seconds to each segment! The humidity here was 84 today. I followed the recipe exactly. I have to say this was one of the easiest candies I have ever made! It is delicious. It passed a strenuous test in my house, my Doberman has to try everything I cook. He liked it so much I had to move the pan off the counter. He was trying to help himself! Lol Thank you for this wonderful recipe!
This was just perfect !!
★★★★★
So glad you liked it!!
Can you substitute butter?
yes, butter should be fine
Can I use parchment paper if I don’t have a silicone mat?
yes that should work fine!
The recipe looks great and I’m trying it tomorrow. But I do have to say all the ads and pop up ads are ridiculous. They are very distracting especially when trying to print the recipe.
Sorry about the ads Donna, I try to make them tolerable while still paying the bills. I’ll have a look and see if I can adjust some to make for a better experience.
1st time ever making, and it came out perfect! Though I did encounter a problem with my Tupperware bowl melting half way through! So I put in in a glass bowl, and continued. I was also worried that it may not turn out right because I have a 1994 microwave that’s only supposed to be 600-700 however everything went perfectly! I could see it hardening within 10 mins. So thanks so much for sharing! 🙂🌹🌻
★★★★★
I’m so glad you liked them!!
Enjoyed your receipe. So easy
Thank you, I’m so glad you liked it!
So I used real butter. Also just a tip. Don’t spread it out. It takes the air out of the brittle. The air makes it easier to eat and not so hard. Easier on your teeth. :).
Can butter be used in place of the margarine?
yes!
I just made my first batch and it was perfect! I have a 1000 watt microwave so I increased by 30 seconds on each microwave step!!
Thanks for sharing your recioe and tips!!
★★★★★
I just made my first batch of brittle today. First off I want to thank you for your thorough information. My microwave was 950 watts. We used your formula and it is perfect. For a 950 wattts we increase it 37 sec.
Perfect, I’m so glad you liked it!!
How do you fix microwave brittle that didn’t harden
Is it just sticky Chris? There are two main reasons it doesn’t harden all the way, either it didn’t get hot enough )305-310 degrees) during the cooking process (this is called the hard-crack stage) OR there is a lot of humidity in the air. The most successful method for salvaging it is to place it on a silicone baking mat on a shallow baking dish and heat at 325 in the oven for 10-15 minutes. It will melt back down and should harden all the way afte ryou take it out and it cools. It doens’t work 100% of the time but it’s the best bet for salvaging it.
★★★★★
Fun ,, easy & good recipe . Thank y ou for making it so simple .
I’m so glad you liked it, Wanda! It’s one of my favorites!
Turned out great!
★★★★★
Can this be made with salted cashews?
yes, that would work Judy!
I’m so anxious to try this.
I hope you enjoy it Judi!
Any substrates for the corn syrup?
I’m sorry Theresa, I don’t know of any. ~Melissa
Do NOT use a rubber spatula to mix!! Otherwise, turned out great.
I have been making peanut brittle in micro for several years. Had to get new micro. and it is 1250 watts. Any suggestions on how to tweek your recipe so I don’t burn it! Also, I use raw peanuts, does that make a difference on time too?Husband & son LOVE peanut brittle!
Curious yo know how’s uours turned out using raw peanut?