Aug 16, 2019 if you cook the peanut brittle past the hardcrack stage, it will become too brittle. On a candy thermometer, hard crack stage is defined as between 300310 degrees f 148. Simple ingredients and easy steps, make this candy recipe a staple in my house. It uses the most basic of ingredients sugar, corn syrup, and peanuts. Storing peanut brittle in the fridge or freezer also can alter its texture. Cook, without stirring, over medium heat until a candy thermometer reads 260 hardball stage. Peanut brittle recipe a great holiday tradition everyone loves. Salvaging undercooked peanut brittle tiffany loves cake. Candy is one of those foods that you must cook it to the right temperature. Drop a little of the molten syrup in cold water and it will form hard, brittle threads that break when bent. If you cook the peanut brittle past the hardcrack stage, it will become too brittle. When syrup is dropped into cold water at the hard crack stage, it separates into hard brittle threads that when removed from the water cannot be bent without breaking. That means that the syrup solidifies when cooled, breaks easily. Peanut brittle how to make peanut brittle at home easy.
Peanut brittle recipe how to make easy peanut brittle. Apr 02, 2020 the texture of peanut brittle comes from water and sugar that is heated to a temperature known as the hard crack stage, after which it will cool into a hard, almost glasslike form. Oldfashioned homemade peanut brittle house of nash eats. Drop a spoonful of hot syrup into cold water, then remove the candy from the water and attempt to bend it. Candy making what do i keep burning, peanut brittle. Its the best peanut brittle ever and perfect for homemade giftgiving.
This peanut brittle is a must at our house during the holidays. But peanut brittle is delicate and you can easily bite into ithow. You will need to stir the sugar mixture occasionally to. Homemade candy isnt as intimidating as it sounds, in fact we love making easy homemade dessert gifts including these chocolate truffles, chocolate fudge, buckeye balls and oreo balls. If you take it off the heat too soon, it doesnt set up and makes a sticky mess, but let it cook too long and it becomes scorched and bitter. It is highly recommended that you use a candy thermometer to reach this stage, since you can easily miss it by a few degrees and produce candy in soft crack stage, or you may caramelize or burn your sugar. Putting the buttery crunch in peanut brittle howto. Using a thermometer is always a good plan because you will be able to know exactly when it gets to the hardcrack stage and that. Everyone says it is the best peanut brittle that they have ever tasted. Cook to 280f not quite at the hard crack stage which is 290 degrees, stirring often. My peanut brittle turned out sticky, what can i do.
Cook this mixture over medium heat to the soft ball stage about 238 degrees on a candy thermometer, stirring it only until the sugar dissolved. The most likely reason your peanut brittle turned sticky is because you didnt cook it long enough. Soft crack hard crack light caramel dark caramel bind agent for fruit pastes a spoonful of sugar drizzled over a plate forms a fine, thin thread. If it is cooked to the hard crack stage, that doesnt happen. For example, at 235 f, the syrup is at the softball stage. Ive partnered with karo corn syrup for this easy and delicious recipe. Image by vegan feast catering via flickr sugar stages. Hard candy such as lollipops and peanut brittle must reach a high temperature, known as the hard crack stage, when cooking.
Amazingly, it was super simple and took less than an hour to make. Microwave peanut brittle easy and delicious an alli event. Continue boiling, stirring frequently until candy reaches the hard crack stage or 300 degrees f on a candy thermometer. Dec 10, 20 i wanted to make some peanut brittle just because i hate making candy and needed to see if i could actually make it. At these temperatures, there is almost no water left in the syrup. It needs to hit the hard crack stage, which is between 295f and 309f. Peanut brittle best old fashioned peanut brittle recipe. See equipment used to make peanut brittle for my recommended thermometer. When making peanut brittle, i keep a candy thermometer in the pan at all times.
To make peanut brittle, the sugar syrup must be cooked to what is called the hard crack stage. Peanut brittle gets too hard when the cooking temperature gets too high. Oldfashioned homemade peanut brittle is a crispy, crunchy homemade candy loaded with roasted peanuts in a buttery, sweet candy coating. If you want your chikki to be super duper crispy, cook the jaggery syrup till hard crack stage, which will be at 300 f degrees. Stir constantly until hardcrack stage, or 300f, is reached. Cook the mixture to the hard crack stage about 290 degrees on a candy thermometer. Oct 14, 2019 why is my peanut brittle too hard or too soft. Thus began my mission to master peanut brittle, and perhaps my ultimate decision to write a cookbook. Add sugar, corn syrup, water, and salt to a heavy 2quart saucepan.
To make peanut brittle, the sugar syrup must be cooked to what is called the hardcrack stage. If you follow these steps, the chikki will come out just perfect everytime. Although a lot can go into making a sugar candy, the basic process involved making a sugar syrup which is boiled to different temperature stages. Otherwise, they come out soft and gooey, like fudge. Peanut brittle is a classic recipe that is the perfect combo of sweet and salty. Peanut brittle has to reach the hardcrack stage, which means that strands of sugar break easily and feel dry, not sticky.
The hard crack stage is the highest temperature you are likely to see specified in a candy recipe. Candy making without a thermometer cold water test. Fill a cup with cold water and drip a drop of the syrup into water. Using a candy thermometer, cook over medium heat until 300 f hard crack stage. Line a large cookie sheet with parchment paper, wax paper, or a silicone mat. New old fashioned corn fritters 100 year old recipe the hillbilly kitchen duration. I wanted to make some peanut brittle just because i hate making candy and needed to see if i could actually make it. In a large bowl, toss the peanuts, hot pepper sauce and allspice until evenly coated. Whats important to know is that the corn syrup controls the grain of the brittle so adding too little and you have a grainy textured brittle, while adding too much will result in a stringy and sticky brittle. Peanut brittle confident in the kitchen jean miller. Peanut brittle how to make peanut brittle at home easy gift idea.
The syrup separates into threads that are hard and brittle. Brittles are cooked to a very high temperature, the hard crack stage 296 degrees f, 147 degrees c. While brittle is the term for any combination of sugar and water thats heated to the hard crack stage and cooled, its the addition of salty peanuts that makes this homemade peanut brittle recipe so addictively delicious. Mar 03, 2019 peanut brittle is the perfect party dessert, made with butter, peanuts, and corn syrup, its sweet, crunchy, and ready in under 60 minutes. Add the peanut butter, butter, and vanilla, and then the baking soda, stirring constantly.
Meanwhile, put the measured peanut butter and peanuts in a medium size bowl and microwave on defrost or half power to warm. I always go way slow and carefully, but long before a hard crack stage my ingredients have burned, the burned isnt terrible but it distract from the tastes. Peanut brittle has to reach the hard crack stage, which means that strands of sugar break easily and feel dry, not sticky. Cook over medium heat, stirring occasionally, until mixture comes to a full boil about 1012 minutes. Nov 12, 2018 many peanut brittle recipes dont provide a target temperature for cooking, which i sort of understand because were aiming for the final amber stage, known as hard crack, but i provide a temperature below so you can nail it every time without question. Add butter and continue cooking, stirring occasionally, until mixture reaches soft crack stage mixture forms strands that hold shape but are pliable. The texture of peanut brittle comes from water and sugar that is heated to a temperature known as the hard crack stage, after which it will cool into a hard, almost glasslike form. Bring the mixture up to hard crack 290300, stirring more at the end, you dont want the peanuts to burn. Jan 09, 2018 it will harden to a brittle consistency, it would snap. If your syrup has reached the hard crack stage, it will form brittle strands in the water and crack as you bend it.
I knew it was undercooked when i ate a piece and it really stuck to my teeth. Instructions line a half sheet pan with parchment paper. If your syrup has reached the hardcrack stage, it will form brittle strands in the water and crack as you bend it. What temperature should you cook peanut brittle to. When temperature is 280f, or softcrack stage, add peanuts.
Nov 26, 2016 add sugar, corn syrup, water, and salt to a heavy 2quart saucepan. Mix thoroughly and microwave on high for 4 minutes. Learn more about the hard crack stage in the candy making process. This usually takes 20 minutes or so, but you must watch it at all times. When you add the baking soda, the mixture will increase in volume dramatically. In many instances, corn syrup is added to the sugar and water mixture to prevent sugar crystals from forming and ruining the final texture of the brittle. Set candy thermometer in place, and continue cooking, stirring frequently. If youre peanut brittle is still chewy after it cools, you may be able to save it. Cook, without stirring, over medium heat until a candy thermometer reads. Also, after the soft crack stage, just before hard crack, be careful to control the heat and not burn it. The hillbilly kitchen down home country cooking 428,039 views. If youd like to try making your own candy, this easy peanut brittle recipe is a perfect place to start.
Oct 15, 2010 new old fashioned corn fritters 100 year old recipe the hillbilly kitchen duration. You just boil corn syrup, water, and butter until it hits the soft crack stage on your candy thermometer, stir in the peanuts, and keep boiled until it hits hard. First, the mixture of corn syrup and sugar has to reach the soft crack stage. When a small amount of sugar syrup is dropped into very cold water. Dec 06, 2010 using a candy thermometer, cook over medium heat until 300 f hard crack stage. I need tips on molten sugar, and what keeps going wrong with my candy making, because it often has a burnt tastes. As the peanut brittle cools, stretch it out thinner by lifting and pulling at edges with forks. It gets too soft when the cooking temperature doesnt get hot enough. Peanut brittle is the perfect party dessert, made with butter, peanuts, and corn syrup, its sweet, crunchy, and ready in under 60 minutes.
Combine syrup, sugar, water and butter in a heavy 3quart saucepan over medium heat. Putting the buttery crunch in peanut brittle howto finecooking. The ingredients for hard crack candy are fairly simple, but you can vary the recipe by adding different colors and flavors. Kathy i undercooked my peanut brittle but i did use a cnady thermometer and it did reach 300. Many peanut brittle recipes dont provide a target temperature for cooking, which i sort of understand because were aiming for the final amber stage, known as. Another possible cause might be humidity in the air. At this stage, the syrup will register between 305 and 310f on a candy thermometer. In a large sauce pan, combine sugar, corn syrup and water. Using a pastry brush dipped in water, wash down the sides of the pan to eliminate sugar crystals. Once boiling, continue to cook without stirring until temperature reaches 280f on. Nov 26, 2012 full recipe below a little sweet, a little salty and a whole lot of crispy, peanut brittle is the perfect treat to give this holiday. This stage makes a syrup, not a candy fudge, fondant, creams, penuche, maple, etc. The hardcrack stage is the highest temperature you are likely to see specified in a candy recipe. Combine the peanuts, butter, and baking soda in a bowl, and place next to the stove.
Stir in peanuts and microwave on high until the mixture is light brown, about 3 to 5 minutes longer. The recipe comes from my 1953almost 50 year old better homes and gardens cookbook. Nov 07, 2016 in a large sauce pan, combine sugar, corn syrup and water. The hardcrack stage is called for in recipes for crunchy candies such as peanut brittle, barley sugar, etc. Stir in the butter and cook, stirring constantly, until golden brown. Peanut brittle has a sweet and buttery flavor with a hard and crunchy texture. Peanut brittle is an example of a noncrystalline candy which is cooked to the hard crack stage. Apr 20, 2020 when making peanut brittle, i keep a candy thermometer in the pan at all times. To get that signature snappy brittle, you need to add baking soda. If you dont have a candy thermometer, you can use the cold water test in a pinch. Nov 14, 2016 continue boiling, stirring frequently until candy reaches the hard crack stage or 300 degrees f on a candy thermometer. The term brittle first appeared in print since 1892, though the candy itself has been around for much longer.
Any recipe that involved a candy thermometer just made me a. That means that the syrup solidifies when cooled, breaks easily when snapped, and no longer feels sticky. It seems to take a long time for it to finally make it to the hard crack stage. Feel the drop at the bottom of the cup if its hard and brittle, its ready. How to make peanut brittle how to cook like your grandmother. Dec 06, 2019 line a large cookie sheet with parchment paper, wax paper, or a silicone mat. C, which is hard crack stage, before pouring onto baking sheet. Line a 15 x 10inch baking sheet with parchment paper and coat lightly with nonstick spray. In a 3 quart saucepan, combine the sugar, corn syrup and water.
While brittle is the term for any combination of sugar and water thats heated to the hard crack stage and cooled, its the addition of salty peanuts that makes this homemade peanut brittle recipe so. In a deep microwavesafe bowl, combine sugar and corn syrup. It will harden to a brittle consistency, it would snap. Pour onto two buttered baking sheets or jelly rollsize baking pans. Full recipe below a little sweet, a little salty and a whole lot of crispy, peanut brittle is the perfect treat to give this holiday. A small amount of syrup is dropped into chilled water, it will separate into threads that will bend when picked up. Dec 11, 2019 as i waited and waited for the magic 300f hard crack stage, the concoction suddenly turned into a solid mass of charred sugar.
Bring to a boil over medium heat, stirring until the sugar is dissolved. Dec 30, 2018 peanut brittle is a classic recipe that is the perfect combo of sweet and salty. Aug 04, 2010 when the mixture reaches the hardcrack stage, about 300 f use a candy thermometer to measure the temperature, remove the pan from the heat. Cook over medium heat to soft ball stage 234 degrees.
1628 682 988 1049 664 1391 1141 894 1279 1474 1094 396 797 292 1352 363 519 68 147 1618 637 165 1156 1251 747 734 680 790