Mimi's Organic Eats » Recipes » Candy » Easy Vegan Peanut Brittle

Easy Vegan Peanut Brittle

Candy • Sweet & Salty Desserts • No Bake Desserts • Gluten Free • No Seed Oils • Vegan • High Altitude • Christmas | Published December 12, 2021 by Mimi Council

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This Easy Vegan Peanut Brittle makes a delicious homemade gift. With just 4 ingredients, this simple homemade candy recipe is one you'll want to make all holiday season long.

If you're looking for more homemade holiday candy, be sure to check out some of my other favorites like my Vegan Dark Chocolate Peppermint Cups, Sea Salt Chocolate Covered Pretzels, or my Dark Chocolate Coconut Squares.

Why You'll Love This Recipe
Ingredients
Tools Needed
Step by Step Instructions
Baker's Tips
FAQ's
Craving More?

This organic peanut brittle is a delicious homemade vegan candy for the holidays. If you like making homemade candy, this is a quick and easy holiday treat that everyone will love. This vegan candy has only 4 organic ingredients!

While traditional peanut brittle can have seed oils, soy, and artificial colors, this homemade candy is made with just 4 real ingredients. The holidays are for indulging in nostalgic treats, and this organic peanut brittle takes me back to being a kid at Christmas!

One of the traditions in my house during Christmas was my mom set up a White Elephant for Christmas day. This little extra White Elephant was all food! And there were always our favorite things like vanilla buttercreams for my dad, sour candy for my brother, and peanut brittle for my grandpa.

We all drew numbers, shook the tiny boxes, and opened up — sometimes I would mistake Good ‘N Plenty (which my mom loved) for Mini Charleston Chews (which I loved), and then have to trade as I have never liked Good ‘N Plenty. But, the funny part was — everyone had their favorites. And, while it was always super fun trying to pick out what we wanted from the wrapped treat pile — and then being super excited, or super bummed, or having Bompa yell at you that you better give him his peanut brittle if you ended up with it. We all always shared in the end, and got a sweet treat. And, it was honestly sometimes the most fun I had all day — with just something as simple as a treat! So, peanut brittle will always remind me of Christmas!

Why You'll Love This Recipe

4 Ingredients: This easy Vegan Peanut Brittle only requires 4 ingredients! That is it! Now, my grandpa would probably turn over in his grave if I had mentioned a vegan peanut brittle to him, haha. As butter was his favorite food. But, I bet if he was here to try it, he would love it as it's absolutely delicious! While butter is in most peanut brittle recipes, it's not necessary.

Perfect for Gifting: This Easy Vegan Peanut Brittle is amazing and perfect for any holiday gift! It has a much longer shelf life than cookies and can easily be made in advance, which makes it a great idea for homemade gifts.

Vegan & Gluten Free: This vegan candy is also gluten free. This makes it perfect if you have friends with allergies or maybe even if you don't know if someone has a gluten or dairy intolerance.

Organic: Most store bought peanut brittle can have seed oils, artificial flavors, and soy. But, this one is made using real organic ingredients.

Ingredients

Cane Sugar: I use organic cane sugar.
Corn Syrup: You'll need organic light corn syrup for this recipe.
Baking Soda: You'll need baking soda. This is crucial as it helps create air bubbles in the brittle, which creates its texture.
Peanuts: Use organic roasted and salted peanuts, this is where all the flavor comes! So, don't use raw peanuts.

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Tools Needed

Scale: Always use a digital food scale for the best results.
3-quart Pot: You'll need a pot to cook the sugar, I use my 3-quart stainless steel pot.
Candy Thermometer: You'll need a candy thermometer to heat the sugar properly.
Baking Sheet: You'll need a half sheet pan to spread out the peanut brittle as it cools.
Parchment Paper: I always use nontoxic parchment paper so I can easily remove the bars from the baking pan.

Step by Step Instructions

Step 1

Line a baking sheet with parchment paper.

Step 2

In a medium pot, add the cane sugar, corn syrup, and water. Cook over medium heat until the sugar is melted. Bring to a boil and continue to cook over medium heat until it reaches 300°F on a candy thermometer. (Be sure to check the notes for heating instructions if you are cooking at high altitude).

Remove from heat, and add in the baking soda and stir to combine completely. Add the peanuts and stir to combine completely.

Step 3

Immediately pour onto the prepared baking sheet and spread evenly, hurry as it cools quickly.

Baker's Tips

I use a 3-quart stainless steel pot for this recipe. But, if you are going to double or triple it then please use a much larger pot! When you add the baking soda it will rise up, so that is why a larger pot will be needed if you make more than one batch.
Use the best organic ingredients. This recipe has very few ingredients, so they truly matter! Use organic cane sugar, organic corn syrup, and organic peanuts!
If you're wondering if the baking soda is necessary, it truly is! Why is baking soda needed in peanut brittle? What does baking soda do in peanut brittle? The baking soda creates air bubbles (watch your sugar mixture foam and rise when added!) which helps give peanut brittle its texture. This candy is known for being light, airy, and crispy – and that is due to the baking soda. So don't skip it!
Make sure to use roasted and salted peanuts. This type of peanuts have all the flavor as opposed to raw peanuts. And we want all that amazing flavor and salt in this candy as it's supposed to be sweet and salty!
This is a great candy to make ahead of time as it lasts a while. So, it is why it makes such a great gift as you can make it ahead when you have time and it still tastes amazing upon giving.

FAQ's

Can I use raw peanuts?

I don't recommend using raw peanuts as this gets a lot of flavor from the peanuts because they are roasted and salted. So, it's definitely key to use roasted and salted peanuts here for flavor. If you only have raw peanuts, you can roast and salt them yourself before starting this recipe.

Can I make peanut brittle at high altitude?

Yes, with this Easy Vegan Peanut Brittle recipe, you can make this at high altitude! I provide a simple adjustment for cooking at high altitude, and it's in the Notes at the bottom of the recipe. Candy making at high altitude is possible as long as you adjust for the lower boiling point of water, it's really that simple! Which is why you don't need to cook sugar as long or as high to get to the certain stages.

How do I store homemade peanut brittle?

Homemade peanut brittle should be stored in a cool dry place. A tin is a perfect vessel to store this holiday treat! I like to put parchment paper in a tin and then put the peanut brittle on top.