PHOTO: TIM NAUMAN PHOTOGRAPHY/WWW.TIMNAUMAN.COM
Peanut brittle makes a wonderful topping for vanilla ice cream.
About 1/2 pound
SERVINGS
Fill your empty, mostly decorative, candy-colored tin boxes with holiday treats–like Sweet and Spicy Peanut Brittle! Warming spices give this candy an addictive flavor reminiscent of hot apple cider, fireplaces, and chock-full treat boxes.
Ingredients
- 1/2 tsp kosher salt
- 1/4 to 1/2 tsp cayenne of chipotle pepper, ground
- 1/4 tsp hot red pepper flakes
- 1/2 tsp cinnamon, ground
- Vegetable oil, for coating pan and spatula
- 3 cups sugar
- 1-1/2 cup water
- 1/4 tsp Sriracha hot chili sauce (optional)
- 8 ounces roasted peanuts
- 1 tbsp butter
Directions
- Mix seasonings together and set aside. Grease a baking sheet or glass baking dish, or line either with a baking mat or parchment paper, and set aside.
- Lightly coat a heavy saucepan with vegetable oil. Bring sugar, water and optional hot sauce to a boil over medium-high heat, stirring continuously. When it begins to boil, stop stirring and let the mixture cook until the sugars are browning (about 250 degrees on a candy thermometer). Stir in the peanuts, seasonings and butter. Continue stirring (it will be difficult) for a couple more minutes, or until the mixture reaches about 290 degrees.
- Working quickly, pour the mixture onto the lined baking sheet. Using an oiled or buttered spatula, spread the mixture evenly across the pan. Let brittle cool before breaking it into pieces.
