Crunchy Peanut Brittle

Our Crunchy Peanut Brittle does not come with dental insurance so eat and prepare with caution!  Be prepared to spend about one full hour or more to make this beautiful golden and delicious treat which is worth the sacrifice of your precious time.  We have a new warning attached to it this year; eat with safety glasses {he he}.  One of my sons broke off a piece and ended up with a chard of brittle in his eye; after some careful eye wash treatment he went back for more; a glutton for punishment! In our home this recipe gets doubled and tripled due to the fact that as soon as it hardens and cools it magically disappears.

INGREDIENTS

1 1/2 cups of sugar

1 cup of light corn syrup

1 cup water

approximately 1 pound of peanuts (we prefer salted and roasted for a sugary/salty flavour)

8 tsp butter

1 1/2 tsps baking soda

1 tsp water

1 tsp vanilla extract

Plus two cookie sheets lined with parchment paper.

DIRECTIONS

In a heavy stock pot combine sugar, corn syrup and water over medium heat stirring occasionally and brushing down the sides of the pot.  Using a candy thermometer heat the sugar liquid until it reaches 240F; if you don't have a candy thermometer you can do drop a few drops into ice water until a soft ball forms.  While the sugary mixture is boiling prepare a small bowl combining baking soda, water and vanilla insuring that it is well mixed and do give it a quick stir before using as the baking soda will thicken in the bottom of the bowl.

Stir in butter and peanuts and stir constantly until the 300F is reached on the candy thermometer; a quite test again is to drop a few drops into ice water and at this point the mixture should harden and you'll see thin threads of brittle but keep your eye on the pot as at this point it could burn in a flash ruining your deliciousness.  Quickly remove the pot from the heat and stir in the baking soda mixture until well combined.  Pour into the cookie sheets being extra careful not to get any on your fingers and hands as it will leave you blistered.  Your brittle may be thick and bubbly so pick up the cookie sheets a couple of times and thump them on the counter to release any air bubbles and flatten it out; as it cools the peanut brittle will settle and thin out a bit.

Once cooled break into chunks and enjoy!