Spicy Peanut Brittle

By
Elizabeth LaBau
Sweet Book of Candy Making Elizabeth LaBau
Elizabeth LaBau
A professional pastry chef, cookbook author, and writer, Elizabeth LaBau has published more than 600 articles on baking and candy making.
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Updated on 01/12/20
Spicy Peanut Brittle
Lartal / Photolibrary / Getty Images
Prep: 40 mins
Cook: 10 mins
Total: 50 mins
Servings: 12 servings

This spicy peanut brittle recipe improves upon a classic candy by adding a modern element—smoky, spicy chipotle chili powder. The resulting candy is crunchy, nutty, sweet, spicy, and terribly addicting.

Ingredients

  • 1 cup granulated sugar
  • 1 cup corn syrup (light)
  • 1 tablespoon butter
  • 2 cups peanuts (salted)
  • 1 1/2 teaspoons baking soda
  • 1 teaspoon chili powder (chipotle, use more or less to taste)

Steps to Make It

  1. Gather the ingredients.

  2. Prepare a baking sheet by lining it with aluminum foil and spraying the foil with nonstick cooking spray; set aside for now.

  3. Combine the chile powder and the baking soda in a small bowl and set aside.

  4. Combine the sugar, butter, and corn syrup in a medium saucepan over medium-high heat. Stir until the sugar and butter dissolve, then ​insert a candy thermometer. Continue to cook the candy, stirring frequently, until the candy thermometer reaches 275 F.

  5. Once at 275 F, add the peanuts to the saucepan and stir to coat them with the candy. The candy might thicken and become difficult to stir, but continue to stir and cook the candy until the thermometer reaches 295 F.

  6. Once at 295 F, remove the candy from the heat and add the chile powder and the baking soda. The baking soda will cause the candy to foam up, so stir carefully.

  7. Once they are incorporated, scrape the brittle onto the prepared baking sheet and spread it into a thin layer with a greased spatula. If desired, you can place another greased sheet of foil or parchment on top and roll the candy into a thin layer using a rolling pin.

  8. Allow the brittle to cool completely, then break it into small pieces by hand.

  9. Serve and enjoy!

Tip

  • Store spicy peanut brittle in an airtight container at room temperature for up to a week.

Recipe Variation

  • If you cannot find chipotle chili powder, you can substitute another chili powder (preferably a smoked variety) instead.
Nutrition Facts (per serving)
284 Calories
13g Fat
40g Carbs
6g Protein
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Nutrition Facts
Servings: 12
Amount per serving
Calories 284
% Daily Value*
Total Fat 13g 17%
Saturated Fat 2g 11%
Cholesterol 3mg 1%
Sodium 169mg 7%
Total Carbohydrate 40g 15%
Dietary Fiber 2g 8%
Protein 6g
Calcium 24mg 2%
*The % Daily Value (DV) tells you how much a nutrient in a food serving contributes to a daily diet. 2,000 calories a day is used for general nutrition advice.
(Nutrition information is calculated using an ingredient database and should be considered an estimate.)