Homemade Easy Peanut Brittle

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Made in the microwave and literally takes minutes to make, this Homemade Easy Peanut Brittle is my new favorite, quick and easy, Homemade Food Gift.

The holiday season is upon us.  Some of y’all have already done some shopping with black Friday deals.  I honestly have no idea what to get anyone.  And I don’t have to shop for many!  That’s the sad part of it.

We had a staff meeting the other day and two of the moms in the office were talking about Christmas shopping for their children.  One of them was almost finished.  I think my jaw hit the table.  I haven’t even started!!  How in the world can this woman be finished already??

I think that’s always been a weakness of mine.  I have no idea what to get anyone.  Unless they tell me specifically what they want, it’s a crap shoot to me.  Maybe it’s a good gift; maybe not.  Usually not and I wind up returning it anyway.  There’s been very few gifts that my husband or family have truly loved.

Yup.  I suck at buying gifts!

Thus, the reason why I usually stick to food related gifts.  I can usually knock it out of the park with a food gift.  I can bake some mean cookies, cupcakes, or spice mixes.  I’ve even made some salt blends that were delicious.

I haven’t made fudge or candy.  It’s just not something I’ve gotten into.  I haven’t made chocolates or truffles.  I have made bourbon balls, but I haven’t shared those on the blog.  However, I might.  But that must wait until May when I’m in the mood for some Kentucky Derby food.

Growing up, we made several types of cookies.  None that were mainstream.  We made Norwegian cookies.  They’re like a pecan shortbread?  We made peppermint macaroons which are a meringue cookie.  We made bourbon balls.  And then we’d make peanut brittle.

We made peanut brittle in a large batch in the aluminum pot.  I remember it was a big production.  We had to get special peanuts that you couldn’t get at the grocery store.  We had pans and pans ready for the bubbly hot mixture that we would pour into them.  The sweet, golden color was intoxicating.

We were careful when the baking soda went it.

The mixture would bubble up higher and higher until it looked like it was going to spill over, but it never did.  We would stir it all down and pour it into the pans.  The baking soda traps air into the brittle mixture making it light and airy.  The butter you add to the brittle makes it less brittle.

This brittle is less of a production.  You make it in the microwave.  Yup!  The microwave!!  I used a large glass measuring container to make this.  The ingredients don’t look like much when you put them in there, but they do bubble up.  So, please use the largest container you have.

It’s so simple to make for the how delicious it is.  It’s almost sinful.  You microwave for a few minutes.  Add the peanuts and microwave some more.  Then your salt, vanilla, and baking soda go in and you’re done!  Pour it into your pan and you’ve made delicious peanut brittle that’s gift-worthy of even he pickiest of people.

Since I couldn’t resist, as soon as it was cool enough to eat, I nibbled on a piece.  A word to the wise, I would let it cool completely or let sit overnight before you delve into the delicious brittle.  I know.  It’s going to be difficult, but the butter needs time to do its thing.  If you can wait the day, please do.  If not, you’ve been warned.

I can totally sympathize!

Just look at that golden delicious color and those peanuts!  It’s going to be difficult, but try not to eat it all.  This is a food GIFT remember.  But, then again, it’s so simple to make you COULD make another batch any time you want!

Have you made homemade peanut brittle?  If not, what’s your favorite food gift to give or receive?