Name: Microwave Peanut Brittle Recipe
Prep time: 5 min
Cook time: 10 min
Ingredients: 1 cup granulated sugar; ½ cup light corn syrup; 1 cup unsalted roasted peanuts; ½ teaspoon salt; 1 tablespoon butter (plus additional for greasing); 2 teaspoons vanilla extract; 1 teaspoon baking soda

Easy Microwave Peanut Brittle Recipe made with sugar, corn syrup, butter, peanuts, and vanilla. Crunchy, buttery, and ready in minutes!

I’ll be real with you—I used to think candy-making was for people with more patience than me. You know the type, standing over a pot with a candy thermometer, swirling sugar around like they’re auditioning for The Great British Bake Off. Me? I could barely get caramel sauce right without setting off the smoke alarm.

Remember it later!

Planning to try this recipe soon? Pin it for a quick find later!

Remember it later!

Planning to try this recipe soon? Pin it for a quick find later!

Then one Christmas, my aunt (who always seemed to have some trick up her sleeve) handed me a tin of peanut brittle and casually said, “Oh, it’s microwave brittle—took me ten minutes.” I laughed, thought she was joking, and then I ate half the tin before anyone else had a chance. That’s when I knew I had to try it myself. Spoiler: it worked. No thermometer, no stress, no babysitting boiling sugar. Just me, my microwave, and a bowl that nearly overflowed the first time because I thought “eh, big enough.” Lesson learned.

Now every holiday season, this Microwave Peanut Brittle Recipe is my go-to. It’s the kind of thing you can make last-minute for gifts or when you suddenly realize you promised to bring something sweet to a party. And honestly? It’s so good you might end up hoarding it in your kitchen “for quality control.”

Here’s a quick peek at what’s inside:

Why You’ll Love This Microwave Peanut Brittle Recipe?

Here’s the deal: this recipe is stupidly easy. No special equipment, no stovetop drama, just your trusty microwave. It’s ready in about 10 minutes, tastes like a candy shop classic, and has that perfect snap when you bite into it. Sweet, buttery, nutty, with just enough salt to keep you reaching for one more piece. It’s the kind of candy that makes you feel like a kitchen wizard without actually working that hard.

Ingredient Notes:

I like to think of these as the cast of characters that make this candy work.

Sugar – Obviously the backbone here. It’s brittle, so sugar’s running the show.
Light corn syrup – Some people wrinkle their nose at it, but here it keeps everything smooth instead of turning into a gritty mess.
Peanuts – I use unsalted roasted, but salted works too if you like that sweet-salty punch.
Salt – Even if you use salted nuts, don’t skip this. It makes the sweetness pop.
Butter – Adds richness and helps soften the crunch a bit. Plus, butter makes everything better.
Vanilla – That warm, sweet background note that makes it taste homemade.
Baking soda – The surprise hero. It foams up at the end, giving the brittle that light, airy crunch instead of “dentist appointment hard.”

How To Make Microwave Peanut Brittle?

Here’s the part where you realize this candy really is doable.

Prep first – Grease your baking sheet generously with butter. Don’t skimp or you’ll regret it later when you’re chiseling brittle off like an archaeologist.
Sugar + syrup – In a big glass bowl (and I mean big, this bubbles up like crazy), stir together sugar and corn syrup. Microwave for about 3 ½ minutes.
Add peanuts and salt – Stir them in and microwave another 3 minutes. Pause halfway to give it a stir. Your kitchen’s gonna smell amazing at this point.
Butter + vanilla – Stir them in and microwave for 1 ½ minutes. By now it’s looking glossy, golden, and dangerously good.
The magic moment – Stir in the baking soda. Watch it foam up like a middle school science fair volcano. That’s when you know it’s ready.
Pour + cool – Quickly pour it onto your buttered pan, spread it out, and let it cool. Once hardened, break it into jagged pieces and marvel at your work.

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Storage Options:

The good news? This brittle keeps really well. Just break it up, pop it into an airtight container, and keep it at room temp. It stays crisp for up to two weeks—if it even lasts that long. Pro tip: don’t refrigerate it unless you enjoy sticky, chewy candy that glues itself together.

Variations and Substitutions:

One of my favorite things about this recipe is how flexible it is.

Swap peanuts for cashews, almonds, or pecans for a fancy twist.
Add a pinch of cinnamon, nutmeg, or cayenne if you want a little kick.
Drizzle the cooled brittle with dark or white chocolate—instant upgrade.
Use salted peanuts and finish with a sprinkle of flaky sea salt for that “sweet-salty gourmet” vibe.

What to Serve with Microwave Peanut Brittle?

Brittle doesn’t need much to shine, but here are some fun pairings:

With a hot mug of coffee or cocoa—especially around the holidays.
Crumbled over vanilla ice cream (don’t knock it till you try it).
Packed into little bags or tins for homemade gifts. Trust me, people go nuts (literally).

Frequently Asked Questions:

Can I make this without corn syrup?
Yep, but it’ll come out stickier. Honey or golden syrup works, though the texture will be different.

Why is my brittle chewy instead of crunchy?
It probably didn’t cook long enough. Next time, add 30 more seconds to the microwave time and you should be golden.

Can I double the recipe?
Honestly? Don’t. The microwave can’t handle big batches evenly. Just make it twice—it’s so fast you won’t mind.

There you have it, my foolproof Microwave Peanut Brittle Recipe. It’s quick, it’s crunchy, and it makes you look like you worked way harder than you did. So go ahead, give it a try, and then tell me—did you eat half the batch “just to test it,” or was that just me?

Remember it later!

Planning to try this recipe soon? Pin it for a quick find later!

Remember it later!

Planning to try this recipe soon? Pin it for a quick find later!

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