Microwave Peanut Brittle

Published December 10, 2018. Updated December 20, 2020

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The easiest Peanut Brittle recipe you’ll ever make! This version is made in the microwave and it’s practically foolproof. It’s made with basic ingredients and everyone is sure to love it! It has a perfectly crips texture and an irresistible nutty, caramel-like flavor.

Close up image of stake of peanut brittle showing texture.

Easy Homemade Peanut Brittle

You wouldn’t believe how easy it is to make this Microwave Peanut Brittle. Not only that but it has the perfect texture and it tastes delicious! No one will even know you made it in the microwave.

It will make a perfect last minute gift for that friend or neighbor on you list, or for yourself of course :)!

If you like your peanut brittle to have more of the meltaway effect, I like to spread as little as possible so it’s light and crisp. If you like it more of the traditional way just spread it out thin. Either way you are going to love this!

Merry Christmas week everyone!

Ingredients for Peanut Brittle

  • Granulated sugar
  • Light corn syrup
  • Salted peanuts (unsalted works too just wait to add 1/4 tsp salt at the end with baking soda)
  • Butter
  • Vanilla
  • Baking soda

Whisking sugar and corn syrup in a bowl.

How to Make Microwave Peanut Brittle

For directions visit allrecipes.com.

Stirring peanuts into mixture in mixing bowl.

Adding butter and vanilla mixture in mixing bowl.

  • Cook times may vary slightly depending on microwave wattage. Watch for a golden brown color near the end.
  • Reviewers have mentioned trouble with this recipe in recent years. I believe this is due to microwaves being made with higher wattages.
  • Newer higher wattage microwave should have 30 seconds cut from each cook time.
  • Note that the less you spread the lighter the brittle will be, or more air bubbles it will have, so if you prefer it like so then do as little spreading as possible. If you prefer it flatter then spread it out thin.

Adding baking soda to mixture in mixing bowl.

Spreading finished peanut brittle mixture onto baking sheet.

Breaking peanut brittle into pieces after cooling.

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4.55 from 33 votes

Microwave Peanut Brittle

The easiest Peanut Brittle recipe you'll ever make! This version is made in the microwave and it's practically foolproof. It's made with basic ingredients and everyone is sure to love it! It has a perfectly crips texture and an irresistible nutty, caramel-like flavor.
Servings: 20
Prep10 minutes
Cook9 minutes
Ready in: 19 minutes

Ingredients

Instructions

Notes

  • Cook times may vary slightly depending on microwave wattage. Watch for a golden brown color near the end.
  • Reviewers have mentioned trouble with this recipe in recent years. I believe this is due to microwaves being made with higher wattages.
  • Newer higher wattage microwave should have 30 seconds cut from each cook time.
  • Note that the less you spread the lighter the brittle will be, or more air bubbles it will have, so if you prefer it like so then do as little spreading as possible. If you prefer it flatter then spread it out thin.
Nutrition Facts
Microwave Peanut Brittle
Amount Per Serving
Calories 111 Calories from Fat 36
% Daily Value*
Fat 4g6%
Cholesterol 1mg0%
Sodium 102mg4%
Potassium 48mg1%
Carbohydrates 18g6%
Sugar 16g18%
Protein 1g2%
Vitamin A 20IU0%
Calcium 5mg1%
Iron 0.2mg1%
* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.
Nutrition values are estimates only. See full disclaimer here.

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143 Comments

  • Emilie Vincent

    This is great and so easy. Just follow the directions exactly. It helps to have a warm cookie sheet buttered and then the brittle spreads without using a spatula.

  • Debra Rackley

    I tried it twice, both times, it turned out a burnt mess! I have a thousand watt GE Sensor Microwave Oven.

  • Shannon

    Read this recipe about 20 minutes ago and am now eating it. Delicious. Thank you for this recipe. As a side note. I have a 1200 Watt oven. reduced time each step about 10 to 30 second. Turned out great

  • Tina Leuer

    I tried this recipe for the first time today. It turned out just fine. I used half cashew pieces and half peanuts. Because the nuts were salted, I did not add salt. The first step is difficult …stirring the corn syrup and the sugar, even though I sprayed the glass container and the spoon. I microwaved it for one minute and then I could stir it more easily. I cut real bacon into tiny pieces and added during the step of adding butter and vanilla. Yum😀❤️

  • Joe Reeves

    This turned out way too thick and very difficult to mix using times recommended. Broke my bowl from the heat. Doesn’t spread at all. Extremely sticky. Ruined my other salad bowl and wooden spoon. It’s like a rock.

    • Jaclyn

      Jaclyn Bell

      So sorry to hear that Joe! Do you know the wattage of your microwave? I think I should list adjusted times for those higher wattage ones. As microwaves change I think they may be getting more powerful over the years.

      • Sandra Trierweiler

        I have a 1000 watt microwave could you tell me the times——Thank you

  • Shirley

    Wonderful recipe. The brittle turned out great the first try. It’s crunchy and melts in your mouth. No taffy-like stickiness—just wonderful. I recommend this recipe to everyone. It just became my go-to recipe for the holidays.

  • Brenda N DiMillo

    First batch burnt badly using times listed in recipe. Reduced time to 3 minutes, 2 minutes 45 seconds and 1 minute 25 seconds for second batch which turned out ok.