Easy Cinnamon Peanut Brittle

This time of year always puts me in the mood for peanut brittle but not just any peanut brittle…I want cinnamon peanut brittle.

There are so many peanut brittle recipes out there, so if you already have a favorite, you can try this take on it by just adding cinnamon to your existing recipe. If you don’t have a favorite then I’d love for you to give this version a try.  It makes a yummy treat that can be wrapped up and given as gifts to your co-workers, family, and friends.

You’ll need:

– 1 1/3 c. sugar
– 6 1/2 oz. shelled, salted peanuts
– 1 1/2 tsp. ground cinnamon
– butter to grease cookie sheet and spoon backs
– two metal spoons

Thoroughly grease a cookie sheet with butter, being sure to cover the entire bottom and sides. Next you’ll need to prepare for cooking the sugar. Once the sugar is ready you’ll need to add the peanuts and cinnamon, stir and pour into the cookie sheet pretty quickly so have everything you need (peanuts, cinnamon, metal spoons) setup and ready to go.

Cooking the sugar: over low heat, add the sugar to a frying pan or skillet and stir slowly until it begins to melt and turn light brown. Some people use candy thermometers and there’s a lot of temperature monitoring but we’ve never done that in my family…we just heat until it melts and turns light brown. I’ve always enjoyed the simplicity of it but understand that for first time brittle makers this could be a scary prospect. As long as all of the sugar crystals look melted and there is even the slightest hint of brown, you’ll be fine.

As soon as the sugar is light brown, pour the peanuts and cinnamon into the sugar and stir. Once the ingredients are incorporated, pour the mixture onto the cookie sheet and immediately begin to spread it out using the back of two spoons (sometimes it helps to put a thin coat of butter on these too). It will start to cool pretty quickly, so you’ll want to keep moving. Spread the mix to “one peanut high”.

Pop the tray into the refrigerator for 15 to 20 minutes and allow the candy to cool completely. Then remove the tray and drop it onto the counter with a little force and the candy should start to break up into brittle. Repeat dropping the tray until it is as broken as you’d like. Store it in an airtight container for up to 2 weeks (like it will last that long!).

Feel free to bribe family and friends to do your housework in exchange for this yummy treat!

Just for fun, (and because the herbalist in me can’t help it) here’s some cinnamon trivia for you! The cinnamon tree is native to India and can now be found in many parts of the world. The bark has long been used as a delicious flavoring in many types of food but it also has many medicinal benefits too. This spicy bark is warming and works as a mild, yet effective, digestive aid. It also has antiviral properties that make it great for fighting infection.