EASY MICROWAVE PEANUT BRITTLE – VIDEO
This is the easiest peanut brittle recipe because it’s made in the microwave! It’s made with simple ingredients and comes together quickly. You’ll want to add this recipe to our holiday baking pronto!

Speaking of the holidays, you might also love our Microwave Christmas Divinity, Five Minute Fudge, and No Bake Avalanche Treats.
Table of contents
❤️ WHY WE LOVE IT
We love this recipe because it really simplifies the process of making peanut brittle. It takes most of the guesswork out of it, and….it’s delicious! Mom first found this recipe in her Sharp Carousel Cooking Book years ago. We have changed it a tad, and it always comes out great. We love adding it to gift bags for Christmas, and it also makes a wonderful hostess gift for holiday parties.
🍴KEY INGREDIENTS
- White sugar
- Light corn syrup
- Dash of salt
- Shelled raw peanuts (Could use regular peanuts or pecans, too)
- Butter
- Baking soda
- Vanilla
SWAPS
You could easily swap out the peanuts for cashews or pecans. Many have asked about swapping corn syrup for another ingredient, but unfortunately, I’ve not found one that works well.
🥣HOW TO MAKE
You won’t believe how simple this recipe is! Once you make it, I bet you make it again.
PREPARATIONS
Be sure and measure out all your ingredients. This microwave peanut brittle comes together very quickly so you want to have everything ready.
COOKING
✔️Step 1: Spray a baking sheet generously. Combine sugar, corn syrup and salt in a 3-quart microwave GLASS bowl. DO NOT USE TUPPERWARE.

✔️Step 2: Stir in peanuts and microwave on high until light brown. (About 9 to 10 minutes.) Microwaves vary, so you will have to watch the timing. Stir twice while cooking. (This gets very hot, so be careful not to get burned)

✔️Step 3: Stir in the remaining ingredients. The mixture should be light and foamy. Quickly spread as thin as possible on a greased baking sheet. Let cool and break into pieces. Makes about 1 pound of peanut brittle.

For a step-by-step video of how to make microwave peanut brittle, scroll down to the recipe card.
⭐TIP
- Remember to use a glass dish to prepare the brittle in. This mixture will become very hot, so be extra careful when handling it.
- All microwaves vary with their wattage. So watching it is crucial. Remember that the peanut brittle mixture should be LIGHT BROWN.

RECIPE VARIATIONS
Different nuts work great with this recipe. Try pecans, almonds, or cashews. You can drop chocolate chips on top immediately after spreading it on a baking sheet. Add a couple of sprinkles of sea salt to add a deep salty flavor.
❓FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
I use a rubber spatula or a spoon. Spray with a simple nonstick spray so the mixture doesn’t stick.
If you read the comments below, you’ll see that many people have sent this through the mail. Pack tightly in a tin or a ziplock bag.
STORING AND REHEATING
Store in an air-tight container for up to two weeks.
💕MORE RECIPES YOU’LL ENJOY
SERVING SIZE
This recipe makes around 1 pound of peanut brittle.

Microwave Peanut Brittle
Ingredients
- 1 cup white sugar
- 1/2 cup light corn syrup
- Dash of salt
- 1 to 1 1/2 cups shelled raw peanuts Could use regular peanuts or pecans, too
- 1 tablespoon butter or margarine
- 1 1/2 teaspoons baking soda
- 1 teaspoon vanilla
Instructions
- Spray a baking sheet generously. Combine sugar, corn syrup and salt in a 3 quart microwave GLASS bowl. Stir in peanuts and microwave on high until light brown. (About 9 to 10 minutes.) Microwaves vary so you will have to watch the timing.
- Stir twice while cooking.(This gets very hot, so be careful not to get burned.) Stir in remaining ingredients. Mixture should be light and foamy. Quickly spread as thin as possible on greased baking sheet. Let cool and break into pieces. Makes about 1 pound of peanut brittle
Video
Notes
- Remember to use a glass dish to prepare the brittle in. This mixture will become very hot, so be extra careful when handling it.
- All microwaves vary in their wattage. So watching it is crucial. Remember that the peanut brittle mixture should be LIGHT BROWN. Watch video for more instruction.
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