Cinnamon Peanut Brittle

 

I made this peanut brittle several years ago to include in my Christmas cookie boxes and it is a TOTAL keeper! I described it once to a friend as the resulting lovechild of peanut brittle and a cinnamon bear, but that’s not quite it. It doesn’t have that sharp, smack-you-in-the-face hit of cinnamon that those yummy gummies have. It’s more of a warm, cinnamony note and it really complements the peanuts. I think it’s a great addition to a Christmas goody box because it’s beautifully festive looking, really easy to make and very inexpensive! Peanuts usually run what, $3 a pound in the bulk bins?

Oooh, pretty.

 

 

Cinnamon Peanut Brittle

2 cups sugar

1 cup light corn syrup

½ cup water

1 ½ teaspoons ground cinnamon

1 teaspoon red food coloring

2 ½ cups salted peanuts (I’ve successfully used cashews as well.)

Butter a baking sheet.

 

In a large saucepan, bring the sugar, corn syrup and water to a boil over high heat.

Cook until a drop of the syrup hardens in a bowl of ice water (my favorite method) or until a candy thermometer inserted in the syrup registers 300 degrees, about 10 minutes.

Remove from the heat.

Stir in the cinnamon and food coloring.

Stir in peanuts and pour the mixture into the pan. Work quickly to spread the peanuts out as thin as possible.

Let cool, about 45 minutes.

Use your hands to break brittle into pieces.

Enjoy!