Microwave Peanut Brittle is the easiest way to make peanut brittle, and you still get that sugary, crunchy, light, nutty treat, with less than 10 minutes of work! It's perfect for a homemade holiday gift!
Grease a cookie sheet, or line it with parchment paper.
Add the sugar and corn syrup to a large microwave safe bowl. You want it at least about 4 cups in size. Stir them together till combined.
Microwave the bowl for 4 minutes, then stir it all together again.
Stir in the peanuts and microwave the bowl again for 3 to 4 minutes. Stir it all together.
Add the butter and vanilla extract and microwave for another 1 to 2 minutes, until the mixture is a nice golden color. You don't want it to dark brown, if it is a dark brown color that means it is burnt. You can check it after 1 minute, to make sure.
Stir in the baking soda. The mixture may raise up, and get a little poofy.
Spoon the brittle out onto the prepared pan. Tip the pan around to help the brittle spread, and thin out. You don't want to touch it too much with a spatula as that will cause the nice air bubbles that formed from the baking soda to pop, and it won't be the nice light texture. **
Let the brittle harden for 30 minutes to 1 hour, until it is solid. Then break it into pieces.
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Notes
**If you like your brittle thinner you can spread it out more with a spatula, you will have less of a light and airy brittle that way.