Perfect Brittle Recipes

Updated June 24, 2009
Credit: Lee Harrelson; Styling: Jan Gautro, Laura Zapalowski

Whether your brittle is made with peanuts, pecans, or pistachios, you can enjoy it piled onto a platter or perfectly placed atop an indulgent dessert. 

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Orange-Rosemary Cashew Brittle

Credit: Sheri Giblin; Food Styling: Margaret Dickey; Prop Styling: Amy Stone

Orange-Rosemary Cashew Brittle Recipe

The light caramel flavor of this unique brittle is complimented by the brightness of orange zest and fresh rosemary. This step up from traditioinal peanut brittle is the perfect special holiday treat for gift giving. Use the freshest rosemary and orange possible and use a candy thermometer to ensure that the candy forms the right consistency. 

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Almond Antique Brittle

Credit: Linda Pugliese; Styling: Kaitlyn Du Ross Walker

Almond Antique Brittle Recipe

Toasted almonds and a significant amount of vinegar adds complex flavor to this bold brittle.

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Everything Brittle

Credit: Hector Manuel Sanchez; Food Styling: Karen Rankin; Prop Styling: Kay E. Clarke

Everything Brittle Recipe

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Spiced Cashew Brittle and Chocolate Crunch Bark

Credit: Jonny Valiant

Spiced Cashew Brittle and Chocolate Crunch Bark Recipe

Your favorite holiday treat just got a gourmet upgrade. Dish out first-class entertaining with these two unique brittles, cayenne-spiked cashew brittle and crunchy chocolate bark, served side by side.

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Brown Sugar Cake with Peanut Buttercream and Brittle Topping

Credit: Oxmoor House

Brown Sugar Cake with Peanut Buttercream and Brittle Topping Recipe

Use Old-Fashioned Peanut Brittle (see previous slide) to top this elegant cake. It will astonish guests and family members in both appearance and taste.

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Pistachio and Pine Nut Brittle

Credit: Marcus Nilsson; Styling: Robyn Glaser

Pistachio and Pine Nut Brittle Recipe

Pistachio and Pine Nut Brittle is a sweet spin on the traditional peanut brittle. This nut candy also includes dried cranberries, giving the brittle a festive color of red and green for the holidays.

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Walnut Brittle

Credit: Iain Bagwell; Styling: Melanie J. Clarke

Walnut Brittle Recipe

Laden with crunchy walnuts, this brittle recipe is wonderful served crushed over low-fat vanilla ice cream or given as a holiday hostess gift.

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Rice Brittle Crunch

Credit: © Quentin Bacon

Rice Brittle Crunch Recipe

Host an indulgent ice cream potluck party and invite friends to bring their favorite homemade toppings. This peanut brittle mixed with crispy rice cereal and banana chips makes an exceptionally decadent topping that everyone will love.

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How to Make Classic Peanut Brittle

Watch our easy how-to video and get the recipe for Classic Peanut Brittle. Trust us, this one just might rival your mom's secret recipe.

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Peanut Brittle Milk Punch

Credit: Iain Bagwell; Styling: Heather Chadduck

Peanut Brittle Milk Punch Recipe

We take the flavors of a favorite Southern candy and whip them up for a frothy Peanut Brittle Milk Punch. Bourbon is optional, but highly recommended.

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Smoked Almond Brittle

Credit: Kate Mathis

Smoked Almond Brittle Recipe

This clever sweet-and-savory brittle gets its unusual flavor from smoked almonds. The texture is light, crisp and almost honeycomb-like.

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Old-Fashioned Peanut Brittle

Credit: Oxmoor House

Old-Fashioned Peanut Brittle Recipe

We've perfected this classic candy with easy microwave directions. Follow the cook times closely based on the wattage of your microwave. Munch on half of the brittle, and use the rest to top a gorgeous holiday cake (see next slide).

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Amaretto Cheesecake with Almond Brittle

Credit: Andrew McCaul

Amaretto Cheesecake with Almond Brittle Recipe

This showstopping cheesecake features a trio of rich almond flavor. Sliced almonds give crunch to the crust, amaretto (almond-flavored liqueur) spikes the creamy filling, and 4-ingredient almond brittle provides a crunchy topping.

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Peppered Peanut Brittle

Credit: Karry Hosford

Peppered Peanut Brittle Recipe

Pepper adds an unexpected complexity and just a bit of heat to the brittle, but you can omit it for a traditional version. Wrap up pretty pieces of brittle in food-safe cellophane bags tied with a festive ribbon, saving any imperfect bits for "sampling" yourself.

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Pumpkin Custards with Brittle Topping

Credit: Oxmoor House

Pumpkin Custards with Brittle Topping Recipe

Crunchy peanut brittle and a smooth and creamy pumpkin mixture create a perfect marriage of textures in these heavenly custards.

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Microwave Pecan Brittle

Credit: Tina Cornett; Styling: Mary Lyn Hill

Microwave Pecan Brittle Recipe

Microwave Pecan Brittle makes preparing this classic candy super simple. You could also toast the pecans before making the brittle to bring our their nutty flavor and aroma.

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Tangy Ice Cream with Cashew Brittle

Credit: Randy Mayor; Styling: Cindy Barr

Tangy Ice Cream with Cashew Brittle Recipe

Homemade ice cream is not solely reserved for the summertime. Sour cream provides the tang in this recipe, while rich, buttery cashew brittle makes a sweet topping.

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Candied Hazelnut Brittle

Credit: Lee Harrelson; Styling: Mindi Shapiro

Candied Hazelnut Brittle Recipe

Roasted hazelnuts are a welcome change from the traditional peanuts used to make this candy. Eat it on its own, or use it to top fluffy chocolate mousse or creamy custard.

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Cinnamon Pumpkin Seed Brittle

Cinnamon Pumpkin Seed Brittle Recipe

This warmly spiced brittle is delicious on its own, but also makes a crunchy, creative garnish for your holiday pumpkin pie.

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Honey Peanut Brittle

Credit: Penny De Los Santos

Honey Peanut Brittle Recipe

Many enslaved African-Americans came from beekeeping countries; others interacted with certain Native American groups who bartered with beeswax and honey. This candy deliciously celebrates those all-but-forgotten intertwinings in early American society. It also celebrates George Washington Carver, who advocated for everything peanut.

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Thai Cashew Brittle

Credit: Romulo Yanes; Styling: Rachel Haas

Thai Cashew Brittle Recipe

While peanut brittle is a classic American confection, many other countries have their own forms of the breakable candy. This spicy cashew brittle gets its Thai flavor from chile paste, lemongrass, and ginger.

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Pumpkin-Hazelnut Cheesecake

Credit: Nigel Cox; Styling: Tiziana Agnello

Pumpkin-Hazelnut Cheesecake Recipe

Everyone loves pumpkin cheesecake, but the addition of hazelnuts and Frangelico (hazelnut liqueur) in the cake-like crust give this cheesecake a flavor like no other. Hazelnut brittle is the finishing touch that sends this divine dessert over the top.

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Benne Brittle

Credit: Jim Franco; Styling: Buffy Hargett

Benne Brittle Recipe

Benne (sesame) seeds, sugar, and vanilla extract are the only ingredients you need to whip up this irresistible treat. Tote Benne Brittle to your next holiday party; your friends will have just as much fun saying it as they will eating it!

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Almond Brittle

Credit: Lee Harrelson; Styling: Jan Gautro, Laura Zapalowski

Almond Brittle Recipe

When making almond brittle candy, start with a heavy non-aluminum saucepan to encourage even cooking and to prevent the mixture from over-browning. Package individual bags or tins of brittle for holiday gift-giving.

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