Perfect Brittle Recipes

June 24, 2009
Photo: 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

Photo: 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

Photo: 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

Photo: Hector Manuel Sanchez; Food Styling: Karen Rankin; Prop Styling: Kay E. Clarke
Everything Brittle Recipe

Everything Brittle image

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Spiced Cashew Brittle and Chocolate Crunch Bark

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

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

Photo: 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

Photo: 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

Photo: © 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

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

Photo: 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

Photo: 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

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

Photo: 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

Photo: 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

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

Photo: 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

Photo: 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

Photo: 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

Photo: 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

Photo: 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

Photo: 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

Photo: 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

Photo: 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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