Monday, December 13, 2010

Cashew Brittle


I love to make food related gifts for the Holidays, on tap this year are Chocolate Dipped Pretzel Rods, Fudge, White Chocolate Bark and my famous Cranberry Orange Bread.

My Father In Law, whom I love to spoil, wanted some Cashew Brittle. He had fond memories of the Brittle his Sister made. I trolled around the interwebs and found this wonderful little recipe from Alton Brown. The addition of Cinnamon and Cayenne makes it not so sickly sweet and very interesting! The original recipe called for nuts, but my Father In Law wanted Cashews!

1/2 cups lightly salted, roasted peanuts
1/2 teaspoon cinnamon (I recommend using less)
1/2 teaspoon cayenne pepper (I recommend using less)
3 cups sugar
1 1/2 cups water
Vegetable oil, for coating the saucepan
Softened butter for spatula
Directions
In a small bowl combine peanuts, cinnamon, and cayenne. Set aside.

Brush the inside of a medium sized heavy saucepan with vegetable oil. Add the sugar and water to the saucepan, cook over high heat, stirring occasionally with a wooden spoon, until it comes to a boil.

Stop stirring, cover and cook for 3 minutes. Uncover, reduce heat to medium, and cook until the sugar is a light amber color. DO NOT STIR

Stir in peanuts. This will greatly reduce the temperature of the sugar so work quickly. Once evenly mixed, pour mixture onto a sheet pan lined with a silicone baking mat or buttered parchment paper.

Using a buttered spatula, spread thin. You will have to work quickly when pouring out and spreading the mixture in the pan. If necessary, in order to achieve single layer of peanuts, top with second sheet pan whose underside has been buttered.

Cool completely and then break into pieces.

6 comments:

The Blonde Duck said...

I've never had it but I really want it!

teresa said...

my husband loves cashews,i really need to try this. the cayenne sounds like a fun addition!

Debbie said...

That would not last long in my house!!! Delicious...

grace said...

peanut brittle? pfff---who needs it? i'll take cashew brittle anyday, especially if salt and cinnamon are involved! :)

Pam said...

I love peanut brittle and since cashews are my favorite nut, I am sure I would LOVE this!

Marjie said...

i love peanut brittle, and I'll bet it would be even better with cashews in it. Your father in law is lucky to have you making it for him.

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