It's beginning to look a lot like Christmas! This week, to finish off my 5 Weeks of Cookies Gift Guide, I am sharing the recipe for my favorite holiday Butter Cashew Brittle. This crisp, buttery, melt in your mouth brittle will be the crowning jewel in this year's cookie gift tins. What!? Candy making is like...hard and stuff. Pssshhaaa! Follow my steps and you'll be surprised at just how easy this brittle is to make. No candy thermometers or strings attached! And if you happen to have a few pieces left over after the gift tins have been filled, crumble it over vanilla ice cream for an indulgent treat. You can thank me later.
Butter Cashew Brittle- adapted from Everyday Food
Non-stick cooking spray
2 cups sugar
1 cup water
½ cup light corn syrup
½ teaspoon course salt
2 tablespoon unsalted butter
½ teaspoon baking soda
1 lb roasted and lightly salted cashews
Rimmed baking sheet
Silicone mat
Wooden spoon
Heavy bottomed pan (I use this All-Clad stainless steel pan)
1. Measure out all ingredients and have them ready and in reach of your stove top as this recipe comes together quickly!
2. Line a rimmed baking sheet with a silicone mat (I use this Silpat liner) and lightly coat with cooking spray.
3. Spray a spatula with non-stick spray and have it ready next to your prepared baking sheet.
3. In a medium saucepan, combine sugar, corn syrup, salt and water. Stir to combine with a wooden spoon, (This is the only time you will stir the sugar until step 4), clean and dry spoon. Next, bring sugar mixture to a rapid simmer over medium-high and cook watching closely until it turns a deep golden color, about 20 minutes so be patient. *While the sugar cooks, do not walk away...once it turns a deep golden brown you need to immediately remove from heat and move to step 4.
4. Remove pan from heat. Stir in butter, baking soda and cashews (mixture with foam). Rapidly stir with wooden spoon until mixture is no longer bubbling and caramel is smooth, about 1 minute.
5. Transfer to prepared sheet pan and work quickly to spread out evenly with lightly greased spatula. Let cool until firm, 15 minutes.
6. Break into pieces (Store brittle in an airtight container at room temp for up to 3 weeks)
*Note: Please use caution when working with hot sugar and make sure your "little elves" stay out of the kitchen during this process. Enjoy!
Victoria@VictoryPaper says
Oh man, crumbling these over vanilla ice cream sounds divine...!
Nic@diningwithastud says
Yuuuummmmmm!! Brittle is def my fave. Love that you've done cashew 😀
Lane Culpepper says
Ooooweee!!! I want to crunch on that 🙂
Tammy T says
Can not wait to make these for my Dad for our gift exchange. We usually buy him See's Brittle. I am excited to give him home-made! Thank you for the recipe!
Tammy
Cindy says
Hi Leah, I hope you can help me. I made your recipe of brittle but it definitely did not come out. In the written instructions it said to combine Sugar, Syrup, Salt and Water. Which is what I did, but now that I look at the ingredients it doesn't show any water needed. My brittle came out clear and gooey. It doesn't want to harden. Is water needed or not needed? I've never made brittle before and didn't know what to be looking for and am so disappointed this didn't turn out.
Leah Bergman says
Hi Cindy, I double checked the recipe and while it is not listed in the ingredients (that is now updated) the 1 cup water listed in the recipe is correct. If the brittle is clear it needs to be cooked longer. This stage can take a while 20 minutes or so or until the clear mixture turns golden. Just keep cooking until the sugars caramelize before moving on to the next step! I hope this helps.
E Brauer says
love love love it - making more!
Leah Bergman says
It's it the best?! I'm so glad you enjoy the recipe as much as I do. Happy Holidays to you!