Thursday, July 23, 2009

Vegan peanut brittle

At long last! I have finally located the long-sought-after vegan peanut brittle recipe that I can live with, i.e. that isn't too difficult and time-consuming.

This one takes 20 minutes, max. (YES!) Also, you can substitute pecans or walnuts for a change of pace...

Thanks ever much to The Urban Vegan.

~*~

SCRUMPTIOUS VEGAN PEANUT BRITTLE


* 1 1/2 cups sugar
* 1/2 cup light corn syrup
* Pinch of salt
* 2 1/2 cups peanuts [or other nuts]
* 1 t vanilla
* 1 t baking soda
* 1/4 cup water


Spray a 9" x 13" rimmed cookie sheet and a spatula with cooking spray. Fill a short glass with cold water and set it next to your stove top.

Mix sugar, corn syrup and salt in a saucepan with 1/4 cup water. Over medium heat, bring this mixture to a boil, stirring constantly until the sugar dissolves. Continue to boil, stirring constantly. Every few minutes, drip some of the boiling sugar mixture into the glass of water. Once it is the texture of taffy--not hard, but not watery (This is called the "soft ball" stage), toss in the peanuts. Continue to mix constantly so the nuts don't burn. Once this mixture turns a medium brown, turn heat to low. Stir in vanilla and baking soda. BE CAREFUL! Sometimes the mixture foams up, at this point.

Spread onto the greased cookie sheet using your oiled spatula. Work quickly. The layer should be about 1/3 to 1/2 inch thick.

Let this cool for about an hour, then break into pieces.