Peanut Brittle

Peanut Brittle is a classic confection made by caramelizing sugar to a hard-crack stage, then quickly mixing in roasted peanuts before pouring it thin to cool and shatter into crisp, glassy shards. Its typical ingredients are sugar, corn syrup, water, butter, baking soda, salt, and peanuts. While enjoyed worldwide, it has deep roots in American Southern cuisine and is a popular holiday treat.

🍳 View the full Peanut Brittle recipe →

🍽️ Nutrition at a glance

This candy is very high in carbohydrates and fat, with minimal protein, making it a dense, energy-rich snack. A typical one-ounce serving provides around 140-150 calories, along with some iron and magnesium from the peanuts.

Nutrition breakdown

Calories	140 kcal
Protein	2.5 g
Carbs	18 g
Fat	7 g
Fiber	1 g
Sugar	14 g
Sodium	50 mg
Potassium	70 mg
Magnesium	25 mg
Phosphorus	40 mg
Iron	0.5 mg
Niacin (B3)	1.5 mg
Folate	10 mcg
Vitamin E	0.8 mg
Copper	0.1 mg

Per 1 piece (30 g) · estimated, varies by recipe

💡 What's interesting

The magical, airy texture of peanut brittle comes from a chemical reaction: baking soda is stirred into the hot sugar syrup, creating tiny carbon dioxide bubbles that get trapped as the candy hardens. Nutritionally, the peanuts offer a source of plant-based protein and healthy fats, which slightly moderates the pure sugar rush of the candy base.