Buttery Cashew Brittle Recipe

Name: Buttery Cashew Brittle
Prep time: 15 min
Cook time: 10 min
Total time: 25 min
Yield: 21
Ingredients: 1 cup unsalted butter, plus more for greasing pans; 2 cups granulated sugar; 1 cup light corn syrup; 1/2 cup water; 3 cups cashews; 1 teaspoon baking soda

Prep: 15 mins

Cook: 10 mins

Total: 25 mins

Servings: 21 servings

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We are all familiar with peanut brittle, the delicious sweet and salty treat with a satisfying crunch. But this confection shouldn't be limited to just peanuts. Buttery cashew brittle is made with sugar, corn syrup, and cashews, which make it even more special. Cashew brittle is always welcome but is especially nice to have on hand for holiday guests and visiting family.

When making brittle, it is important to use a reliable candy thermometer to ensure success. If you aren't sure your thermometer is accurate, there's an easy test. Bring a bot of water to a full boil and insert the candy thermometer; the thermometer should indicate 212 F (100 C). If it's off by a few degrees, adjust the temperature indicated in the recipe. (If you are at an altitude of 500 feet or more, follow adjusted calculations for the correct boiling point temperature.)

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8 ounces (1 cup) unsalted butter, plus more for the pan
2 cups granulated sugar
1 cup light corn syrup
1/2 cup water
3 cups cashews
1 teaspoon baking soda

Line two baking sheets with foil; generously butter the foil.
Butter the sides of a large saucepan. Add the sugar, corn syrup, and water. Cook over medium heat, stirring often, until the sugar dissolves.
When the sugar mixture begins to boil, blend in 1 cup of butter. Begin to stir more frequently when the syrup reaches the thread stage, about 230 F.
When the temperature reaches 280 F (or soft-crack stage), add the cashews.
Stir constantly until hard-crack stage, 300 F, is reached.
Remove the pan from the heat and quickly stir in baking soda. Mix well.
Pour onto the prepared baking pans. As the candy cools, stretch it out thinner by lifting and pulling at edges with forks.
Loosen from the pans as soon as possible and turn over. Break up hardened candy and store in an airtight container.

Other Brittle Recipes

If this cashew brittle was a big hit and you'd like to try other similar recipes, there are several to choose from, whether traditional or a bit more unique. For a classic, make an old-fashioned peanut brittle, which is basically this recipe but with roasted peanuts. For something slightly different, peanut brittle with honey roasted peanuts adds another dimension of flavor and texture with the addition of vanilla and a topping of crushed peanuts, while pistachio nut brittle is perfect for fans of this rich and buttery green nut. Creamy pralines with toasted pecans is a similar recipe but with milk and cream added, making for an even more decadent confection. And if you really love that juxtaposition of sugar and salt, a pretzel toffee will become a new favorite, combining pretzels with peanuts, toffee, and chocolate.

Candy Making Stages

When making different types of confections—from fudge to taffy—the sugar and water mixture needs to be cooked to particular temperatures. These are called stages and range from the thread stage to the hard crack stage (caramelize follows the hard crack stage). At each stage, the ingredients have a particular appearance and behave a certain way. It is best to understand each candy making stage before you begin cooking.

Nutrition Facts (per serving)
310	Calories
18g	Fat
38g	Carbs
3g	Protein

Nutrition Facts
Servings: 21
Amount per serving
Calories	310
% Daily Value*
Total Fat 18g	23%
Saturated Fat 7g	36%
Cholesterol 23mg	8%
Sodium 197mg	9%
Total Carbohydrate 38g	14%
Dietary Fiber 1g	2%
Total Sugars 32g
Protein 3g
Vitamin C 0mg	0%
Calcium 14mg	1%
Iron 1mg	7%
Potassium 114mg	2%
*The % Daily Value (DV) tells you how much a nutrient in a food serving contributes to a daily diet. 2,000 calories a day is used for general nutrition advice.