Chocolate Peanut Brittle Food

MOM'S PEANUT BRITTLE

Steps:

• Generously butter a 12x18 inch cookie sheet. Set aside.
• Mix sugar, water, and corn syrup in a heavy skillet. Stir well until it comes to a boil. Cover and boil 3 minutes. Continue to boil to hard ball stage (when a little bit dropped into a cupful of cold water forms a hard ball - hence the name!) 250 degrees F (120 degrees C).
• Stir in butter and peanuts. Continue cooking until mixture turns a light brown color. Remove from heat.
• Mix together salt, vanilla, baking soda and water. Combine this with syrup and nuts mixture. Mix well, and fast.
• Pour onto prepared cookie sheet. Use back of buttered spoon to spread thinly and evenly. Allow to cool, then break into pieces. Store in airtight container in refrigerator.

BAKER'S CHOCOLATE PEANUT BRITTLE BARK

Steps:

• Drop spoonfuls of melted chocolates onto waxed paper-covered baking sheet, alternating colors of chocolates. Swirl with knife. Top with peanut brittle; press gently into chocolate with back of spoon.
• Refrigerate 1 hour or until firm. Break into pieces.

SWEET PEANUT BRITTLE

Steps:

• Spray large baking sheet with cooking spray. Microwave sugar and corn syrup in large glass microwaveable bowl on HIGH 5 min. Stir in butter and peanuts. Microwave 3 to 4 min. or until pale golden brown. Stir in baking soda and vanilla. (Mixture will foam.) Spread onto prepared baking sheet. Cool completely. Break into pieces.
• Microwave chocolate in 1-cup glass measuring cup on HIGH 1 to 2 min. or until chocolate is melted when stirred. Add peanut butter; stir until melted. Dip half of each candy piece in chocolate mixture; scrape bottom against edge of cup to remove excess chocolate. Place on sheet of foil or waxed paper. Refrigerate 20 min. or until chocolate is firm.

CHOCOLATE PEANUT BRITTLE

Steps:

• Grease a 15x10x1-in. pan and a metal spatula; set aside. , In a 2-qt. microwave-safe bowl, combine sugar and corn syrup. Microwave, uncovered, on high for 4 minutes; stir. Cook 3 minutes longer. Stir in peanuts and butter. Microwave for 30-60 seconds or until mixture turns a light amber color (mixture will be very hot)., Quickly stir in cocoa, baking soda and vanilla until combined. Immediately pour into prepared pan; spread with the metal spatula. Cool before breaking into pieces. Store in an airtight container.

PEANUT BRITTLE

Steps:

• Line a large rimmed baking sheet with a silicone mat or parchment paper. Set aside.
• In a large stockpot, fitted with a candy thermometer, bring to a boil the water, granulated sugar, light corn syrup, and unsalted butter. This should take anywhere from 12 to 16 minutes. DO NOT DISTURB OR STIR THE COOKING SUGARS UNTIL YOU START TO SEE IT GETTING LIGHTLY GOLDEN IN COLOR. You want your brittle mixture to reach 300°F (hard crack stage) on your candy thermometer. Turn off the heat immediately. If you have an electric stove, carefully move the pot to a cool burner so that your sugar mixture does not keep cooking.
• Working very quickly, stir in the baking soda, vanilla extract and roasted peanuts. Be very careful as the baking soda will cause the hot brittle mixture to bubble up rapidly.
• Immediately pour your hot mixture onto your prepared pan and quickly spread out the peanut brittle mixture into as much of an even layer as possible. You should get an approximate 9 by 12-inch rectangle. You can use a rubber spatula to push, and spread, out the thick mixture. It will start to harden very quickly so you have to work fast.
• Allow your peanut brittle to cool on the counter completely before breaking it into smaller pieces.

CHOCOLATE PEANUT TOFFEE

Steps:

• Line a 9×13 cake pan with parchment paper then spread 2 cups of peanuts into an even layer.
• In a medium-size pan add butter, sugar, and vanilla. Stir over medium heat until the butter has melted. Let come to a simmer.
• Simmer for 7 to 8 minutes, stirring occasionally.TIP: Watch carefully so it doesn't burn. The mixture gradually turns darker and is still a little separated.
• When the mixture turns the shade of caramel and flows from the spoon in a ribbon, pour over the peanuts.
• Use an off-set spatula to spread the mix over the peanuts.
• Pour a bag of chocolate chips over the top and let sit for 2 to 3 minutes so chocolate chips melt.
• Using an off-set spatula spread melted chocolate over the layer of toffee.
• Chop the remaining 1/4 cup of peanuts and sprinkle over the top.
• Let sit for 2 hours until the pan comes to room temperature and then place in the fridge until ready to enjoy. Which might be immediately!

CHOCOLATE-PEANUT BRITTLE CUPCAKES

Steps:

• Make the cupcakes: Position a rack in the middle of the oven and preheat to 350 degrees F using the convection setting, if available. Line two 12-cup muffin pans with paper liners. Put the butter, cocoa powder and 3/4 cup water in a microwave-safe bowl, cover with plastic wrap and microwave until the butter melts, about 2 minutes. Whisk to combine, then whisk in the brown sugar.
• Whisk the flour, baking powder, baking soda and salt in a large bowl. Whisk in the warm cocoa mixture. In another bowl, beat the buttermilk, eggs and vanilla; stir into the batter until just combined but don't overmix.
• Divide the batter among the prepared cups, filling each three-quarters of the way. Bake until the cupcakes are slightly domed and spring back when lightly pressed, 25 to 30 minutes. Let cool in the pans 10 minutes, then transfer to racks to cool completely.
• Make the brittle: Line a baking sheet with a silicone mat or parchment paper. Place the granulated sugar in a small saucepan over medium-high heat, bring to a boil and cook, swirling the pan but not stirring, until it turns amber. Remove from the heat; stir in the peanut butter and butterscotch chips until smooth. Immediately pour the mixture onto the prepared baking sheet, smooth into a thin layer with a spatula and let cool. Break the brittle into pieces, place in a resealable plastic bag and crush with a rolling pin.
• Make the frosting: Bring the cream to a simmer in a small saucepan. Remove from the heat, add the peanut butter chips and let stand about 5 minutes. Whisk until smooth. Place the pan over a bowl of ice, stirring occasionally, until the frosting is spreadable, about 10 minutes. Spread on the cupcakes or transfer to a pastry bag with a large round tip and pipe on top; sprinkle with the brittle.