Description
A crunchy, golden holiday brittle packed with toasted nuts, warm spices, and a hint of citrus perfect for gifting or snacking all winter long.
Ingredients
Scale
- 1 cup granulated sugar
- 1/2 cup light corn syrup
- 1/4 cup water
- 1/4 teaspoon salt
- 1 cup mixed nuts (almonds, pecans, pistachios, or cashews)
- 1 tablespoon butter
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon
- Zest of 1 orange
- 1 teaspoon baking soda
Instructions
- 1. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper or a silicone mat; set aside.
- 2. In a heavy-bottomed saucepan, combine sugar, corn syrup, water, and salt over medium heat. Stir until sugar dissolves.
- 3. Bring the mixture to a boil without stirring; cook until it reaches 300°F (hard crack stage) on a candy thermometer.
- 4. Quickly stir in the butter, vanilla, cinnamon, orange zest, and nuts.
- 5. Remove from heat and immediately stir in baking soda — the mixture will foam up slightly.
- 6. Pour the brittle mixture onto the prepared baking sheet and spread it out quickly with a spatula.
- 7. Allow to cool completely at room temperature, about 30 minutes.
- 8. Once hardened, break the brittle into pieces and store in an airtight container.
Notes
- For a festive twist, drizzle melted dark or white chocolate over the cooled brittle.
- Store in a sealed container at room temperature for up to 2 weeks.
- Use roasted and salted nuts for extra flavor, or swap in pumpkin seeds for a nut-free version.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 20 minutes
- Category: Candy
- Method: Stovetop
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 piece
- Calories: 140
- Sugar: 16g
- Sodium: 85mg
- Fat: 7g
- Saturated Fat: 2g
- Unsaturated Fat: 5g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 18g
- Fiber: 1g
- Protein: 2g
- Cholesterol: 5mg
Keywords: holiday, brittle, nuts, candy, Christmas, winter dessert