Microwave Pecan Brittle
Believe it or not, you can make homemade Pecan Brittle in the microwave! You don't even need a candy thermometer. Sounds crazy, but this 15-minute microwave pecan brittle recipe is just crazy good!
Servings: 20 servings
Calories: 1piece
Ingredients
- 1 cup granulated sugar
- ½ cup light corn syrup
- 1 cup pecan pieces, halves or coarsely chopped pecans
- 1 tablespoon butter (salted or unsalted)
- 1 teaspoon baking soda (not baking powder)
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
Instructions
- Lightly grease a baking sheet with butter.
- Stir together sugar and light corn syrup in a large microwave-safe glass bowl. Cover tightly with plastic wrap. This step replaces the step in the traditional method of washing down the sugar crystals in a pan.
- Microwave (1100 watts) on HIGH for 3 minutes, then carefully remove the hot bowl, using protective pot holders or oven mitts, and place on a folded towel or cutting board. Carefully peel back the plastic wrap to release the steam, away from your face.
- Covering with plastic wrap can be optional but I've found it to be helpful to reduce crystalization and produce smooth textured brittle.
- Place the bowl back into the microwave, uncovered, for 4 minutes or until the bottom of the mixture begins to turn golden in color on the bottom. WATCH CLOSELY. A 1650 watt microwave may only take 3 minutes and 30 seconds. (If you were using a candy thermometer, this would be the hard crack stage.)
- Carefully, remove the bowl from microwave and place on a cutting board or folded towel. It's hot! Quickly stir in the pecans and butter until butter melts. It will be sticky.
- Microwave another 1 minute or until the candy mixture is bubbly all over. (This is when it reaches hard crack stage if you were using a candy thermometer.)
- Remove the bowl from the microwave for the final time, quickly stir in the baking soda and vanilla. Immediately pour the hot mixture onto the buttered baking sheet.
- Using two forks or a spoon, carefully spread the hot mixture as thin as possible. Let cool completely before breaking into pieces and eating.
Notes
How to make pecan brittle thin. A pro tip is to warm your sheet pan in the oven before pouring the hot candy mixture on it. You can also warm the pan on LOW on the stovetop.
