Peanut Brittle Cookies
This past week has been one for the books. What started as fun dinner party to celebrate my 34th birthday turned into a surprise visit from my brother, loads of encouragement surrounding the announcement of my first book, and the most fun weekend away with girlfriends. It may not take parties and vacations and heart-warming messages in your DMs to feel loved, but, man, I just feel so covered up in it. Thank you for being part of it!
On the recipe front, October has been quiet in these parts for a few reasons. First, this site got an overhaul! Have you noticed? Do you love it? Is it working for you? My computer designer has been hard at work to create a site that puts the FUN in functional, and I think we really landed on something good. In addition, I’ve been hard at work creating fun little surprises for the upcoming book launch- think special holiday treats, giveaways, exclusive recipes to share early on, and more! I’m learning that writing a book is hardly just writing. There’s edits and marketing and so much more involved than I ever could have imagined, and as a result there’s been a little bit of radio silence on the recipe end of things. Thankfully, I think we’re back and ready to move ahead full-steam, and I hope you are too!
The Recipe
These peanut brittle cookies taste like the South to me. I didn’t try delicious peanut brittle until I moved to Alabama, but since then, I’m realizing it’s one of those cult following foods that some people are just seriously into. I decided to combine the caramelized bits of nuts and crunch with the sweet and salty goodness of a cookie, and the result is delightful: a chewy peanut butter cookie loaded of melted brittle, chopped peanuts, and peanut butter chips. If you’re a peanut butter lover, say hello to your new best friends.
To make these peanut brittle cookies, we start with the brittle. Sugar, water, and corn syrup cook on a stovetop until it reaches 300 degrees Fahrenheit. Butter, chopped peanuts, and a bit of baking soda are quickly added before the mixture is carefully spread out onto a prepared pan to cool. Once room temperature, the brittle will be hard and ready to be chopped into bits for the cookie dough. Butter and peanut butter combine with white and light brown sugar to create a soft and chewy dough. Bits of the chopped brittle and peanut butter chips are added to the mix, and rounds of dough can be baked in the preheated oven. After cooling slightly, these peanut brittle cookies are seriously chewy and layered with peanut flavor.
If you or someone you love is a peanut brittle fan, these peanut brittle cookies will be a dream. Give them a try and let me know what you think! I’m looking forward to sharing another recipe with you all next Tuesday, so stay tuned!
If you like these peanut brittle cookies you should try:
Peanut Butter Chocolate Chunk Cookies
Peanut Butter Caramel Pretzel Chocolate Chip Cookies
Vegan Peanut Butter Oatmeal Chocolate Chunk Cookies
Peanut Butter Cup Bars
Peanut Brittle Cookies
These peanut brittle cookies feature a peanut butter dough and are loaded with chopped homemade brittle and peanut butter chips!
- Prep Time: 30
- Cook Time: 10
- Total Time: 40 minutes
- Yield: 30 Cookies
- Category: Dessert
Ingredients
For the peanut brittle:
- 2 cups (400 gm) sugar
- ½ cup water
- 1 cup light corn syrup
- 2 cups dry roasted peanuts
- 2 tablespoons unsalted butter
- 1–1/2 teaspoons baking soda
- 1–1/2 teaspoons vanilla extract
For the cookies:
- 3/4 cup (170 gm) unsalted butter
- ½ cup creamy peanut butter
- 1–1/2 cups (300 gm) light brown sugar
- ½ cup (100 gm) sugar
- 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
- 2 large eggs
- 2–1/2 cups (370 gm) all-purpose flour
- 1–1/4 teaspoons baking powder
- 1 teaspoon baking soda
- 1–1/2 teaspoons salt
- 1 cup peanut butter baking chips
- 2 cups peanut brittle, chopped into pea-sized pieces, plus more if desired for rolling
Instructions
To prepare the peanut brittle:
- First, read through the instructions completely and have your brittle ingredients prepared and close by. Line a large baking sheet with parchment paper and set aside.
- In a medium heavy-bottomed saucepan, stir to combine the water, sugar, and corn syrup. Turn on medium heat and begin heating the mixture, stirring occasionally, until it comes to a boil. Hook a candy thermometer to the side of the pan and heat the mixture, continuing to stir occasionally, until it comes to 250 degrees Fahrenheit. Add the peanuts and begin stirring with a rubber spatula continuously for about 10 minutes until the mixture reaches 300 degrees Fahrenheit. Immediately remove from the heat and stir in the butter, baking soda, and vanilla. Be careful, as the mixture will eb hot. Pour the hot mixture onto the prepared baking sheet and carefully smooth it into a thin layer quickly. Allow to cool completely prior to storing in an air-tight container at room temperature for up to two days in advance.
To prepare the cookies:
- Preheat the oven to 350 degrees. Line two pans with parchment paper or silicone baking mats.
- Melt the butter over medium heat on the stove. Stir regularly and remove the pan from heat immediately once all is melted. Pour into a large mixing bowl and whisk in the peanut butter. Add the brown sugar, sugar, and vanilla extract, stirring to combine. Add the eggs and whisk to incorporate.
- Add the flour, baking powder, baking soda, and salt to the mix immediately and fold to combine. Don’t waste a lot of time as the mixture will be harder to work with as it sits and cools. Fold in the baking chips and peanut brittle.
- Scoop tablespoon-sized scoops (I use a medium cookie scoop) of dough on the baking sheets about 2 inches apart. If desired, place some additional peanut brittle into a large plastic bag and use a rolling pin to crush it into a sandy mixture. Roll the dough in your hands to smooth and roll briefly in the crushed brittle to pick up little shards of the candy on the dough. Bake in the preheated oven 10-11 minutes or until the edges are set. Allow to cool briefly before eating!
