Cashew Brittle Recipe (2024)

FAQs

Why is baking soda added to nut brittle? ›

Baking soda is also very important at this stage since it reacts to the heat, creating carbon dioxide that aerates the caramel, enabling it to snap when someone bites into it rather than requiring them to gnaw at it until it breaks or pulls apart.

The main reason why peanut brittle doesn't get hard and have the crunch we expect is because the sugar was not cooked long enough. The sugar needs to be cooked to what is called the hard crack stage, 300ºF.

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.

Whether it's during the cooking, cooling, or storage process, moisture and humidity can ruin the best batch of brittle in minutes, leaving you with a soggy, sticky mess. This is why eliminating moisture anywhere you can is our top tip on how to store peanut brittle.

If your peanut brittle is not hardening, it's because the sugar mixture did not get hot enough to properly caramelize, cool and become hard, crisp and crunchy. If you have this issue, next time, use a thermometer to make sure the peanut brittle mixture gets to 300°F.

- Heat the brittle in the oven for about 5 to 10 minutes, checking frequently to avoid overcooking. Reviving stale peanut brittle is possible to some extent. You can try placing the stale peanut brittle on a baking sheet and gently heating it in an oven at a low temperature, around 250°F (120°C), for a few minutes.

What Makes it Brittle? The sugar will be cooked to 300ºF (149ºC)—hard crack stage; which when set up would be hard like a lollipop. But peanut brittle is delicate and you can easily bite into it—how? The secret is in the baking soda.

Didn't combine ingredients right. Didn't get it hot enough. You have to hit hard crack stage heat or it's not going to harden.

If you overcook the brittle, it could be bitter or burnt. If you undercook it, the brittle won't properly set and the end result will be sticky. A thermometer is an accessible and inexpensive way to monitor temperature and ensure properly cooked brittle. Make sure your baking soda is fresh and active.

What is the black mold in cashews? ›

Black mould is one of the most important foliar diseases of dwarf cashew plants in coastal zone of northeastern Brazil.

Like many nuts and seeds, cashews contain phytic acid, an anti-nutrient that can hinder mineral absorption. Soaking helps to reduce the phytic acid content, promoting better absorption of minerals such as zinc, magnesium, and calcium.

You will want the cookie sheet to be non-stick. Use parchment paper, a silicone baking sheet or a greased cookie sheet. Spread the peanut brittle as thin as you can. Immediately add your sea salt.

Does Peanut Brittle Go Bad? Properly stored peanut brittle can last for several weeks to a couple of months.

Making Ahead, Storing and Freezing Peanut Brittle:

Do not refrigerate as the moisture from the fridge will cause the brittle to soften. Store for 6-8 weeks. To Freeze: Peanut brittle can be frozen and stored up to 3 months. Allow the brittle to cool completely and store it in a freezer safe, airtight container.

Is baking soda or powder best for frying? A pinch of baking soda can help produce crispy fried foods. It reacts with the acid in the batter to create carbon dioxide bubbles. These lead to an airy batter and a crisper, fluffier result.

Baking soda and baking powder are both leavening agents, which are substances used to help baked goods rise.

The soda reacts with the acid to make bubbles, and the syrup foams. When the cooked syrup is poured out and begins to harden, many of the tiny bubbles are trapped before they can escape (another reason the baking soda is added at the end).

Add Baking Soda to Water

A temporary fix, but one that works. In a bathtub, add around ½ cup of baking soda. Although baking soda cannot soften the water fully, it, being alkaline, changes the pH of hard water to make it more suitable for skin and hair.