Well you guys voted and Spicy Pecan won by a wide margin over Cardamum Pistachio Brittle 67% vs 33%. So that’s exactly what we are featuring today! Now while this is ‘spicy,’ it’s just enough to pack a little heat and leave a nice slow burn in your mouth. Feel free to adjust the amount of heat in the recipe below, if you want super duper spicy, or blow off your socks spicy lol!
The best thing about this recipe is that it’s easy. Simply mixing things in a microwave safe bowl, then spreading them on some parchment paper and BAM, you have a great unique brittle recipe in under 10 minutes! You sadly do have to allow this to cool, but then it’s munching time! I would recommend not letting little ones help with this recipe. Boiling sugar is VERY hot, and it’s best to handle this very, very, carefully. You don’t even have to toast the pecans prior to making this because they get nice and toasty in the microwave. You can mix and match different nuts with this recipe too. If pecans aren’t your thing, walnut or cashews would make a lovely substitute.
This is a great recipe for a holiday cookie exchange too! It takes virtually no time, but it’s super unique and who doesn’t love brittle? It’s also vegetarian, gluten free, and if you substitute butter for coconut oil or vegan butter, can be dairy free and vegan! Boom! Perfect recipe for all the variety of eaters in company offices 🙂 But sit back, mix this up, and let the microwave do the work!
**Please note, this recipe is VERY susceptible to humidity. So once it cools, break it up and put it in a bag in the fridge, otherwise it will get ‘sticky.’ It will still taste good and have the brittle ‘snap’ but it won’t be a mess free eat!
Also, this recipe is easily doubled, just make sure you have a big enough bowl as this expands as it cooks!
Ingredients:
- 1 cup white sugar
- 1/2 cup of light corn syrup
- 1 1/2 cups of whole pecan (can break in half if you want smaller pieces, but don’t go too small or they’ll scorch)
- 1 tsp salt
- 1 tsp red pepper flakes (can use more/less depending on spice level preference)
- 1 T butter
- 1 t vanilla extract
- 1.5 tsp baking soda
- Recommended but optional – Cooking spray for bowl
- Baking sheet covered with either parchment or wax paper
Instructions:
**Do note, all these steps are time sensitive, so move quickly or sugar will harden! I also recommended prepping all your ingredients beforehand so you can quickly add, mix, and pour to avoid this hardening before you want it to!
In a large microwave bowl (I’d recommend glass), spray with cooking spray to avoid sticking. Mix together white sugar, corn syrup, pecans, salt, and red pepper flakes (best with silicon or non-stick spatula or spoon) until everything is evenly combined. Place in microwave in the center and microwave for six and half minutes. Carefully remove from microwave (it will be very hot) and quickly stir in butter and vanilla extract (time sensitive so make sure to do this step quickly). Combine until butter is melted. Place back in microwave for two and a half minutes. Remove from microwave and quickly stir in baking soda (this will make it start to ‘froth’). Immediately and quickly pour onto waiting parchment paper covered baking sheet and spread evenly. This will begin to harden as soon as it touched the baking sheet, so do this fast! Let cool (about 15-20 minutes), then snap into bite size pieces and put in an airtight bag and place in your fridge to avoid gathering moisture. Snack and enjoy as you see fit (or eat the whole batch in one sitting, your call lol).
