CASHEW BRITTLE

Cashew Brittle

It used to be that every time we visited Amish country, I would always see homemade Cashew Brittle. It's so good - but so crazy expensive!  A small baggie-sized portion sells for almost $5.00!  And as much as I had a picture in my mind of a young Amish lass making up batches of this in her farmhouse over an old-fashioned stove, I started thinking that it can't be any harder to make delicious homemade Cashew Brittle than it is to make Peanut Brittle or Pecan Brittle!

​And so this was born.  It's a method - and in less than ten minutes makes homemade Cashew Brittle that is the absolute best we have ever had!

Cashew Brittle

Yup, you didn't read that wrong!  Less than ten minutes!

​And if you follow the recipe instructions exactly, there is no way to mess this up!

Cashew Brittle

A few quick trips in the microwave, and you can be munching on this lickety-split!

Cashew Brittle

This also makes perfect gifts for those times you want to make a little something special, for a hostess gift or holiday gift.  And it disappears FAST at parties!

​Hope that you enjoy our little treat as much as we do!

Cashew Brittle

CASHEW BRITTLE

Oh my gosh…so easy to make and SO DELICIOUS!  With this fabulously easy method there is no madness!  Perfect homemade Cashew Brittle every single time! 
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Cashew Brittle

​INGREDIENTS:
Non-stick cooking spray
1 cup granulated sugar
½ cup light corn syrup
1 ¼ cups cashew halves & pieces
1 tablespoon butter
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
1 teaspoon baking soda
 
HOW I MAKE THIS:

1. Preheat oven to 350˚.  
2. Now we’ll get the rest of your supplies ready – because this is going to go fast!  Line a large baking sheet with either a good-sized silicone baking sheet or heavy duty foil that completely covers the pan and up the sides. If using foil, spray generously with non-stick cooking spray.  Spray a 2-quart microwave-safe bowl and a table knife with non-stick cooking spray.  Place baking pan in oven – you are simply heating the pan to make the brittle easier to spread.  Gather remaining ingredients and measuring spoons.
3. Combine sugar and corn syrup in the prepared, 2 -quart microwave-safe glass bowl and stir to combine.  Mixture will be very sugary and thick.   Place in microwave and cook on high power for 3½ minutes. (The mixture will be clear and very light colored at this point.)*
4. Carefully remove from microwave (it will be hot!) and add cashew pieces. Stir well and return mixture to microwave. Cook on high power for 3 minutes. (At this point, the mixture will be a fairly light, golden brown color.)*
5. Carefully remove from microwave and add butter and vanilla.  Stir well and microwave one last time for 1 minute.  During this last time in the microwave grab a metal offset spatula or clean heat resistant spatula and spray it generously with non-stick cooking spray.  (Mixture should now be a medium amber color.)*   
6. Carefully remove bowl from microwave and sprinkle baking soda over the top. Stir just  until baking soda is just incorporated. Mixture will foam up and go from an amber color to caramel. 
7. Remove baking pan from oven.  Immediately pour candy mixture onto heated, prepared baking pan, trying to spread the candy mixture out over as much of the pan as possible. With your offset spatula or heat resistant spatula, pull and spread mixture as thin as possible over the surface of the pan.  Don’t worry if it tears or gets a hole – you’ll be breaking it up into pieces shortly! 
8. Cool completely, lift silicone sheet or foil out of pan and you'll be able to break Cashew Brittle into pieces. Store in an airtight container.

 
NOTE:  *My microwave is 1000 watts and these times work perfectly.  Every microwave is a little bit different, even those with the same wattage. The first time you make this brittle, watch it carefully for color. You may need an extra ½ to 2 minutes.  It should be a medium amber color when you pull it from the microwave the third time.

Originally published December 2015; revised and republished December 2019.
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