Toronto Star Microwave Peanut Brittle

I found this recipe in the Toronto Star newspaper when I was just a kid & have been making it ever since. I tweaked the method ever so slightly & always use Picard Peanuts (a local grower who is widely available) Jumbo Cocktail Peanuts. I won 1st place at the County Fair with it as a Junior & an Adult. There are many other recipes here for microwave brittle but none with the exact ingredients & method of mine.

• Ready In: 10 mins
• Yields: 1 pound

Ingredients

• 1 1⁄2 cups salted peanuts
• 1  cup white sugar
• 1⁄2 cup  beehive corn syrup
• 1⁄8 teaspoon salt
• 1  teaspoon butter
• 1  teaspoon vanilla
• 1  teaspoon baking soda

Directions

1. Generously butter a baking sheet.
2. In an 8" square glass baking pan, stir together peanuts, sugar, syrup & salt. It will not completely blend at this stage.
3. Microwave on high for 3 minutes.
4. Remove from microwave & stir to completely combine.
5. Return to microwave & cook on high for 3 1/2 minutes.
6. Remove from microwave & stir in butter and vanilla.
7. Return to microwave & cook on high for 2 minutes.
8. Remove from microwave & quickly stir in baking soda. Mixture will become light & foamy.
9. Immediately pour onto the prepared baking sheet.
10. Slowly tilt the baking sheet back & forth and side to side to even out the candy. Do NOT spread with a spoon - this will diminish the bubbles & make the candy too hard.
11. Cool on wire rack until the bottom of the baking sheet is cool to the touch.
12. Break into small pieces by hand.
13. Store in an airtight container. Do NOT refrigerate.