Jana’s Pecan Brittle

This is the most amazing brittle I’ve ever had. Jana makes it for gifts and for the Holidays. It’s sweet and salty and it’s very hard to stop eating it once you’ve started. We usually end up making multiple batches because it disappears quickly!

What you need

  • 2 Cups Sugar
  • 1 Cup Light Corn Syrup
  • 1/2 Cup Water
  • 3 Heaping Cups Whole Pecans
  • 1 Stick Butter – Cut into chunks
  • 3-4 Tbs Butter – Softened
  • 2 Tsp Baking Soda
  • 1 Tsp Vanilla
  • Flaked Sea Salt
  • Parchment Paper
  • Heavy Stockpot
  • Wooden Spatula
  • Candy Thermometer

Instructions

  1. Prepare the surface you’re using to spread out the candy. We spread out a 2 ft section (give or take) of parchment paper and cover it generously with softened butter. We also cover a spatula with butter to have it ready to push down and spread the prepared candy.
  2. Combine sugar, corn syrup, and water in a HEAVY stockpot. Cook on medium heat and stir occasionally till the sugar is dissolved, then cook without stirring till the temperature reaches 230 degrees.
  3. Add pecans and 1 stick of butter and stir continuously until the temperature reaches 305 degrees.
  4. Add the baking soda and vanilla and quickly stir it into the candy mixture.
  5. Turn the candy out onto the prepared surface so it’s a thin layer of pecans and brittle. The candy begins to harden as soon as it leaves the pot, so you’ll need to ‘pound’ the soft candy mixture quickly to make as thin a layer as possible.