Sweet and buttery, these Toffee Peanuts are an absolute delight, perfect for satisfying your snack cravings, thoughtful gifting, or enhancing any festive cookie tray.

If your heart beats for peanuts, you’ll also adore these Peanut Mallow Bars or this incredibly easy Peanut Butter and Jelly Dip. But today, we’re diving into the enchanting world of Toffee Peanuts!

Homemade Toffee Peanuts: The Ultimate Sweet & Salty Snack Recipe

Prepare to discover your new favorite addictive snack! These homemade Toffee Peanuts aren’t just for holiday gift trays – though they certainly shine during the festive season. Their irresistible combination of crunchy peanuts coated in a rich, buttery toffee makes them a perfect year-round treat. Whether you need a quick snack, a thoughtful homemade gift, or a delicious addition to your dessert spread, this recipe is a true winner.

What makes these Toffee Peanuts truly stand out is their simplicity. With just a few common ingredients and minimal effort, you can create a gourmet-quality snack that far surpasses anything you’d find in a store. You’ll be amazed at how easy it is to achieve that perfect sweet-and-salty balance and satisfying crunch, leaving you wondering why you ever settled for pre-packaged versions!

Why Make Toffee Peanuts From Scratch?

There’s a unique satisfaction that comes with crafting homemade treats, and these toffee-coated peanuts are no exception. Beyond the joy of creation, making your own Toffee Peanuts offers several compelling advantages:

• Unmatched Freshness: Store-bought options often sit on shelves for weeks. When you make them at home, you get to enjoy them at their absolute freshest, with the optimal crunch and rich flavor.
• Control Over Ingredients: You decide exactly what goes into your snack. No artificial flavors, preservatives, or high-fructose corn syrup if you choose not to use them. This recipe uses simple, wholesome ingredients you likely already have.
• Cost-Effective: Buying gourmet candied nuts can be surprisingly expensive. This recipe uses common, affordable ingredients, making it a much more budget-friendly way to enjoy this delightful treat.
• Customizable: Want more cinnamon? Less salt? A different type of nut? When you’re the chef, you can easily adjust the flavors to perfectly suit your preferences.
• The Aroma Alone is Worth It: The smell of buttery toffee and warm spices filling your kitchen is a treat in itself. It instantly makes your home feel cozy and inviting!

Once you experience the superior taste and texture of homemade toffee peanuts, you’ll be hooked. They’re not just a snack; they’re an experience!

Essential Ingredients for Perfect Toffee Peanuts

Crafting these delectable toffee-coated peanuts requires a handful of simple, readily available ingredients. Each plays a crucial role in achieving that signature sweet, buttery, and crunchy texture. Here’s a closer look:

• Granulated Sugar: This forms the base of our toffee. Regular white granulated sugar is all you need to create that classic sweet, caramelized coating. Its fine crystals dissolve smoothly to form the syrupy mixture.
• Unsalted Butter: Butter is key for that rich, luscious, and truly buttery toffee flavor. Using unsalted butter allows you to control the overall saltiness of the final product. Cut it into pieces to help it melt more evenly and quickly with the sugar and corn syrup.
• Light Corn Syrup: Don’t skip this ingredient! Corn syrup is vital because it acts as an invert sugar, preventing the granulated sugar from crystallizing. Without it, your toffee could become grainy and brittle instead of smooth and glassy. It also adds a subtle sheen and contributes to the chewiness of the toffee.
• Cinnamon and Nutmeg: These warm spices are the secret to adding depth and a wonderfully inviting aroma to your toffee peanuts. While the finished nuts won’t taste overpoweringly like cinnamon, these spices provide a complex, comforting background flavor that elevates the entire snack. They make these feel extra special, especially for holiday occasions.
• Salt: Essential for balancing the sweetness! A touch of salt enhances all the flavors and creates that irresistible sweet and salty contrast that makes these peanuts so addictive. We’ll use a small amount in the toffee mixture itself.
• Peanuts: The star of the show! You have a choice here – salted or unsalted peanuts. For the ultimate sweet and salty experience, I highly recommend using salted dry roasted peanuts. The pre-salted nuts further amplify that delicious contrast. Ensure they are dry roasted, not oil roasted, for the best texture and adhesion of the toffee.

How to Make Delicious Homemade Toffee Peanuts

Creating these delightful Toffee Peanuts is simpler than you might imagine. Follow these step-by-step instructions for a perfect batch every time. Remember, precision and attention to heat are key when working with sugar!

Preparation is Key

Before you even turn on the stove, make sure your work area is ready. Line a large baking sheet with foil. This non-stick surface is crucial for easily removing the cooled toffee peanuts later. Additionally, preheat your oven to 325ºF (160ºC). Having everything prepared ensures a smooth cooking process, as hot toffee waits for no one!

STEP 1: Crafting the Toffee Base
In a large, heavy-bottomed saucepan, combine the granulated sugar, unsalted butter (cut into pieces), and light corn syrup. Place the pan over medium heat. Cook this mixture, stirring constantly, until the butter is completely melted and the sugar has dissolved. It’s important to stir continuously to prevent the sugar from scorching at the bottom and to encourage even melting. Once everything is well combined and simmering, bring the mixture to a full boil. Let it boil vigorously for precisely 1 minute. This crucial minute allows the sugar to reach the correct stage for forming a stable toffee. After 1 minute, immediately remove the pan from the heat to stop the cooking process.

STEP 2: Infusing Flavor and Adding Peanuts
Once off the heat, stir in your aromatic spices: cinnamon, nutmeg, and the salt. Mix thoroughly until they are fully incorporated into the hot toffee mixture. The warmth of the toffee will help release their wonderful fragrances. Immediately after, add the 3 cups of salted dry roasted peanuts to the saucepan. Stir vigorously to ensure every peanut is coated evenly with the shimmering toffee mixture. Don’t worry if the mixture starts to clump up a little – that’s perfectly normal and expected as the toffee begins to cool slightly.

STEP 3: Spreading and Baking for Perfection
Carefully transfer the peanut and toffee mixture onto the foil-lined baking sheet you prepared earlier. This mixture will be extremely hot, so DO NOT touch the peanuts with your hands. Use a heat-resistant spatula to spread the coated peanuts out into as even a single layer as possible. The goal is to allow them to bake evenly and get that beautiful golden crunch. Place the baking sheet into your preheated 325ºF (160ºC) oven and bake for approximately 20 minutes.

During the baking process, it’s essential to stir the peanuts every 5 minutes. This ensures they cook evenly and prevents them from sticking together too much on the pan. You’ll notice the sugar mixture will melt and spread out on the baking sheet – this is exactly what should happen as the toffee undergoes further caramelization and adheres firmly to the peanuts. Continue baking until the peanuts achieve a beautiful golden brown color.

STEP 4: Cooling and Breaking for Enjoyment
Once they are golden brown and perfectly caramelized, remove the baking sheet from the oven. Resist the urge to touch them immediately, as the toffee is still incredibly hot. Allow the Toffee Peanuts to sit undisturbed on the baking sheet until they are completely cooled to room temperature. This cooling period is crucial for the toffee to fully harden and become delightfully crisp. Once cooled, the toffee-coated peanuts will be firm. Simply break them into small, bite-sized pieces to serve. If you desire larger clusters, refer to our tips below!

Expert Tips for the Best Toffee Peanuts

Achieving perfectly crisp, buttery, and flavorful Toffee Peanuts is simple with a few insider tips:

• For Bigger Clumps: If you prefer your toffee peanuts to form larger, more substantial clusters (which are great for gifting!), stir the peanuts one final time immediately after you take them out of the oven. Instead of spreading them flat, gently push them together slightly or leave them in smaller mounds on the baking sheet before allowing them to cool completely. This will encourage them to clump up as they harden.
• Handle Hot Toffee with Care: Sugar syrup gets extremely hot and can cause severe burns. Always use a heat-resistant spatula for stirring and spreading the mixture. Never attempt to touch the hot toffee with your bare hands. Safety first!
• Even Coating is Key: When stirring the peanuts into the hot toffee, ensure every peanut is thoroughly coated. This guarantees that delicious toffee crunch in every bite.
• Alternative Nuts: While peanuts are traditional, this recipe is incredibly versatile! You can easily substitute in any of your favorite nuts, such as pecans, walnuts, cashews, or almonds. The instructions and amounts should remain largely the same, simply swapping out the type of nut. Try a mixed nut version for an exciting blend of flavors and textures!
• Don’t Rush the Cooling: Allowing the toffee peanuts to cool completely and undisturbed is vital for them to become perfectly crisp. Rushing this step might result in a chewier, less satisfying texture.
• Watch for Greasiness: It’s normal for the bottom of the toffee peanuts to appear slightly greasy when they first harden. Don’t worry; most of this will absorb as they continue to sit, resulting in a cleaner finish.

Storage Solutions

Once cooled and broken into pieces, store your homemade Toffee Peanuts in an airtight container at room temperature. They will remain fresh and delightfully crunchy for up to 1-2 weeks. For longer storage, you can even freeze them for up to 3 months; just be sure to thaw them at room temperature before serving.

Delicious Variations to Try

This basic Toffee Peanuts recipe is fantastic on its own, but it also serves as a wonderful canvas for creative variations. Here are a few ideas to inspire you:

• Chocolate Drizzle: Once the cooled toffee peanuts are broken into pieces, melt some chocolate (dark, milk, or white) and drizzle it over the top. Let it set, then enjoy the ultimate chocolate-toffee-peanut combination!
• Spicy Kick: Add a pinch of cayenne pepper or a dash of chili powder to the toffee mixture along with the cinnamon and nutmeg for a surprising sweet and spicy twist.
• Different Spices: Experiment with other warm spices like cardamom, ginger, or allspice for a unique flavor profile. Pumpkin pie spice mix would be wonderful for autumn.
• Flaky Sea Salt Finish: For an extra gourmet touch, sprinkle a tiny bit of flaky sea salt over the hot toffee peanuts right after you spread them on the baking sheet, before baking. This intensifies the sweet and salty dynamic.
• Coconut Delight: Stir in a handful of shredded coconut along with the peanuts for a tropical twist.

More Irresistible Candy Recipes

If you’ve fallen in love with making homemade treats, here are some other fantastic candy recipes you might enjoy:

• Easy Fudge: A classic, foolproof recipe for rich, creamy fudge.
• Homemade Caramel Candy: Chewy, buttery caramels that melt in your mouth.
• Sponge Toffee: Also known as honeycomb, this light and airy treat is crunchy and delicious.

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Toffee Peanuts

Author:
Deborah Harroun

Prep Time:

10 minutes
minutes

Cook Time:

25 minutes
minutes

Total Time:

35 minutes
minutes

Yields:

18
servings

Course:
Dessert, Snack

Cuisine:
American

Print Recipe
Pin Recipe

Sweet and buttery, these Toffee Peanuts are perfect for snacking, gifting, or adding to a cookie tray.

Ingredients

• 1/2 cup granulated sugar
• 1/4 cup unsalted butter cut into pieces
• 1/4 cup light corn syrup
• 1 1/4 teaspoons cinnamon
• 1/4 teaspoon nutmeg
• 1/4 teaspoon salt
• 3 cups salted dry roasted peanuts

Instructions

1. Line a large baking sheet with foil. Preheat the oven to 325ºF (160ºC).
2. In a large saucepan, combine the sugar, butter, and corn syrup. Place over medium heat and cook, stirring constantly, until the butter melts and sugar dissolves. Bring the mixture to a boil and let it boil for 1 minute. Remove from heat.
3. Stir in the cinnamon, nutmeg, and salt until combined. Immediately stir in the peanuts, ensuring they are well coated. It may start to clump up a little – that’s ok.
4. Carefully spread the mixture onto the prepared baking sheet using a heat-resistant spatula. Do not use your hands as the mixture is extremely hot.
5. Bake for about 20 minutes at 325ºF (160ºC), stirring every 5 minutes. The sugar mixture will melt and spread out – this is normal.
6. Once golden brown, remove from the oven. Let the toffee peanuts sit until completely cooled and hardened.
7. Break into pieces to serve and enjoy.

Recipe Notes:

Be very careful, as hot sugar can cause severe burns. Always use caution and appropriate tools.

The bottom of the toffee peanuts may appear slightly greasy when they first harden. Most of this will absorb as they sit.

Nutrition information provided is an estimate only. Various brands and products can change the counts. Any nutritional information should be used as a general guide.

Nutrition Information

Serving: 1serving,
Calories: 179kcal (9%),
Carbohydrates: 13g (4%),
Protein: 5g (10%),
Fat: 13g (20%),
Saturated Fat: 3g (19%),
Polyunsaturated Fat: 0g,
Monounsaturated Fat: 1g,
Trans Fat: 0g,
Cholesterol: 7mg (2%),
Sodium: 36mg (2%),
Potassium: 128mg (4%),
Fiber: 2g (8%),
Sugar: 10g (11%)

Keywords:
butter toffee peanuts, toffee peanuts, candied peanuts, homemade toffee peanuts, sweet and salty snack, easy toffee recipe, holiday treats, peanut brittle