beyond brittle

I’m taking this old-school candy to a whole new level! You are going to love how simple this is to make – with an end result that is both delicious and beautiful.

I’m sharing how to make the best, basic brittle recipe, to transform this candy into any flavor you wish. I’m also including three

awesome, nut-free recipes to enjoy: Coconut Brittle, Sesame Brittle, and Granola Bar Brittle.

Here’s what you’ll do:

Put all ingredients, except for vanilla (you’ll save this for the end) into your saucepan. Place on the stove at medium heat.

Melt all of the ingredients, stirring with a wooden spoon. Once melted, place the candy thermometer into the saucepan.

From this point on, you’ll constantly stir the mixture. It’s going to take 20 minutes to get to 300 degrees, or the “hard crack” stage.

Once you reach 300 degrees, take the saucepan off of the heat and remove the candy thermometer.

Add the vanilla and stir it in. The candy is complete.

This is the moment that you’ll stir in the components to make it a specific flavor.

Here’s what it looks like while it’s cooking:

Now, let’s take it beyond brittle. I’m sharing how to transform this candy into something really special and creative.

Here’s what I prepped for three different brittle recipes. All you need to do is add one cup of ingredients for each separate batch/flavor. This will be added once your mixture has come to 300 degrees.

Mili’s Sweets Sesame Brittle Recipe

Follow the recipe for Basic Brittle (above) and add:

1 cup toasted sesame seeds

Use a wooden spoon to stir the seeds into the hot candy mixture, after the vanilla has been stirred in.

Pour onto a baking sheet, covered with a silpat mat or parchment paper. Spread smooth, to about 1/4″, with an offset spatula.

Allow to cool for at least 10 minutes.

If you are a symmetrical-junkie like me and like your desserts to be presented in a neat and clean way, then this would be the time to cut the brittle.

Invert the brittle onto parchment paper or a cutting board and use a large knife to cut into squares. The longer you allow the brittle to cool, the harder it will be to cut. If you like a broken-brittle, then allow it to cool for an additional 10 minutes and simply break the candy apart with your hands.

Mili’s Sweets Granola Bar Brittle Recipe 

Follow the recipe for Basic Brittle (above) and add:

1/2 cup organic rolled oats

1/3 cup dried cherries

3 tablespoons salted sunflower seeds

sprinkling of semi sweet chocolate chips (I used Enjoy Life brand, mini chips.)

Here’s what you’ll do:

Stir all of the ingredients (except for the chocolate chips) into the brittle mixture, after it has reached 300 degrees, and you have already added the vanilla.

Pour onto a baking sheet, covered with a silpat mat or parchment paper.

Use an offset spatula to spread the mixture. Sprinkle on the chocolate chips.

Allow to cool completely or cut into portions before it has completely cooled.

Mili’s Sweets Toasted Coconut Brittle Recipe 

Follow the recipe for Basic Brittle (above) and add:

1 cup toasted coconut

Here’s how to toast coconut:

Heat your oven to 325 degrees. Spread one cup of sweetened, shredded coconut onto a baking sheet that is covered with a silpat mat or parchment paper. Bake for 15 minutes.

Add the toasted coconut to the hot brittle mixture, after the vanilla has been added. Reserve some of the toasted coconut to sprinkle over the top of the brittle, once it has been spread.

IF YOU CAN HAVE NUTS: I’m a nut-free momma so you won’t see peanuts or cashews in my recipes. However, if you and your family can enjoy peanuts and tree nuts, simply add one cup of your chosen ingredient into the basic brittle recipe mixture and you’re set.