Chocolate Peanut Brittle Recipes

Steps:

• Coat a baking sheet with nonstick cooking spray.
• Place the butter, baking soda and kosher salt in a small bowl and place next to the stove. Combine the peanuts, pumpkin seeds and wheat germ in a medium bowl, and place next to the stove.
• Combine 3/4 cup water, the sugar and corn syrup in a large pot set over high heat. Attach a candy thermometer to the inside of the pan, making sure it doesn't touch the bottom of the pot. Bring the sugar mixture to a boil, then immediately reduce the heat to medium. Cook, stirring occasionally, until the mixture reaches 280 degrees F and is amber-colored, 10 to 15 minutes. Remove the pot from the heat, and very carefully add in the butter mixture and stir vigorously for 45 seconds. The mixture will bubble up aggressively and lighten to an orange-caramel color, if it gets darker, the caramel has gotten too hot and will taste burnt. Stir in the nuts and wheat germ. Immediately pour the mixture onto the prepared pan and spread it out in an even layer. Cool for 5 to 10 minutes.
• Meanwhile, melt the chocolate chips in a double boiler (or in a heat-proof bowl set over barely simmering water) over medium-low heat until smooth and shiny, about 5 minutes. Spread the chocolate over the brittle then sprinkle the sea salt over the top. Refrigerate until the chocolate is firm and cool to the touch, 50 minutes to 1 hour.
• Break the brittle into 2- to 3-inch chunks. Store in an airtight container.

Steps:

• Grease a large cookie sheet. Set aside.
• In a heavy 2 quart saucepan, over medium heat, bring to a boil sugar, corn syrup, salt, and water. Stir until sugar is dissolved. Stir in peanuts. Set candy thermometer in place, and continue cooking. Stir frequently until temperature reaches 300 degrees F (150 degrees C), or until a small amount of mixture dropped into very cold water separates into hard and brittle threads.
• Remove from heat; immediately stir in butter and baking soda; pour at once onto cookie sheet. With 2 forks, lift and pull peanut mixture into rectangle about 14x12 inches; cool. Snap candy into pieces.

Steps:

• Grease a 15x10x1-in. pan and a metal spatula; set aside. , In a 2-qt. microwave-safe bowl, combine sugar and corn syrup. Microwave, uncovered, on high for 4 minutes; stir. Cook 3 minutes longer. Stir in peanuts and butter. Microwave for 30-60 seconds or until mixture turns a light amber color (mixture will be very hot)., Quickly stir in cocoa, baking soda and vanilla until combined. Immediately pour into prepared pan; spread with the metal spatula. Cool before breaking into pieces. Store in an airtight container.

Steps:

• Lightly butter cookie sheet and set aside for now.
• In small bowl, stir the cocoa and baking soda, then the butter; set aside.
• In heavy 2 quart saucepan, combine sugar, corn syrup and whipping cream, stirring to combine.
• Cook over medium heat. Keep stirring until sugar is dissolved.
• Stir in the peanuts and continue cooking, stirring frequently, until mixture reaches 300° or when syrup dropped into very cold water separates to threads that are hard and brittle (of course, make sure the bulb on the candy thermometer is not resting on bottom of the pan when used).
• Remove from heat and stir in cocoa mixture.
• Immediately pour onto the buttered cookie sheet.
• With tongs or wooden spoons, quickly spread and pull into a 1/4-inch thickness.
• Put cookie sheet on a wire rack to cool completely.
• When the brittle is cool, break into pieces.

Steps:

• Make the cupcakes: Position a rack in the middle of the oven and preheat to 350 degrees F using the convection setting, if available. Line two 12-cup muffin pans with paper liners. Put the butter, cocoa powder and 3/4 cup water in a microwave-safe bowl, cover with plastic wrap and microwave until the butter melts, about 2 minutes. Whisk to combine, then whisk in the brown sugar.
• Whisk the flour, baking powder, baking soda and salt in a large bowl. Whisk in the warm cocoa mixture. In another bowl, beat the buttermilk, eggs and vanilla; stir into the batter until just combined but don't overmix.
• Divide the batter among the prepared cups, filling each three-quarters of the way. Bake until the cupcakes are slightly domed and spring back when lightly pressed, 25 to 30 minutes. Let cool in the pans 10 minutes, then transfer to racks to cool completely.
• Make the brittle: Line a baking sheet with a silicone mat or parchment paper. Place the granulated sugar in a small saucepan over medium-high heat, bring to a boil and cook, swirling the pan but not stirring, until it turns amber. Remove from the heat; stir in the peanut butter and butterscotch chips until smooth. Immediately pour the mixture onto the prepared baking sheet, smooth into a thin layer with a spatula and let cool. Break the brittle into pieces, place in a resealable plastic bag and crush with a rolling pin.
• Make the frosting: Bring the cream to a simmer in a small saucepan. Remove from the heat, add the peanut butter chips and let stand about 5 minutes. Whisk until smooth. Place the pan over a bowl of ice, stirring occasionally, until the frosting is spreadable, about 10 minutes. Spread on the cupcakes or transfer to a pastry bag with a large round tip and pipe on top; sprinkle with the brittle.