3 Microwave Candy Treats

We have a TREAT today! Katie of  Katie Evan’s Photography  is going to share 3 simple microwave candy recipes with us:
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My family is all about Christmas and making sweets is HUGE part of that. My Grandma Perkes (Dad’s Mom) made close to 200 pounds (that’s not a typo, my friends!) of hand dipped chocolates every holiday season to give away as gifts. And my parents continue a fraction of that tradition each year, and make candy to give away to friends and neighbors.

I like to keep things simple so I’m sharing my Mom’s MICROWAVE candy recipes. No candy thermometer? No problem! These recipes are so simple and easy to follow yet produce great results. 🙂

Let’s start with with Microwave Peanut Brittle.

Microwave Peanut Brittle

1 cup raw peanuts (I just used normal peanuts and it turned out great)

1 cup sugar
1/2 cup light corn syrup
pinch of salt
1 Tablespoon butter
1 teaspoon baking soda

In a microwave safe bowl combine the peanuts, sugar, corn syrup, and salt. Cook in the microwave for 7-8 minutes stirring once or twice. Add the butter and cook for 2-3 more minutes. Remove from the microwave and add the baking soda stirring until mixed. Pour onto a greased cookie sheet. (I also lined the cookie sheet with parchment paper.) Have the greased cookie sheet ready before adding the soda and be sure to work quickly as the brittle sets up very quickly. When it is completely cooled break into pieces.


Next…toffee.

Microwave Chocolate Covered Toffee

1/4 cup water

1 cup sugar
1/2 cup butter
dash of salt
2 1/2 ounces milk chocolate
1/4 cup chopped pecans

Prepare a cookie sheet lined with greased parchment paper. In a microwave safe bowl combine water, sugar, butter, and salt. Cook in the microwave for 9-11 minutes (without stirring) until the mixture is lightly browned. Sir and pour onto greased parchment paper. When completely cooled, melt chocolate and spread over the candy topping it with pecans. When the chocolate has hardened break into pieces.


and the divinity.

Microwave Peppermint Divinty

4 cups sugar

1 cup light corn syrup

3/4 cup water

dash of salt

3 egg whites

1/2 cup crushed peppermint candy

In a microwave safe bowl combine the sugar, corn syrup, water, and salt. Cook in the microwave for 19 minutes stirring every 5 minutes. While that is cooking, in a kitchen aid (or other mixer) beat egg whites to form stiff peaks. Once the sugar is finished cooking, slowly pour it into the egg white while the mixer is on. Add the peppermint candy. Beat at high speed for appox 6 minutes. Then work quickly to spoon bit size portions of the candy onto parchment paper.
Enjoy
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Thank you Katie for sharing 3 recipes with us!
If you’re curious how to get those pretty blurred lights in the background of your shots, check out Katie’s quick tips here.
Have a great Friday!
Check out the Sweets and Treats archive page HERE.
  1. I just made the toffee. It was awesome!!! Thanks for sharing the recipe. Although one tip you could try is instead of dirtying another dish and melting the chocolate then putting it on the cooled toffee, you could just put some chocolate chips on the warm toffee, wait a couple minutes and then smooth it. It may take a little longer to harden up, but just as effective! I can’t wait to try the brittle recipe as well because my husband LOVES brittle!!!

  2. 2) Jenn

    Made the peppermint divinity today. They are very tasty, but I have some advice for others without a KitchenAid mixer… If you use a metal bowl to combine the syrup and egg whites: mix for 7 minutes after you add the candy. If, like mine you end up with snowman soup, add in 6 TSP of Cream of Tartar and continue to mix for at least 10-15 more minutes. The metal bowl conducts the heat and the mixture doesn’t cool off fast enough in just 6 minutes. Though still tasty, my first three goopy puddles were not gift-worthy, but the rest of the batch came out great after the modifications!

    Thanks for the recipe, my friends are going to love them!

  3. 3) Pam

    I just made the divinity. I like because its a larger batch than my recipe. I only had to cook for 16 min in mt microwave to reach 260 degrees but had to beat longer than 6 min. Turned out very pretty. Oh, I do not use peppermint, but put a little vanilla.

  4. 4) Robin

    Made the toffee and it BURNED in 8.5 minutes, we were chatting and didn’t keep an eye on it. Second batch was ready in just over 7 minutes… perhaps my new microwave is super strong?? Otherwise, GREAT recipe for such a quick treat to take tonight to a dessert party. Next we’ll try the nut brittle. (We have tried microwave caramel as well and it worked great – just google that for the recipe.) I LOVE that people are experimenting and sharing microwave recipes, saving us all so much time!

  5. 5) Cmraken1

    I have made microwave peanut brittle using salted cashew pieces. We like it better than with peanuts.

  6. 6) Nancy mitchell

    Best toffee ever!! I microwaved it for exactly 9 minutes and the crunch was perfect. I will never cook it on the stove again.

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