Atomic peanut brittle

[FLBentRider]

This is not my recipe, I got it from Alton Brown's show "Good Eats"

I add more cayenne....

This is the original recipe
Ingredients

    * 1 1/2 cups lightly salted, roasted peanuts
    * 1/2 teaspoon cinnamon
    * 1/2 teaspoon cayenne pepper
    * 3 cups sugar
    * 1 1/2 cups water
    * Vegetable oil, for coating the saucepan
    * Softened butter for spatula

Directions

In a small bowl combine peanuts, cinnamon, and cayenne. Set aside.

Brush the inside of a medium sized heavy saucepan with vegetable oil. Add the sugar and water to the saucepan, cook over high heat, stirring occasionally with a wooden spoon, until it comes to a boil. Stop stirring, cover and cook for 3 minutes. Uncover, reduce heat to medium, and cook until the sugar is a light amber color. Stir in peanuts. This will greatly reduce the temperature of the sugar so work quickly. Once evenly mixed, pour mixture onto a sheet pan lined with a silicone baking mat or buttered parchment paper. Using a buttered spatula, spread thin. You will have to work quickly when pouring out and spreading the mixture in the pan. If necessary, in order to achieve single layer of peanuts, top with second sheet pan whose underside has been buttered. Cool completely and then break into pieces.

[jaredpost]

Do you need to use a candy thermometer to make sure the sugar gets to a certain temperature?

[ArnieM]

Do you need to use a candy thermometer to make sure the sugar gets to a certain temperature?

I'd guess 'melted' is probably OK.  Alton was always heavy on science but a bit light on details.  I use parchment a lot but never buttered/greased it.

I guess the general guideline is "Cook it until it's done."

[FLBentRider]

I use a candy thermometer.

I go to the soft crack stage.

270° F–290° F
/135° C–145° C

Be careful. That stuff is hot and sticks to everything!

[seemore]

Thanks, FLB!
We are definitely going to try this one!
Seemore will have to fix this one - the last time I made peanut brittle, it was anything BUT brittle.......... :-[
Mrs. Seemore