Every year I make candy and snack gift baskets for friends and family during the holidays. If I try to get out of gift baskets I am hounded by disappointed people. “So…when are you making your candy gift baskets this year?” “You know how much I am looking forward to having a candy gift basket.” “Have you made your candy gift baskets yet?” Obviously, there’s no pressure, right? Because I get bored with the same candy favorites every year I try to add a new one to the mix. I had a recipe for Chocolate Nut Brittle I wanted to try and this seemed like the perfect time to make a batch. I can only describe this brittle in one word—amazing. I think it is the most delicious thing I have ever made. This recipe takes a little effort but the end result is worth it.
Chocolate Nut Brittle Recipe:
Here’s what you need to make it:
Ingredients:
You’ll need sugar, salt, water, mixed nuts, corn syrup, unsweetened cocoa powder and chocolate chips.
- 1/4 cup water
- 1 cup granulated sugar
- 3/4 cup light corn syrup
- 1/2 tsp salt
- 2 cups mixed salted nuts, from the Planter’s Holiday Collection Tin
- 3 tbsp sunsweetened cocoa powder
- 1 ½ cups milk chocolate chips
- Spray a cookie sheet with nonstick cooking spray. In a medium saucepan, combine the water, granulated sugar, corn syrup, and salt. Place the pan over medium heat, stir with a wooden spoon until the sugar dissolves. Bring the mixture to a boil. Once the candy is boiling, insert a candy thermometer and continue to cook it, without stirring, until the thermometer reads 290 degrees F. When the mixture reaches 290, add the nuts and cocoa. Stir the mixture until well blended. Pour the candy out onto the baking sheet and spread it into a thin layer. Top with the chocolate chips and allow them to melt. Use a spoon to spread the chips over the top of the brittle. Once the brittle is firm, break the brittle into small pieces by hand.
Be sure to stir the mixture constantly because it will burn easily. Also, make the brittle in a nonstick sauce pan and grease the cookie sheet before pouring on the mixture. The pans are hard to clean if the mixture sticks! Since I had leftover nuts in the package, I used them in this amazing recipe I found on the Food Network for Sweet And Salty Nuts and Bacon. I’ve been a sweet and salty nut fan for years, but what recipe isn’t better with bacon?
Here’s what you need to make it:
1 (12 ounce) package bacon, cooked and crumbled
1 large egg
1/4 teaspoon salt
1/2 cup sugar
2 cups mixed nuts from the Planter’s Holiday Collection tin
1 teaspoon Spicy No Salt Seasoning Blend
Directions
Beat the egg and salt until foamy using a whisk in a medium bowl. Add the sugar and spicy seasoning, stir, and add the mixed nuts. Spread the nuts in a single layer on the baking sheet. Bake until the nuts are crisp and brown, stirring every five to ten minutes. Be careful when making this recipe because if the nuts are not stirred enough when they are toasting, they will burn. Place the nut mixture and bacon in a bowl and blend. Store it in the fridge or eat it right away. Just be sure to save some for the guests!
When you have found the Sleigh display, use the Blippar app for some fun. I tried to make a selfie of me, the cat and Mr. Peanut after scanning the front of my holiday tin. I now know why cats do not make selfies. Afterwards I looked through the holiday ideas and discovered some quick and easy gift ideas for those unexpected last minute presents!
Do you have any holiday favorite recipes you make every year?
What a delicious snack recipe idea, thanks for sharing it. I am going to have my tween make this as she is my little baker!
How delish! Will have to print and add it to my binder. Also, like a few other commenters mentioned I love giving sweet treats for the holidays. This would be great for teachers, garage attendants and the doorman! Thank you for sharing!
My Husbands Grandmother always makes us peanut brittle but this chocolate nut brittle sounds sooo amazing! I must try it 🙂
Love nuts and chocolate so these two pair well for me. These would also make a wonderful gift for a neighbor or friend.
I love the campaign! #GoNutsForNuts I love Planters Honey Salted Cashews! The only holiday recipe I adore is sweet potato pie!!
The Blippar App does sound cool. So does that holiday collection of nuts, mm hmm, mmm!
I have never had chocolate nut brittle. The bacon and nuts is more up my ally!
That chocolate nut brittle looks so yummy. I have to try this.
I don’t make candy-although that chocolate nut brittle might be my first attempt. I do bake cakes, cookies and brownies, though.
I will cook a gourmet meal but won’t make dessert, I always leave that one to my guests to bring along! I have never tried this before, looks delish!
I have not made brittle. But usually this time of year I love to make banana bread. Just made some yesterday.
Yumfest! Brittles are such a good idea for Christmas treats! I’m hoping to make fudge this year! Never done it before so don’t know how it will turn out!
Mmm, I’ve never thought about making the chocolate kind before. Those look yummy!
I love nut brittle. I need to print this recipe and make it to enjoy. I might share with family. LOL
This looks amazing and yummy. We need to do more candy making for the holidays this year, and I think this would be a great recipe to put on the list.
Goodness this chocolate nut brittle recipes looks delish! I’d love to make and give some as gifts this holiday season. Thanks for sharing.
That looks Ahhhmazing! I totally want some of that for myself.
We make cookies, cookies and some more cookies. But clearly I need to add some bacon into our traditions! Yum!
Mmm who doesn’t love bacon, right?! That Chocolate Nut Brittle looks amazing! My dad could eat it all by himself! (ps I can tell your photography skills are improving more and more every time I come here!)
Thanks, Amy! I appreciate the compliment. Your photo skills are amazing!
This looks so yummy – and BACON?!? SOLD.
All I needed to see was the bacon and I was done for 😉
Mmm, this just sounds delicious! I’d love to include this at a holiday party.
Chocolate and bacon have you been secretly reading my thoughts. You took all the calories out of this right.
Of course! All holiday foods need to be calorie free, right? lol
You had me at nuts and then added bacon. We will certainly try it out!
Oh my goodness, this sounds so good!! This would make for an awesome homemade gift for friends!
This looks delicious. I will have to make some to surprise my kids.
My MIL love love loves brittle! I”ll have to share this recipe with her
Thanks for sharing great recipes! I’d love to try your Chocolate Nut Brittle, I’m sure the sweet and salty combination is delicious!
Oh this looks so delish. Yummy snack!
I love brittle! Your chocolate nut brittle sounds way too good!
My family usually requests peanut butter buckeyes, but I may have to switch it up to this nut brittle. It looks scrumptious!
Whoa whoa whoa, bacon and nuts? Is that possible? ….. I guess bacon and nuts it is.
Wow, does that look good. It might be a bit tough on my teeth but I will just have to take it slow, LOL. I do make fudge and popcorn balls every year. I also make cookies and some real easy chocolate nut clusters.
This sounds great. Looks like I found a new snack for the living room table.
This looks great. I am a fan of chocolate and mixed nuts – this would make a great treat for my colleagues.
I love all sorts of brittle. This looks delicious!
I’m allergic to nuts so don’t usually buy them but hubby does and he’s a big Planters fan.
You had at bacon and nuts. Now I want to eat those: just delicious
Have you ever made something that wasn’t delicious? That’s a serious question.
Ahhh! I need to make chocolate nut brittle STAT! That looks incredible. I’m making a little gift bag for my girl friend, I should put this in there. Yum
Wow, that chocolate nut brittle looks professional! It’s a good thing I can’t reach through the screen or it would be gone already!
I love giving and receiving gift baskets. What a great addition to add to them.
Sign me up! I’d love to try one of these!
Now I understand why you said on Facebook this was your fave recipe you’ve made. It looks incredible!
I LOVE chocolate and pretty much all kinds of nuts. This sounds like the perfect candy for me to make!
Holiday treats are my favorite! I love peanut brittle – I bet this chocolate brittle is even better!
I’ll take one of those baskets!!! This sounds delicious. I’m going to have to try it this holiday season myself.
Oh this looks so good. Great idea for the holidays.
Chocolate, nuts, and bacon, oh my! You mentioned three of my favorite things in this post… perfection!
that looks super good! I’d wrap that up in parchment and little treat bags and bring it to a holiday gathering to pass out. so fun!
Yummy yummy yummy! I love Planters, but even more with great recipes like this around the holidays!
Yummy, I am a big fan of nuts and bacon, so I will have to try out the sweet and salty mix. I would love to receive a tin of Planter’s under my tree! #client
This looks delicious and unique. Perfect holiday gifts!
Oh wow, this looks amazing! I think I would make a basket for myself!
That sounds SO good. It is perfect for a bring along to Christmas parties.
I also make the candy gift baskets and will definitely be adding this to the mix this year!
A candy gift basket is a great idea. This would be an awesome addition to one!