Cashew Coconut Brittle: Really delicious brittle recipe, perfect gift idea, can also substitute any other nut.
![Cashew coconut brittle recipe.](http://www.lifeisaparty.ca/wp-uploads/2015/11/cashew-coconut-brittle-1.jpg)
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Homemade Candy for Gift Giving
I thought it would be fun to make a few different kinds of candy this year for gift giving. I always make an amazing butternut crunch toffee recipe here …so perhaps I was a little over confident. A few weeks ago I tried to make homemade sponge toffee…it was quite the adventure. Perseverance paid off and it turned out great…eventually.
Cashew Coconut Brittle
So this week's Cashew Coconut Brittle was approached with much more caution. I’m happy to report it came out great on the first attempt. In fact we can’t seem to stop eating it. So I can highly recommend this one.
I''ve made it lots of time with peanuts, and it's very good. But this combo, of coconut and cashews is AMAZING, worth the effort, and should secure the praise and admiration of your friends and family. (Oversell? Well, let’s just say this coconut cashew brittle really is good then.)
Ingredients
The star of the show for this cashew coconut brittle is of course, the cashews and the coconut. I just love the cashew flavors with the intense coconut flavor.
- Cashews: You can use roasted or raw cashews in this recipe, whichever is your preference. Pieces or whole cashews are fine. I used unsalted cashews, but if you only have salted cashews, just omit the salt later in the recipe. That sweet salty combo is pretty great.
- Coconut: This recipe is made with unsweetened flakes. Feel free to use sweetened coconut if that's what you have, and flaked or shredded coconut can be used interchangeably here.
- Corn Syrup: Using corn syrup in brittle helps guard against the sugar crystallizing and creating a grainy brittle. Corn syrup helps create a smooth and never grainy coconut cashew brittle texture.
- Salt: Add a pinch of salt to the brittle mixture to help balance out the sweet. Love the salty and sweet combo? Try using salted cashews or add a sprinkle of sea salt over the warm coconut cashew brittle.
Hint
Make sure to pre-measure the cashews and coconut, and have your vanilla and baking soda near by. When the brittle reaches the right temperature you will want to quickly add the last ingredients.
Substitutions
You can substitute any nuts for the cashews and coconut. You want the total to equal 2 ½ cups. You may use salted in place of unsalted cashews, just remove the salt from the recipe.
Variations
Try using some other nuts and combinations for different flavor variations. Feel free to play around or even go with the classic peanuts. It’s as simple as swapping out the 2 ½ cups total (I did 1 ¼ cashews and 1 ¼ coconut here) with any nut of your choice.
Use all cashews and no coconut for cashew brittle.
Use peanuts for peanut brittle
Try using almonds, or any other nut or combination of nuts equaling 2 ½ cups total.
Equipment
You will need a candy thermometer for this recipe. Attach it to the side of pan, making sure that it doesn't rest on the bottom of the pan so that it's an accurate reading.
Also, use a pastry brush dipped in cold water to brush down the sides of the pan to help prevent and recrystallization during the cooking process of the brittle.
Storage
Store your finished brittle at room temperature in an airtight container. It lasts up to a month.
It's perfect for gift giving a small tin or wrapped in a cellophane bag, tied with ribbon to be air tight.
FAQ
The baking soda reacts and creates carbon dioxide. This aerates the caramel making it less dense and helping to create the characteristic brittle snap of the candy, and guarding against it being soft and chewy.
Your sugar in your candy may have recrystallized, causing a grainy texture. Use a pastry brush dipped in cold water and brush down the sides of the pan several times as it cooks to help prevent this problem.
If your brittle didn't set you may not have cooked it long enough. Be sure that it reaches 238 degrees on a candy thermometer before removing it from the heat.
Recipe
![Cashew coconut brittle recipe.](http://www.lifeisaparty.ca/wp-uploads/2015/11/cashew-coconut-brittle-1.jpg)
Ingredients
- 1 ½ cups sugar
- ½ cup light corn syrup
- ¾ cup cold water
- pinch of salt
- 1 ¼ cup cashews
- 1 ¼ coconut
- or replace the cashews and coconut for 2 ½ cups total of another nut or combination of nuts
- 1 teaspoon vanilla
- 1 teaspoon baking soda
- cooking oil spray
Instructions
- Spray a 9 x 13 baking tray with cooking spray, and set aside.
- In a medium saucepan combine the sugar, corn syrup, water and salt.
- Bring to a boil over a med.-high heat, stirring until the sugar is dissolved.
- Cook, swirling occasionally, until the mixtures reaches 238 degrees on a candy thermometer, brushing the sides of the pan down with a pastry brush dipped in a cup water, occasionally to prevent re-crystallization.
- When the temperature reaches 238 degrees, mix in the coconut and cashews, and stir frequently to combine cashews and coconut and to prevent the nuts from burning, cooking until the mixture turns to a golden amber colour.
- Add the vanilla and baking soda to the mixture and stir to combine, it may foam up slightly.
- Quickly spread onto the baking sheet, using a spatula sprayed with cooking oil to smooth it.
- Let the brittle cool completely, then break into pieces. Store in an airtight container at room temperature for up to a month.
Nutrition
With homemade Cashew Coconut Brittle, life really is a party!
More Christmas Gift Ideas
Now it's time for some more DIY Christmas gift ideas from my Canadian blogging friends. Get ready for some wonderful handmade gift inspiration for your holidays!
From the top, they are:
DIY Maple Candle (A Roots Knockoff) from Vin'yet Etc.
Homemade Candied Citrus Peel from Personally Andrea
Hand Lettered Ornaments from Lemon Thistle
Christmas Breakfast Gift Basket from Craftberry Bush
Homemade Apple Cider Vinegar from Sustain My Craft Habit
Cashew Coconut Brittle from Life Is A Party
DIY Serving Tray for the Coffee Lover from DIY Passion
DIY Cookie Cutters from PMQ For Two
Christmas Cupcake in a Jar from The DIY Mommy
DIY Growler Carrier With Dry Erase Label from Hello Creative Family
DIY Wood Slice Ornaments from The Sweetest Digs
Galvanized Letter Tree from New House New Home
DIY Animal Bookends from Lifeovereasy
Industrial Watch Holder from Love Create Celebrate
Heather @ New House New Home says
Two of our favourite ingredients -I know what I'm making this year
Lindi says
Yummy! My mouth is watering already! Thanks so much for sharing this recipe. It's easier than I guessed - I've never tried a brittle before.
dnr says
Heather, oh that's exciting, I'm sure it will turn out great. Enjoy.
Andrea @ personallyandrea says
This sounds amazing. I love giving homemade foodie gifts at Christmas! (Did I mention on your last post...I really need a candy thermometer!!!)
dnr says
I hope Santa puts one in your stocking Andrea, if you don't get one sooner, lol.
Dannyelle
Sonja @ SustainMyCraftHabit says
Yum! Cashews are one of my favourite nuts so I'm loving this twist on the traditional brittle! Oh and your pics are seriously stunning!
dnr says
Thanks Sonja!
Rachel says
The amount of water is not listed in the ingredients. Thanks.
dnr says
Thanks Rachel, sorry I forgot it, all fixed up now.
Dannyelle
Colleen Pastoor says
This looks SO yummy Dannyelle! One day I'll be a baker... I love the result so much but just don't have the patience!
dnr says
The thing I love about learning to bake is, if it doesn't turn out perfectly the first time, you just eat the evidence and try again. 😉
Dannyelle
Roshan says
Hello! What kind of coconut did you use for this brittle? Sweetened, flaked coconut or unsweetened coconut chips?
Dannyelle says
Hi Roshan, I used unsweetened coconut flakes, but really any kind should work fine.
Dannyelle