Pumpking seen brittle is extra special, especially when you add a little cinnamon for extra warmth. This brittle will knock your socks off! Make it now!
Course Dessert
Cuisine American
Prep Time 15minutes
Cook Time 20minutes
Total Time 35minutes
Servings 8servings
Calories 189kcal
Author Stephanie Stiavetti
Ingredients
1teaspoonbaking soda
1tablespoonvanilla extract
1 1/2teaspooncinnamonif you like hot, throw in some ground cayenne. I’ve also seen cumin used instead of cinnamon for a smoky taste.
1/2teaspoonsalt
1cupsugar
3/4cupwater
1/4cupbutter
1cuppumpkin seeds(toasted or not, I toast mine in a 350°F (176°C) oven for about 8 min until they start making a small popping noise)
Kosher or sea saltto taste
Instructions
Lightly butter a cookie sheet or cover with a silicon liner. In a small bowl, stir baking soda into vanilla to dissolve and set aside. In another bowl, stir together cinnamon and salt to help the cinnamon distribute evenly when it’s stirred into the sugar mixture.
In a large heavy bottom saucepan over medium-low heat, use a heatproof spatula or wooden spoon to stir together sugar, water and butter until butter is melted and sugar is completely dissolved. Increase heat to medium and boil sugar mixture, stirring occasionally, until it turns a deep amber and measures 168°C (335-340°F) on a candy thermometer*, 8 to 12 minutes.
*You can do it without a candy thermometer, but it is easier with one as will seem to be taking FOREVER to change color. With the thermometer you don’t have to guess when to take the pan off the heat or wonder if the mixture is getting hot enough. I have to crank my eye all the way up to the max to get the syrup to the required temperature. I don’t think it would EVER get there on medium.
Remove sugar mixture from heat and carefully stir in vanilla and cinnamon mixtures (they will bubble up). Immediately stir in pumpkin seeds and pour into prepared pan, using spatula or wooden spoon to evenly spread and fill pan OR pour mixture over pumpkin seeds that have been spread out on the cookie sheet. Sprinkle all over with kosher/sea salt immediately if you want that sweet and salty taste.
I think it is prettier if you pour the mixture OVER the seeds, otherwise, you end up with brown squares. Yummy, but less festive looking.
Let the brittle cool at room temperature for 30 to 40 minutes. Break into chunks. It also makes a beautiful garnish to stick a piece into whipped cream on top of pumpkin pie, other pumpkin or spiced desserts or instead of biscotti with hot spiced drinks.
Notes
A note on cleanup: Once you've poured out your candy mixture and sprinkled your salt, put water in the pan you were cooking in and bring it to a boil. Use the boiling water to clean any other implements, spatula, thermometer, etc. If you use boiling water, clean up is a breeze. If you try to clean up with regular “hot” water, you could be scrubbing all day.