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Add a pop of color and crunch to your dessert table with this fun Jelly Bean Brittle! Easy to make, festive, and perfect for gifting or snacking.
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Looking for a fun and festive treat that’s as colorful as it is crunchy? This Jelly Bean Brittle is one of our favorite jelly bean recipes – easy to make and perfect for spring celebrations. Whether you’re planning a party or just want a creative way to use up leftover Easter candy, this recipe delivers sweet, buttery goodness in every bite.
⭐ Why You’ll Love This Recipe
- Great way to use up jelly beans
- Perfect for gifting or snacking
- No candy thermometer required
- A unique twist on traditional brittle
🛒 Ingredients & Substitutions
- miniature jelly beans – Swap in chopped gumdrops or candy-coated chocolate pieces if needed.
- granulated sugar
- light corn syrup – Use golden syrup or glucose syrup as a substitute.
- water
- butter – Stick with real butter for the best texture and flavor – salted or unsalted both work. Do NOT use margarine.
- baking soda
- salt
✨ Variations
- Easter-themed: Use pastel jelly beans for a festive touch.
- Chocolate drizzle: Add a layer of melted chocolate after cooling.
- Nut lovers: Mix in chopped peanuts or almonds for an extra crunch.
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🔥 Tips For Success
- Do not stir the sugar mixture once it starts boiling.
- Use cooking spray on your spatula for easy spreading.
- Test for the hard crack stage by dropping syrup into cold water – it should harden into brittle threads.
❓ FAQs
Yes! Store it in an airtight container for up to two weeks.
No, but if you prefer one, aim for 300°F (149°C).
Absolutely! It’s one of the best recipes that use jelly beans after the holiday.
You can, but be aware that sugar substitutes may not hold up well to high heat and could melt or become sticky. Test a small batch first if you’re unsure.
Yes, but you’ll need a larger baking sheet, and you should work quickly when spreading the hot mixture. It cools and hardens fast.
Once cooled, flip it onto a clean surface and use your hands or the back of a spoon to gently crack it into pieces.
They can help arrange the jelly beans and break the brittle once it’s cooled. But keep them away from the hot sugar mixture – it’s very hot and can burn.
It stays fresh and crunchy in an airtight container at room temperature for up to two weeks.
Definitely! Try it with chopped licorice, mini marshmallows, or crushed candy canes for a holiday spin.
If you’re looking for Easter candy ideas or sweet and simple jelly bean recipes, give this Jelly Bean Brittle a try – it’s as fun to make as it is to eat!
🍽️ Other Recipes You May Enjoy
Jelly Bean Brittle
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Equipment
- clean dish towel
Ingredients
- 1 lb. bag of miniature jelly beans
- 3 cups granulated sugar
- 1 cup light corn syrup
- ½ cup water
- 3 tablespoons butter, not margarine
- 2 teaspoons baking soda
- ½ teaspoon salt
Instructions
- Line a large, rimmed baking sheet with aluminum foil and coat it with cooking spray. Spray a spatula with cooking spray as well. Set both aside.
- Spread the jelly beans in an even layer over the prepared baking sheet.
- In a large soup pot or Dutch oven, mix the sugar, corn syrup, and water. Bring the mixture to a boil over medium heat. Do not stir. Boil for 10 to 12 minutes, or until the syrup turns golden and reaches the hard crack stage.*
- Remove the pot from the heat. Carefully stir in the butter, baking soda, and salt. The mixture will foam up. Keep stirring for 4 to 5 minutes, or until it turns shiny.
- Quickly pour the hot mixture over the jelly beans and spread it with the greased spatula.
- Let the brittle cool completely. Once it has hardened, invert it onto a clean work surface.
- Turn the brittle out onto a clean dish towel and peel off the foil, then break the brittle into bite-sized pieces.
- Serve right away or store in an airtight container.
Notes
- Hard crack stage: To test without a thermometer, drop a bit of the syrup into cold water. If it forms hard, brittle strands, it’s ready.
- Work quickly: Once the mixture is poured, spread it fast – brittle hardens in seconds.
- Use cooking spray: Spray your spatula and foil well to prevent sticking.
- Storage: Keep in an airtight container at room temperature for up to two weeks. Avoid humidity.
- Gifting idea: Wrap pieces in cellophane bags or tuck them into Easter baskets for a festive treat!
Nutrition
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
