Salted Caramel Peanut Clusters - Hive Top Chef

Peanut Brittle was the first thing that came to mind when I saw this week's ingredient for Hive Top Chef - Peanuts!
However, I do not want to visit the dentist for a broken filling, or worse still, a broken tooth. Yes, the teeth get brittle as you 'mature', so no Peanut Brittle for me!

But I could make Salted Caramel Peanut Clusters and still enjoy this treat. I'm sure the recipe must be very similar. I'm guessing the only difference is that the brittle contains more sugar syrup?

The problem with these is that because they're small clusters of yummy caramel-coated peanuts, it's so easy to pick up each time you walk past the jar. If the kid-ults were home, it would all be gone in no time. Not that mother sets a good example when it comes to sweet, nutty treats.

I looove nuts, add some salted caramel, and you have me hooked. Chocolate, you can stand aside, I would rather have this nutty crunch!

Better still, no need to check the ingredients, it is all plant-based.

Peanuts, Sugar, Himalayan Salt, Cinnamon, and Vanilla.

So let's get cooking!

Recipe: Salted Caramel Peanut Clusters

• 500ml Giant Peanuts
• 250ml Sugar
• 5ml Himalayan Salt
• 75ml Water
• 5ml Vanilla Essence
• 2ml Cinnamon

Place all ingredients except cinnamon in a large heavy-based pot

Stir continuously with a wooden spoon over a medium heat

The liquid syrup will crystallize - it's meant to, so don't think you've made a mistake!

Lower the heat, and keep stirring, try to work the crystals stuck on the side of the pot down onto the peanuts. It will start caramelizing, and can easily burn at this point, so you may have to pull it off the heat for a bit, while stirring to coat the peanuts with the darker caramel.

Repeat this until the peanuts are evenly coated with a golden brown caramel.

Spoon onto a large pan and break into clusters.

I'm not sure why the silly old SA song Ag pleez Deddy Won't you Take us to the Drive-In popped into my head when I started test-tasting these Caramelized Peanuts for Qurator's: Hive Top Chef! | Peanuts.
It can only be the peanuts and all the other treats we had when we were young!

Popcorn, chewing gum
Peanuts an' bubblegum
Ice cream, candy floss
An' Eskimo Pie

Ag pleez, Deddy
Won't you take us to the drive-in?
All six, seven of us
Eight, nine, ten
^{Jeremy Taylor}

Childhood memories often come flooding back through food, right? These peanut clusters for sure took me back to those long-forgotten days, brought back to life by peanuts, of all things!

(っ◔◡◔)っ ♥ BON APPETIT! ♥

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