January 26th is Peanut Brittle Day.  Celebrate the peanut-based candy on Peanut Brittle Day by picking up a few bars from your local store or even attempting to make some yourself.

Everyone loves a bit of Peanut Brittle, and the sweet treat, which dates back to the 19th century, has become so nationally adored that it has joined the legion of foods with their very own day.

Play around with recipes and add your own personal touch to create a unique version of the classic brittle we all know and love. A word of warning, though – it isn’t easy to create this level of perfection in your own home, as it requires all kinds of complicated temperature controls, so to save any disappointment, it is probably a good idea to get a pre-made bar for back up. However you decide to spend this day, make sure you go nuts!

To make Peanut brittle, line a rimmed baking sheet with foil and grease with nonstick cooking spray. Stir together the sugar, corn syrup, and 1/2 cup water in a medium saucepan fitted with a candy/deep-fry thermometer. Bring the mixture to a boil over medium heat, then continue to boil until it’s golden brown and it reaches 340 degrees F, about 15 minutes. Working quickly, remove the pan from the heat and stir in the butter and baking soda until smooth (it will foam and bubble up). Stir in the peanuts until evenly distributed amongst the sugar mixture. Pour onto the prepared baking sheet and quickly smooth with a rubber spatula into a thin and even layer. Let harden uncovered at room temperature until cooled completely. Break into pieces and store in an airtight container.