Peanut Patties are an old-fashioned candy, that is sweet, a little chewy, and chock full of delicious peanuts. A favorite southern candy, that you don’t want to miss out on!
I have eaten peanut patties my whole life, as far back as I can remember. My mom used to buy the large round ones and I remember sneaking a little piece, then another, and so on until I realized too much was gone for her not to notice. As an adult I have bought the individual size ones, and more recently at a little store on the way to where a lot of our out-of-town work meetings are, they sell bags of peanut pattie pieces. It’s heaven. Pure heaven.
When the opportunity to make a recipe featuring peanuts presented itself, it took me about two nanoseconds to know what I wanted to make. Peanut Patties, of course! And what better recipe to use that my Grannie’s? Because as we all know, Grannie makes the best (just about) everything. But especially desserts. My mom sent me a picture of the handwritten recipe, complete with a round coffee cup stain. I can’t tell you how perfect and telling that is, because my Grannie and Grandpa were some serious (all day) coffee drinkers.
What you need to make Peanut Patties
Granulated sugar
Raw peanuts (this is important!)
Water
Light corn syrup
Red food coloring
Salt
Vanilla extract
Butter
How to make Peanut Patties
Full Printable Recipe Below!
Step 1
Spray 2 standard muffin tins (24 muffin cups) with cooking spray and set aside.
Step 2
Combine sugar, peanuts, water, corn syrup and food coloring (if using) in a 2 quart saucepan and bring to a boil over medium heat. Cook for 6 minutes the remove from heat.
Step 3
Add salt, vanilla and butter (do not stir.) Let sit for 5 minutes. The stir slowly until the mixture looks chalky.
Step 4
Use a tablespoon or medium cookie scoop to quickly drop the mixture into each of the prepared muffin tins. (Alternately, you can skip the muffin tins and drop onto wax paper for a more freeform patty.)
Step 5
Allow the patties to cool and set, about 30 minutes or so (it may take longer depending on temperature and humidity – you will know they are ready when they feel firm to the touch, versus sticky and soft.) If you used muffin tins, carefully turn them over onto wax paper or a kitchen towel and gently tap to release them.
Step 6
Store in an airtight container for up to a week. Do not store in an open container as they can absorb moisture in the air and that can alter the texture.
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If you’ve never had a peanut patty or if you just need to have them more readily on-hand, then you have to try this recipe. Grannie would insist.
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Peanut Patties
Equipment
- 2 standard muffin tins
Ingredients
- 3 cups granulated sugar
- 3 cups raw peanuts
- ½ cup water
- ½ cup light corn syrup
- 1-3 drops red food coloring, optional
- ½ tsp salt
- 2 tsp vanilla extract
- ½ cup unsalted butter
Instructions
- Spray 2 standard muffin tins (24 muffin cups) with cooking spray and set aside.
- Combine sugar, peanuts, water, corn syrup and food coloring (if using) in a 2 quart saucepan and bring to a boil over medium heat. Cook for 6 minutes the remove from heat.
- Add salt, vanilla and butter (do not stir.) Let sit for 5 minutes. The stir slowly until the mixture looks chalky.
- Use a tablespoon or medium cookie scoop to quickly drop the mixture into each of the prepared muffin tins. (Alternately, you can skip the muffin tins and drop onto wax paper for a more freeform patty.)
- Allow the patties to cool and set, about 30 minutes or so (it may take longer depending on temperature and humidity – you will know they are ready when they feel firm to the touch, versus sticky and soft.) If you used muffin tins, carefully turn them over onto wax paper or a kitchen towel and gently tap to release them.
- Store in an airtight container for up to a week. Do not store in an open container as they can absorb moisture in the air and that can alter the texture.
Nutrition
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Just wonted to know can the raw peanuts be some other kind of peanuts thanks
Hi Yonnie – I have never used any kind of peanut besides raw so I cannot say for certain. But I feel like the raw are the best ones to use for this recipe.
I still really like Peanut Patties, have for many, many years. Yes you do want to use raw peanuts because that’s what makes them different—no toasted or roasted peanuts, just lots of them. I’ve just found this recipe and the look is correct—when I was young they were 5 cents, I paid $.99 for one on Saturday and $1.49 from another store. When I buy, I try to find the one with the most peanuts. Yum!!
Peanut patties art mom’s favorite candy. She and I made them this evening, and they are SO good! Thank you for sharing this recipe.
Are we trying for softball stage? I’ve not had the best luck with the timed method of boiling candy. Guess I just don’t have the touch!
Thank you 😊
Bridget
Hi Bridget – I would think that if you get it to the softball stage it will firm up nicely, but I haven’t tried that method myself to say for certain. That’s what I use for my fudge though, and it comes out perfectly firm, but also melt-in-your-mouth!