Peanuts in Sugar

Cooking method

1. Step 1:

   

   How do you make sugared peanuts? Gather the ingredients. Any peanuts will do — fresh, roasted, shelled or not. If the nuts are raw, it's best to rinse them and then pat them dry with a paper towel. I used roasted, salted peanuts — I like the salty-sweet combination. You'll need equal amounts of sugar and water.

2. Step 2:

   

   Pour the sugar into a bowl and add the same amount of water. Stir with a spoon until the sugar dissolves. You can even let it sit for about 5 minutes so it dissolves even better.

3. Step 3:

   

   Set a skillet over the heat. It's best to use one with a thick bottom and a non-stick coating. Add the nuts to the skillet. If they're raw, fry them over medium heat until lightly golden. If the peanuts are unshelled, wait until the skins start coming off, tip them onto a plate and peel them, then return them to the skillet. Roasted peanuts just need to be heated through.

4. Step 4:

   

   Pour the sugar water into the skillet. It will boil right away. After that you don't need to do anything — just wait for all the liquid to boil off and the sugar to turn into caramel.

5. Step 5:

   

   This takes 10 to 15 minutes. Stir the nuts now and then so they cook evenly.

6. Step 6:

   

   Gradually the sugar will begin to brown, the nuts will toast, and the whole mixture will thicken.

7. Step 7:

   

   Once that happens, don't step away from the skillet. Turn the heat down low and stir the nuts constantly. The moment will come when no liquid is left at all — the nuts will be evenly coated in caramel. At that point turn off the heat. Don't be alarmed that the caramel is still runny; it will cool and harden.

8. Step 8:

   

   I made a mistake and left the nuts to cool in the skillet. Then I had to reheat it to melt the caramel again. It's better to turn the hot nuts out onto a plate greased with vegetable oil. The caramel will harden and you'll be able to break it into separate pieces. Store the nuts in a sealed container. Enjoy!