Friday, January 21, 2011

Chinese Peanuts and Sesame Candy Bars

I grew up eating this peanut candy and it is Carlos favorite snacks too. This candy is something that we will have on our CNY snack tray too. I Google for it and the only recipe I find is from Aunty Lily’s so I used hers. Here is a note to myself the next time I am making this again. Do not talk on the phone while making this!! The phone rang when this was cooling down and by the time I hang up the phone, the candy got way too hard when I tried cutting it so I end up breaking most of it. That is why you see the ugly pieces here. I am submitting this cookie to Aspiring-Bakers # 3 My Favourite CNY Cookies hosted by j3ss kitch3n

Ingredients:
Recipe adapted from Aunty Lily’s

1 cup sugar
2 tbsp white vinegar
1 tbsp water
1/4 cup toasted sesame seeds
2 1/4 cups skinless roasted peanuts


1. Line a 6 ½" x 10" cake pan with foil and greased it generously with oil. Combined half of the toasted sesame seeds and peanuts together and lay it evenly on the pan.
2. Combine sugar, vinegar and water in a heavy bottom saucepan. Cook over medium heat until it reaches 300° F on a candy thermometer. (I just let it reach to light brown color stage)
3. When the sugar mixture has reached the required temperature, carefully pour the sugar mixture over the nuts in the baking pan.
4. Smooth the surface with a spatula. Sprinkle with the remaining sesame seeds and cool slightly.
5. While candy is still warm, remove from pan by lifting the foil. Cut into 2" by 1" pieces and then allow to cool completely.


Note: Be careful when you eat this as they are very hard.

22 comments:

tinyskillet said...

I think it looks beautiful! I love this candy!

ann low said...

I love this and eat without stopping.

ReeseKitchen said...

Mmmm...I love this!!! My favourite snacks! Couldn't find those yummilicious one like those I ate when I was a kid. Nowadays those selling outside are no longer taste like before.
Yours look nice, do I have the chance to try...heehee...;p

The Sweetylicious said...

OMG!!! it looks really YUMMY!!!! (: (: (: (: i want some too!

lena said...

i'm sure these peanut bars wont be able to stay long in your house,,they are just simply irresisitable and addictive!!

daphne said...

ooo. i didnt know that isn't too hard to do it at home too! so the light brown colour can be a good gauge even w/o a candy thermometer?

Unknown said...

Love that last shot, this looks super pretty and yummy.

MaryMoh said...

I love these candy bars...crunchy and addictive. I would purposely go for the broken pieces...more fun to eat :D

j3ss kitch3n said...

my fav snack of all times! you've done it so beautiful gert!

WendyinKK said...

Chinese Peanut Brittle!! So much hard work for these. But so yummy. kekeke.
My neighbour used to make these to sell, too bad I never go over and "tau see". They have moved away now and the lady who made it oredi passed away.

Jenn@ChasingFoodDreams said...

wow, these little gems are quie tedious as I saw my mom made it. She actually bought raw peanuts, fry them and de-skinned them cos she said it makes a lot of difference.
If I made them, I m gonna buy roasted nuts without skin like yr recipe! :)

My Asian Kitchen said...

I like this snack too!!! it's don't look to bad Gert,,just masuk kat mulut,b4 you know gone liao!! whenever to shop at Asian mart I'm sure grab a bag or 2!!! let me get some peanut first b4 experiment this yummy delicous snack!!

Quay Po Cooks said...

This is my mum favorite. I must try this out since it does not look too complicating to do. Each time I am in Bangkok I will sure buy few packets home for my mum.

ICook4Fun said...

Lyndsey, thank you.

Anncoo, you like this too :)

Reese, I wish I can pass you some. I won't be home this CNY but will be going back later. Hope we can meet up then :)

Sweetylicious, thank you.

Lena, oh yes they will stay until CNY. I have to keep it away from my husband :)

Daphne, they are not difficult to make. Did you see the last shot of the candy..that is the stage of brown color.

ICook4Fun said...

Jennifurla, thank you.

MaryMoh, yes I too like all the broken pieces :)

Jess, thank you.

Wendy, this recipe is actually easy. Only hard part is preparing the roasted nuts but I just used the store bought one from Wegman, They were super fresh. I too remember my aunt used to made this with the rice crispy. Too bad I was to young that time to learn from her.

Jenn, yes the hard part is the peanut but now you can buy the ready roasted kind so it makes life easier.

Lesley, I too like to buy from the Asian store but sometime the nuts is not fresh.

Quay Po, this recipe is easy.

Jeannie said...

Looks so good! Love it when it especially when it's really fresh...can still get them quite easily here.

Little Inbox said...

This is very popular snack for CNY! Very fragrant and crunchy.

Yummy Bakes said...

I love these too - they are so fragrant. Can courier some to me. Am amazed you can make this.

Lisa said...

I've enjoyed eating these ever since I was a kid. I'd be willing to eat yours no matter what they look like. I have a new linky on my blog called "Sweets for a Saturday" and I'd like to invite you to stop by and link this up. http://sweet-as-sugar-cookies.blogspot.com/2011/01/sweets-for-saturday-1_21.html

Bren said...

Aww.. This is one of my favorite snack. What a good idea to use the ready roasted peanuts. Thanks for sharing Gert:)

mycookinghut said...

I also growing up eating this! My favourite! I really need to try making this now...

Jess said...

Do you think it would taste just as good using only sesame seeds?