Old-Fashioned Oklahoma Nut Candy

This Old-Fashioned Oklahoma Nut Candy is a classic Southern-style brittle that is light, airy, and incredibly crisp. The addition of baking soda at the very end is the “secret” step—it creates tiny air bubbles that give the candy its signature honeycomb texture, ensuring it’s easy to bite into rather than being rock-hard.

Old-Fashioned Oklahoma Nut Candy

Ingredients:

How To Make Old-Fashioned Oklahoma Nut Candy:

Step 1: Prep the Station: Line a rimmed baking sheet with parchment paper or a silicone mat and grease it lightly. Have your butter, vanilla, and baking soda measured and ready to go; once the candy reaches the right temperature, you must move very quickly.

Step 2: Cook the Syrup: In a heavy-bottomed saucepan, combine the 2 cups of sugar, 1/2 cup of corn syrup, and 1/2 cup of water. Stir over medium heat until the sugar dissolves. Once it begins to boil, stop stirring. Insert a candy thermometer and cook undisturbed until it reaches 300°F (hard-crack stage). This usually takes 10/15 minutes.

Step 3: Add the Nuts: Carefully stir in the 2 cups of pecans. The mixture will sizzle. Cook for 1/2 minutes, stirring constantly, until the nuts are fragrant and the syrup has a deep golden hue.

Step 4: The Foaming Step: Remove the pan from the heat immediately. Quickly stir in the 2 tablespoons of butter, 1 teaspoon of vanilla, and 1/2 teaspoon of baking soda. The mixture will foam up and become opaque—this is exactly what you want!

Step 5: Pour and Set: Immediately pour the molten candy onto your prepared baking sheet. Spread it gently with a heatproof spatula, but don’t overwork it, or you’ll pop the air bubbles. Sprinkle with flaky sea salt if desired.

Step 6: Cool and Break: Let the candy cool completely at room temperature for 45/60 minutes. Once hardened, break it into rustic shards by hand.