Latex Gummi Dress

4 teaspoons plus 1/4 cup butter, divided

3 cups sugar

1/2 cup light corn syrup

1 cup plus 1 teaspoon water, divided

1 teaspoon salt

1 jar (16 ounces) unsalted dry roasted peanuts

1-1/2 teaspoons baking soda

1 teaspoon vanilla extract

Instructions

Grease two large rimmed baking sheets with 2 teaspoons of butter each. Slip them into a preheated 200°F oven to keep warm while you make the candy—the warmth will make the brittle easier to spread before it sets.

Lining pans with parchment or a silicone baking mat can make cleanup even easier—just butter the surface lightly before pouring on the brittle.

In a large heavy saucepan, combine the sugar, corn syrup and 1 cup of water.

Cook over medium heat, stirring constantly, until a candy thermometer reads 240° (the soft-ball stage).

Cut the remaining 1/4 cup of butter into small cubes. Stir the butter, salt and peanuts into the syrup.

Continue cooking and stirring constantly until the mixture reaches 300° (the hard-crack stage). Remove the pan from the heat.

In a small bowl, mix the baking soda, 1 teaspoon of water and the vanilla extract. Carefully stir this mixture into the saucepan.

Working quickly, pour half the brittle onto each prepared baking sheet. Use a buttered metal spatula to spread the brittle into a thin, even layer about 1/4-inch thick.

The candy will set up fast, but if it’s tough to spread, pop the baking sheets back into the warm oven for a minute or two to soften the mixture slightly.

Let the brittle cool completely in the pans. Once hardened, break it into pieces and transfer the pieces to an airtight container.