Palanquetas de cacahuate
Peanut brittle bars
Palanquetas: peanut brittle bars set in piloncillo caramel, sold by Mexican street vendors
Bus-station vendors, school gates and the sweet stalls around the Basilica in Mexico City all sell palanquetas, crisp bars of roasted peanuts bound in amber piloncillo or sugar caramel. They are crunchy, toasty and only lightly salted, and families also make them with pumpkin seeds or sesame. They contain peanuts. Chef's tip: have everything oiled and ready before you start, because the caramel sets within a minute of leaving the heat.
- Total time
- 25 min
- Difficulty
- easy
- Serves
- 16
Ingredients
- 7 oz piloncillo or dark brown sugarchopped
- 3 ½ oz white sugar
- ¼ cup water
- 1 pinch salt
- 1 tbsp neutral oil for greasing
- 1 tsp lime juice
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Method
0/6 doneStep 1: Oil a baking tray, a rolling pin or spatula and a knife with 1 tbsp neutral oil for greasing.
2 minStep 2: Warm 10 ½ oz roasted unsalted peanuts, skinned in a low oven or dry pan for 5 minutes so they don't cool the caramel too fast.
5 minStep 3: Put 7 oz piloncillo or dark brown sugar, 3 ½ oz white sugar, ¼ cup water and 1 tsp lime juice in a heavy pan over a medium heat and stir until dissolved. Stop stirring and boil for 8–10 minutes until dark amber; a drop in cold water should snap cleanly (hard crack, 300°F).
12 minStep 4: Stir in the warm peanuts and 1 pinch salt quickly until coated. Undercooking the caramel is the common mistake: it gives chewy bars that stick to your teeth.
1 minStep 5: Tip onto the tray and press flat about 1 cm thick. While still warm and pliable, after 2–3 minutes, mark into 16 bars.
4 minStep 6: Cool completely, 30 minutes, then snap along the lines. Store airtight with baking paper between layers.
30 min
Nutrition per serving
- Calories
- 170 kcal
- Protein
- 5 g
- Carbs
- 18 g
- Fat
- 9 g
- Fibre
- 2 g
Nutrition values are estimates.
KrazyBadal
Good to know
- How long does palanquetas de cacahuate take?
- About 25 minutes in total: 5 minutes to prepare and 20 minutes to cook.
- How many people does it serve?
- 16 as written. Change the servings above the ingredients and every amount scales to match.
- Is it vegan?
- Yes. It has no meat, fish, dairy or eggs.
- Is it gluten free?
- Yes, as written. Check the labels on stock, sauces and spice mixes, which sometimes contain gluten.
- Can I make it ahead?
- Yes. It keeps well, so you can cook it earlier in the day or the day before and reheat it.
- What can I use instead of piloncillo or dark brown sugar?
- White sugar + 1 tbsp molasses or treacle per 200g.
- What can I use instead of white sugar?
- Caster sugar, same amount.
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