However, the amounts of ingredients for 1 cup of peanuts was about half of what it should have been to be a true peanut brittle. So what I ended up with was really "caramel coated peanuts". When I make this recipe the next time, I'll add photos with doubled ingredients and give you the option of both ways.
Sugar-free CARAMEL Covered PEANUTS
1 cup salted dry roasted peanuts
1/4 cup (4 TB) butter .........................1/2 cup regular Splenda (not baking blend)
1 tsp vanilla extract............................1 tsp. baking soda
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Line a rimmed baking sheet (7x12" is large enough) with parchment paper and set aside. Get out a wooden spoon and rubber scraper. Measure out your peanuts and have them ready. Have your baking soda & measuring spoon out too. (When the caramel mixture is ready, things will go quickly) (If you watch "Worst Cooks in America" on Food Network, then you know that Anne Burrell would appreciate your "mise en place" here)
Put butter, Splenda and vanilla in heavy saucepan ~ cook over medium heat until butter is melted and Splenda is dissolved (stirring / whisking constantly). Lower to simmer and let it simmer about 3 minutes (stirring constantly) until it's a deep brown color (you may need to tip the pan to see the color since it will be foamy on top). (Watch closely because it can turn brown quickly and you don't want it to burn.)
Remove from heat and quickly stir in the peanuts. Then stir in the baking soda until completely blended. Make sure to scrape down the sides of the pan with the rubber scraper (so all the caramel sauce is over the peanuts).
When the peanuts are completely covered with the caramel mixture, spread out in a single layer on the prepared pan. (Get that pan under hot soapy water ASAP so the caramel doesn't harden inside. Ask someone else to do it, if they wander by and you're spreading the peanuts.) Let cool completely before breaking into bite-sized pieces. (NOTE: You'll probably have just a few peanuts stuck together rather than actual "peanut brittle". As mentioned above, I think the ingredients need to be doubled for the 1 cup of peanuts to have actual caramel candy around the peanuts).
Store in a covered glass or tupperware/rubbermaid container.