PART 5: PACKAGING
Packaging is one of my favorite parts of producing candy. I love to present food beautifully, and all of the different kinds of packaging online allows for a ton of creativity.
Aesthetically, peanut brittle is one of the harder candies to make look attractive, in my opinion. It has a lovely buttery golden color, but it is lumpy, bumpy, and irregularly shaped.
But really, peanut brittle isn’t about what it looks like so much as it is about the flavor, the sharing, and the nostalgia of this delicious traditional American candy.
So, I say, just embrace the ugly – display that lumpy candy for all to admire!
I package my candy in a number of different ways, as you can see. The take-out box is the easiest. I like to make cellophane/plastic display bags of 1/2 and 1/4 lbs sizes, with or without decorative patterning.
The package on the farthest right in the picture, you can see my newest simple packaging favorite. This is a decorative plastic bag lined at the bottom with silver cardboard. It is packaging sold as cookie packaging, but works very well for peanut brittle. Brittle has sharp edges that tend to pierce plastic bags if over handled – or if the plastic is too thin – and these are just the right thickness.
Packaging Options
Display boxes are a great way to make candy appear as what it is – a specialty item created with care and craft.
You can easily find display boxes online. But I prefer to support my local businesses and purchase from confectionery supply companies such as Chocolate Man or Dawn’s Cake and Candy Supply. Both of these sell packaging options, as well as confectionery tools.
Ingredient and Allergen Labeling
In today’s health conscious society, ingredient and allergen labeling are a must. We know more today about nutrition, allergies, and food intolerance than ever before. Peanut and other nut brittles are a high allergen risk, and need to be labeled. I suggest looking at the FDA website regarding allergen labeling. It isn’t absolutely necessary unless you are producing candy for sale, but those who receive your candy will appreciate the care and thought you have put in.
https://www.fda.gov/food/food-labeling-nutrition/food-allergies