Prepare:

1. Preheat Oven: Preheat your oven to 325°F (165°C). Line a large rimmed baking sheet with parchment paper or a silicone baking mat. Don’t skip this step—the honey mixture will stick without it!

Make Honey Glaze:

2. Melt Honey Mixture: In a small saucepan over medium heat, combine honey, sugar, and butter. Stir constantly until butter melts and sugar dissolves completely, about 2-3 minutes. The mixture should be smooth and well combined.
3. Add Vanilla: Remove from heat and stir in vanilla extract (if using). The residual heat will release the vanilla’s aroma beautifully.

Coat Peanuts:

4. Combine with Peanuts: Place raw peanuts in a large mixing bowl. Pour the warm honey mixture over the peanuts.
5. Toss to Coat: Using a spatula or spoon, toss and stir thoroughly until every peanut is completely coated with the honey mixture. This takes a minute or two—be thorough! Every peanut should be shiny and glazed.
6. Add Salt: Sprinkle the salt over the coated peanuts and toss again to distribute evenly.

Roast:

7. Spread on Pan: Pour the honey-coated peanuts onto your prepared baking sheet. Spread them into a single, even layer—they can touch but shouldn’t be piled up. Use your spatula to separate any that are clumped together.
8. Bake: Place in preheated oven and bake for 15-20 minutes, stirring every 5 minutes. The stirring is crucial! At 5, 10, and 15 minutes, remove the pan and stir/toss the peanuts to ensure even roasting and coating. They’re done when they’re golden brown and fragrant.
9. Check for Doneness: After 15-20 minutes, the peanuts should be golden, fragrant, and the honey should be bubbling and caramelized. They’ll still look slightly wet—that’s normal! They crisp up as they cool.

Cool:

10. Cool Completely: Remove from oven and let cool completely on the baking sheet, about 15-20 minutes. As they cool, the honey coating will harden and become crunchy. Don’t try to remove them while hot—they’ll stick!
11. Break Apart: Once completely cool, use your hands or a spatula to break apart any peanuts that stuck together. They should separate easily once cool.
12. Optional Salt Finish: For extra salty-sweet contrast, sprinkle with a pinch of flaky sea salt while still slightly warm.
13. Serve or Store: Enjoy immediately, or transfer to an airtight container for storage.