Kraken Brittle Company: A Hobby that Turned into a Thriving Business

Ramona resident Nancy Sapper is a woman of many talents. She was inspired to start her homemade peanut brittle business when her 94-year-old mother, who has lived in the San Diego Country Estates for 25 years, encouraged her to make peanut brittle. Her mother claims it's better than See's Candy Peanut Brittle.

Sapper is a mortgage broker for C2 Financial, and her office is on D Street near High Valley Veterinary Hospital. She has been in the mortgage business since 2016 and is passionate about helping her clients get the best interest rates possible. She is licensed in 7 different states and works with realtors in states like Texas and Idaho. She has helped people all over the country get loans. Some of these loans include conventional, government subsidies such as FHA, VA, and USDA, and bank statement loans. She says there are a lot of loan programs and adds that every single home in the 92065 zip code is eligible for a 0-percent USDA home loan.

Sapper has three children: Kensey, Karl, and Kaley, who all attended Ramona High School. She started working as a mortgage broker to do something for herself as her children were growing up.

Sweet treat-making is Sapper's passion project, and her mom loves it. She started the business on September 3, 2023. It's truly a joy to her heart to do it. She makes the brittle in small batches. Rustic Interiors was the first shop to carry her Kraken Brittle, and now she also sells it at Ramona Family Naturals and Rad Living Ranch, a farm stand on Highland Valley Road. They love her peanut brittle. Last week, she made 18 pounds of peanut brittle!

Kraken Brittle is a cherished family recipe handed down through generations, starting with Sapper's grandmother. "I love it," says Sapper. "And it's a traditional recipe." The brittle is full of whole products, never any preservatives. The ingredient list is simple but flavorful: peanuts, sugar, corn syrup, water, butter, baking soda, and vanilla. The classic crunchy delight is a special treat during the holidays.

She came up with the name "Kraken Brittle" with the help of her son, Karl. Sapper was an English major, so she is interested in onomatopoeia, which refers to words that imitate or suggest the sound they describe. Peanut brittle cracks and can be addictive, inspiring the catchy name. "It smells so good, and I create magical stuff I love," says Sapper. Her peanut brittle is super light and airy; it melts in your mouth rather than getting stuck in your teeth.

Sapper loves packaging the peanut brittle for Christmas time and around Halloween. She goes to Hobby Lobby and purchases ribbon and tin cans for packaging, where she gets to use her creative side. Around Halloween, she packaged the treats with little witch hats. Her husband of 35 years, Mark, supports her a lot with her brittle business, helping weigh, package, and deliver the treats. He is very involved in the process and is a good taste tester.

Sapper is currently working on two new flavors, including a jalapeno peanut brittle and another with espresso beans. She says she feels like a mad scientist in the kitchen trying out new flavors and is excited about her creations.

Kraken Brittle is also available to purchase online at https://www.krakenbrittle.com/. It's a timeless treat that brings smiles to every generation.