July 3, 2013

Chocolate Payday Bars (Copycat recipe)

If you are in need of a sweet treat for the 4th of July tomorrow, read on:


This is probably just glorified fudge.  It really does have the texture of a candy bar though.  Super chewy, salty, sweet...you won't be able to eat just one.  I averaged three a day while that bagful sat in the freezer.  They're not too chocolatey, and the sea salt really balances out the sweetness of that liquid gold, also known as sweetened condensed milk.

These "candy bars" are gluten-free, and I originally made them because I saw a yummy looking gluten-free recipe on Pinterest but didn't have all the ingredients.  This is my adaption.  We were going to a dinner at a friend's house, but one of our friends has to eat gluten-free.  Turns out, as usual, we'd all brought a dessert.  Completely overkill, but good for me:  We took most of these home.  I can't complain about that.


Chocolate Payday Bars
makes a 9x13 pan
adapted from this recipe

2 cups peanuts, separated (I used dry roasted but honey roasted would be great.)
2 T. butter
3/4 cup peanut butter
1 can sweetened condensed milk
1 t. vanilla
2 cups mini marshmallows
1 t. sea salt
1/2 cup chocolate chips
1/2 cup white chocolate chips

Line a 9x13 pan with foil.  Spread 1 1/2 cups of peanuts into the bottom of the pan.

In a saucepan, melt the butter.  Add in the peanut butter, chocolate chips, sweetened condensed milk, and vanilla.  Stir well to combine over medium heat.  When the mixture is smooth, add in the marshmallows and let them melt, turning off the heat. Stir well.

Spread into the pan evenly over top of the layer of peanuts.  Sprinkle the top with sea salt and then with the rest of the peanuts.  Refrigerate or freeze for a few hours, and cut into bars.  Store in the fridge or freezer.

Note:  I kept them in the freezer in a Ziploc bag and the longer they were in there, the better they tasted.  Don't skip the sea salt!  It's the best part!

7 comments:

  1. OMG this looks amazing!!!!

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  2. You make the yummiest looking desserts ever! I'm kind of glad I'm not your neighbor, or I would weigh a zillion pounds. :)

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  3. Uh, yum????!

    I might have to actually make these sometime, non-vegan-ness (I made up that word, fyi) be darned. Isaiah loves Payday bars and the chocolate factor makes them right up my alley...

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  4. oh boy these are speaking to my prego tummy.

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  5. I am all over this!!! OMG. Favorite candy everrrrr.

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