Salted Peanut Chews

Salted Peanut Chews

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Everyone always wants the recipe for these tiny square treats.  They are like the salted nut roll candy bars.  I prefer to use the large Virginia peanuts from the bulk bin.  I guess the tiny peanuts with reddish, papery skins would work, but I don’t like them.

1 ½ C flour

2/3 C brown sugar, firmly packed

½ C butter, softened

2 egg yolks

1 tsp vanilla

½ tsp baking powder

¼ tsp baking soda

¼ tsp salt

3 C miniature marshmallows

1 10-ounce package peanut butter chips (about 1 ¾ C)

2/3 C corn syrup

¼ C butter

2 tsp vanilla

2 C rice crispy cereal

2 C peanuts, blanched and salted (large Virginia kind.  You can use 1 C salted and 1 C unsalted if you want a less salty flavor)

1. Preheat oven to 350ºF.  Line 9x13 pan with foil leaving overhanging edges (so you can easily lift out the bars to cut them later)
2. In large mixing bowl, combine the flour, brown sugar, ½ C softened butter, egg yolks, 1 tsp vanilla, baking powder, soda and salt.  Beat mixture with an electric mixer on low speed until crumbly.
3. Firmly press the mixture into the bottom of a 9x13 pan.  Bake at 350º for 12 to 15 min. or until golden brown.  Remove from the oven.
4. Immediately sprinkle the marshmallows over the surface.  Return to the oven for 1 to 2 minutes more or just until the marshmallows begin to puff.  Remove from the oven; cool while preparing the topping.
5. In a large saucepan, stir together the peanut butter chips, corn syrup, ¼ C butter and the 2 tsp vanilla.  Cook over low heat, stirring constantly, until chips are melted and mixture is smooth.  Remove from heat; stir in rice cereal and peanuts.  Immediately drop evenly spaced spoonfuls of nut mixture over the marshmallow layer and spread evenly.
6. Cover and refrigerate about 2 hours or until firm.  Cut into 36 bars.  Store in a covered container.