If you're a fan of the classic Payday candy bar, you're in for a real treat! This easy copycat Payday candy bar recipe lets you enjoy the nutty caramel goodness with simple ingredients and straightforward steps.
Ingredients - Here's What You'll Need
- The Peanuts: For this homemade candy, I used lightly salted dry roasted peanuts. You could also use unsalted peanuts.
- The Center: The chewy center was made with store-bought ingredients: Reese's peanut butter chips, unsalted butter, salt, mini marshmallows, sweetened condensed milk, and vanilla extract.
Making the Homemade Copycat Payday Candy Bars - Step-by-Step
- I started by lining a 9 x 13-inch Pyrex dish with nonstick aluminum foil. Then, I spread half of the peanuts on the bottom of the dish.
- Next, I added the Reese's peanut butter chips, butter, and salt to a large saucepan over medium-low heat.
- I stirred the ingredients constantly until the chips and butter were melted. This took ab 7 about minutes.
- After that, I added the mini marshmallows, sweetened condensed milk, and vanilla extract.
- I stirred the mixture constantly over medium-low heat until the marshmallows had melted and the caramel was creamy and smooth. This took about 5 minutes.
- I poured the caramel mixture over the peanuts in the prepared 9 x 13-inch dish.
- Then, I spread the caramel in an even layer over the peanuts using a silicone spatula.
- Finally, I added the other half of the peanuts, and pressed the peanuts into the caramel.
- I covered the dish with aluminum foil and refrigerated it for about 2 hours to let the caramel set. Then removed the homemade copycat payday candy from the dish. I discarded the aluminum foil and cut the candy into pieces using a bread knife.
With this easy copycat Payday candy bar recipe, I was able to indulge in the sweet, nutty flavors of my favorite candy bar.
Whether you're making them for yourself or as a gift, this homemade candy sure to impress. Enjoy the satisfaction of creating a delicious treat that rivals the original in the comfort of your own home. Yum!
Frequently Asked Questions
This recipe would be delicious with almonds, pecans, or cashews. It wouldn't be a payday anymore, but it would still be yummy.
Regular marshmallows can be substituted for the mini marshmallows. I would recommend that you cut them in half, and measure them by weight (which is included in the recipe below).
If stored in an airtight container, this candy should last for up to a week.
I refrigerated the candy right after it was made to speed up the setting of the caramel. However, once it came to room temperature, it was not necessary to store the candy in the refrigerator.
Other Copycat Recipes
If you're a fan of making copycat recipes, check these out!
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Recipe
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Easy Copycat Payday Candy Bars
Ingredients
- 4 cups lightly salted dry roasted peanuts, divided (See Tip 1)
- 3 cups (2 10-ounce packages) Reese's peanut butter chips
- 2 Tablespoons unsalted butter
- ¼ teaspoon table salt
- 2 cups (3.5 ounces) mini marshmallows
- 14 ounce can sweetened condensed milk
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
Instructions
- Line a 9 x 13-inch baking dish with nonstick aluminum foil or parchment paper. Spread half of the peanuts (2 cups) on the bottom of the dish. Set aside.
- Add the peanut butter chips, butter, and salt to a large saucepan. Heat over medium-low heat, stirring constantly, until smooth, about 7 minutes.(See Tip 2)
- Add the mini marshmallows, sweetened condensed milk, and vanilla extract. Heat over medium-low heat, stirring constantly until the marshmallows are melted and the mixture is smooth, about 5 minutes.
- Gently pour the caramel mixture over the peanut layer in the prepared pan. Smooth the caramel mixture into an even layer using a silicone spatula. Sprinkle the remaining 2 cups of peanuts over the caramel mixture, pressing them lightly into the filling.
- Cover with aluminum foil, and refrigerate until fully set, about 2 hours.
- Cut into desired sizes and serve.
- Yield: 24 servings.
Video
Tips/Notes
- When you cut the candy into serving pieces, a fair amount of the peanuts will fall off. Scoop them up and use for another purpose.
- It's important to stir the mixture constantly to avoid burning.
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