Mom's Payday Bars

Beware...we're rich!  Perhaps that's why they're called Payday Bars.

There’s nothing quite like a homemade version of your favorite candy bar, especially when it’s made with love! My mom’s Payday Bars are a staple of her farmer's market offering and quite popular.  A delicious blend of salty peanuts and sweet, chewy caramel like topping that made every bite irresistible. Today, I’m sharing her simple yet scrumptious recipe so you can bring a taste of nostalgia into your own kitchen.

---

THOSE LAYERS!!!!!

Whenever I am home visiting my family in Indiana, I always try to squeeze in a filming with my mom. She's a great cook and we have so much fun, plus I am capturing these moments and the recipes on film (and YouTube) for posterity.

Making these payday bars was like a peek behind the green curtain. You know… super secret recipes, and all. 

They are everything you would think they'd be and more. A delicious, almost short cake like crust, gooey marshmallow center and peanut buttery,  sticky topping loaded with peanuts.

Not a fan of peanuts?  Try these with cashews!  That's definitely next up for me.

Step by Step

GATHER THE INGREDIENTS

MIX THE CRUST

PAT THE CRUST IN 9X13 PAN

BAKE THE CRUST

TOP WITH MARSHMALLOWS

BAKE 5-7 MORE MINUTES

MIX THE TOPPING

SPREAD TOPPING AND LET COOL

Why You’ll Love This Recipe

Easy to Make – No need for complicated steps; this recipe comes together in minutes.  There are essentially 3 steps, but each is easy.  You just need to be patient while you let the crust cool completely before adding the topping.

​Perfect Balance – The combination of salty and sweet is simply unbeatable.

Pro Tips

Use Fresh Peanuts – The crunch and saltiness of fresh peanuts enhance the flavor.

Store Properly – Keep in an airtight container at room temperature for up to a week, or refrigerate for longer shelf life.

​These homemade Payday bars are a must-try for anyone who loves the iconic candy but wants a homemade touch. Try them out and let me know how they turn out!

You'll need the following to assist in this recipe:

More Cookie recipes:

Seseame Tahini Cookies
Strawberries & Cream Cookies
Gluten Free Breakfast Cookies
4 Ingredient Chocolate Hazelnut Cookies
Italian Almond Lemon Cookies
​Chocolate Maple Oat Bars
​

Mom's Payday Bars


Crust:
13 ounce box vanilla cake mix.  
1 egg
1/3 cup melted butter
1 10 ounce bag mini marshmallows


Preheat oven to 325 degrees.


For the crust, mix  all ingredients except marshmallows together well in a medium bowl.  Pat evenly into a 9 x 13 baking pan that has been lined with parchment paper and bake for 15 minutes.


Remove from oven and pour marshmallows on top evenly.  Place back in the oven for 5-7 minutes until marshmallows are melted and just begin to turn golden.  Do not over brown the marshmallows.


Remove from oven and cool completely.


Topping:
10 ounce package Reeses peanut butter chips
1/4 cup butter
1/4 cup creamy peanut butter
2/3 cup light corn syrup (such as Karo)
2 cups crispy rice cereal
1 cups salted peanuts (like cocktail style peanuts). or sub in cashews if you're feelin' fancy


Combine peanuts butter chips, butter, peanut butter and corn syrup in a very large microwave safe bowl and melt in 30 second increments until smooth and homogeneous, stirring in between.
You can also do this in a double boiler on top of the stove if you prefer, melting slowly until ingredients are smooth and combined.


Mix in crispy rice cereal and peanuts.


Pour over marshmallow layer.  Spread evenly and let cool completely before cutting into bars.