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Salty Peanut Bars

Heather, Sprinkle Bakes

These salty-sweet peanut bars are the perfect hybrid of cookie and candy bar. The buttery brown sugar crust makes a sturdy foundation for rich, fudgy peanut butter filling. Roasted salted peanuts season these Salty Peanut Bars with just the right amount of salt and provide crave-worthy crunch.  The bars slice beautifully and a box-full makes a lovely homespun gift.
20 min Prep Time
12 min Cook Time
  • Prep Time: 20 min
  • Cook Time: 12 min
  • Servings: 16 bars

Servings: 16 bars

Ingredients

  • 1 1/4 cups all-purpose flour
  • 1/2 cup brown sugar, lightly packed
  • 1/2 cup (1 stick) butter, room temperature
  • 1 can (14 ounces) sweetened condensed milk
  • 2 cups peanut butter chips
  • 2 cups mini marshmallows
  • 2 1/4 cups roasted salted peanuts, divided

Instructions

Step 1

Preheat oven to 350°F. Line 8x8-inch square baking pan with parchment paper so paper hangs over all four sides.

Step 2

Combine flour, brown sugar and butter in large bowl. Stir, using wooden spoon, until large clumps form and then use hands to knead mixture together. Press dough into bottom of prepared pan; bake 12 minutes. Remove pan from oven and place on cooling rack to cool completely.

Step 3

In medium saucepan, combine sweetened condensed milk and peanut butter chips. Cook over medium heat, stirring occasionally, until chips are melted and mixture is smooth. Add marshmallows and stir well. Cook until marshmallows melt and can be stirred into peanut butter mixture. Add 1 cup peanuts; stir to incorporate. Pour mixture over crust and spread evenly using spatula.

Step 4

Sprinkle remaining 1 1/4 cup peanuts on top of filling while still warm. Gently press peanuts into filling using fingertips. Refrigerate bars 1 hour or more before cutting.

Step 5

Store bars at room temperature in air-tight container or covered in plastic wrap.