Salted Peanut Chews (Recipe)

Ingredients

1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour

2/3 cup firmly packed brown sugar

1/2 cup butter or margarine, softened

2 egg yolks

1 teaspoon vanilla

1/2 teaspoon baking powder

1/4 teaspoon baking soda

1/4 teaspoon salt

3 cups miniature marshmallows

1 10-ounce package peanut butter chips (about 1 3/4 cups)

2/3 cups corn syrup

1/4 cup butter or margarine

2 teaspoons vanilla

2 cups crisp rice cereal

2 cups salted peanuts

Steps

1. Preheat the oven to 350°.

2. In a large mixing bowl, combine the flour, brown sugar, the 1/2 cup softened butter or margarine, the egg yolks, the 1 teaspoon vanilla, the baking powder, baking soda and salt.  Beat the mixture with an electric mixer  on low speed until crumbly.

3. Firmly press the mixture into the bottom of a 13x9x2-inch baking pan.  Bake in the 350° oven for 12 to 15 minutes 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, the 1/4 cup butter or margarine and the 2 teaspoons vanilla.  Cook over low heat, stirring constantly, until the chips are melted and mixture is smooth.  Remove from heat; stir in the rice cereal and peanuts.  Immediately spread the cereal mixture over the marshmallow layer.

6. Cover and refrigerate about 12 hours or until firm.  Cut into bars.  Store in a covered container.

Steps:

Line the pan with a piece of foil before pressing in the crumb mixture and baking.  Then you can easily lift out the bars to cut them up.

If you don't have miniature marshmallows, measure 3 cups (5 1/4 ounces) of cut-up large marshmallows.

For a less salty flavor, substitute 1 cup salted peanuts mixed with 1 cup unsalted peanuts for the 2 cups salted peanuts in this recipe.