Payday Peanut Squares (2024)

, Recipes, Sweet Treats · November 25, 2017

Payday Candy Bars have been one of my favorite treats since I was a child. MyEasy to Make Payday Peanut Squares reminded me of them, so that’s what I named them! You can finally say you’ve found a Payday Candy Bar Recipe to make at home. These No-Bake Copycat Payday Candy Bar squares are easy to make with honey roasted peanuts, sweetened condensed milk, and more. They also remind me a little of my homemade peanut butter fudge,a wonderful tradition started by my dad.

Payday Peanut Squares Recipe

This payday peanut squares recipe is a great holiday treat and is all made on the stovetop. These would make great neighbor gifts. Just put them in a paper candy box with one of my printable Christmas tags and you’re set! Creamy smooth with a crunch is delicious any time of year though.

• Candy Boxes – Here is my affiliate link for a variety that hasgreat prices when you buy more than 10 at a time.
• Free Printable Holiday Gift Tags
  

I have used honey-roasted peanuts before, but this time I chose just roasted or blistered peanuts because they were right in front of me and I couldn’t find the honey roasted. That’s how I roll sometimes.

How to Make Copy Cat Payday Peanut Squares

Gather everything you’ll need for making your own payday candy bars.

Ingredients:

• Honey roasted peanuts or regular.
• Sweetened condensed milk
• Peanut Butter
• Peanut Butter chips
• Mini Marshmallows
• Butter

Supplies:

• Medium saucepan for melting
• 13 x 9 in baking pan
• Parchment Paper
• Rubber spatula

I’ve made this both ways, with honey-roasted peanuts and regular or blistered peanuts. I tend to like using blistered better to bring out the sweet-salty flavor combo. Although I’ve never tried it, you can also make this with other nuts if you’d like.

When melting some of the ingredients, make sure it’s melted and heated completely through. If you don’t cook it long enough, it could result in the recipe not setting properly.

This candy recipe can be cut right from the baking pan or inverted and flipped, then cut into squares. It’s completely up to you.

Payday Candy Bar Recipe

Yield: 4 doz

Prep Time: 1 hour

Cook Time: 20 minutes

Total Time: 1 hour 20 minutes

These No-Bake Copycat Payday Candy Bar squares are easy to make with honey roasted peanuts, sweetened condensed milk, and more.

Ingredients

• 4 cups roasted or honey roasted peanuts
• 1 can sweetened condensed milk (14oz)
• 1 package mini marshmallows (10-12oz )
• 1 package peanut butter chips (10oz)
• 1/2 cup peanut butter
• 1/2 cup butter

Instructions

1. Line a 13 x 9 inch baking dish foil.
2. Coat foil with cooking spray.
3. Sprinkle 2 cups of the peanuts on the bottom of the pan.
4. In a medium to large saucepan, combine sweetened condensed milk, marshmallows, peanut butter chips, butter and peanut butter.
5. Cook over medium heat until melted and smooth. Stir often to avoid scorching the bottom of the pan. It may help with setting if you heat to 235°F with a candy thermometer for proper setting.
6. Pour into your prepared dish over the peanuts.
7. Spread evenly.
8. Sprinkle the remaining peanuts over the smooth mixture and press down. I used parchment paper between my hands and the peanuts.
9. Cover and place in the refrigerator for at least an hour.
10. Lift foil out of the pan. Sometimes I flip it over onto parchment paper, then remove the foil.
11. Cut into squares.
12. Store in an airtight container.

Notes

Some readers have reported the recipe not hardening up as much as it should. I've never had this issue, but they may have needed to heat longer before pouring. Heat to 235°F using a candy thermometer.

Recommended Products

As an Amazon Associate and member of other affiliate programs, I earn from qualifying purchases.

• 

  Parchment Paper Sheets for Baking,

• 

  Clear Glass Baking Dish for Oven Glass Casserole Dish Rectangular Baking Pan Glass Oven Bakeware, 1 Piece (3.5 Quart)

• 

  See Also

  Snickerdoodle CookiesWhat Magic Gift Was Given To You According To Your Birth Date?How to Train Your Dog to Greet Visitors in 5 Easy Steps - DogVillsAnise Cookies (Licorice Snaps) - Mirlandra's Kitchen

  GreenLife Bakeware Healthy Ceramic Nonstick, Rectangular Cake Pan, 13" x 9", Turquoise

• 

  USA Pan Bakeware Rectangular Cake Pan, 9 x 13 inch, Nonstick & Quick Release Coating, Made in the USA from Aluminized Steel

Nutrition Information:

Yield: 24Serving Size: 1
Amount Per Serving:Calories: 212Total Fat: 18gSaturated Fat: 5gTrans Fat: 0gUnsaturated Fat: 12gCholesterol: 11mgSodium: 128mgCarbohydrates: 9gFiber: 2gSugar: 5gProtein: 7g

We do our best to calculate, however, nutrition information may not be accurate.

Did you make this recipe?

Please leave a comment on the blog or share a photo on Instagram

Can You Freeze Peanut Butter Squares?

Cut into the squares and freeze in an airtight container for up to 6 months. Thaw completely before eating.

Believe it or not, I’ll choose a peanut butter treat over chocolate any day! I’m going to try these no-bake peanut butter bars next!

How to Store Copycat Peanut Butter Squares?

If you’re just storing for personal use, you can just place aluminum foil or plastic wrap over the pan. You can also wrap each square in wax paper, which makes it easy for gift giving.

Recipe Substitutions for Payday Peanut Squares

You’ve definitely got some wiggle room with some of the ingredients of this payday candy bar recipe.

Peanut Butter Chips – These are found next to the chocolate chips in the market, but if you can’t find them, try using butterscotch. I’ve never used chocolate chips, but I bet they’d be delicious.

Peanuts – I like using salted, dry roasted or honey roasted. They’re all great.

Marshmallows – You can use marshmallow cream or large marshmallows as long as the amounts work out to be the same.

…

Payday Candy Bar Recipe

Yield: 4 doz

Prep Time: 1 hour

Cook Time: 20 minutes

Total Time: 1 hour 20 minutes

These No-Bake Copycat Payday Candy Bar squares are easy to make with honey roasted peanuts, sweetened condensed milk, and more.

Ingredients

• 4 cups roasted or honey roasted peanuts
• 1 can sweetened condensed milk (14oz)
• 1 package mini marshmallows (10-12oz )
• 1 package peanut butter chips (10oz)
• 1/2 cup peanut butter
• 1/2 cup butter

Instructions

1. Line a 13 x 9 inch baking dish foil.
2. Coat foil with cooking spray.
3. Sprinkle 2 cups of the peanuts on the bottom of the pan.
4. In a medium to large saucepan, combine sweetened condensed milk, marshmallows, peanut butter chips, butter and peanut butter.
5. Cook over medium heat until melted and smooth. Stir often to avoid scorching the bottom of the pan. It may help with setting if you heat to 235°F with a candy thermometer for proper setting.
6. Pour into your prepared dish over the peanuts.
7. Spread evenly.
8. Sprinkle the remaining peanuts over the smooth mixture and press down. I used parchment paper between my hands and the peanuts.
9. Cover and place in the refrigerator for at least an hour.
10. Lift foil out of the pan. Sometimes I flip it over onto parchment paper, then remove the foil.
11. Cut into squares.
12. Store in an airtight container.

Notes

Some readers have reported the recipe not hardening up as much as it should. I've never had this issue, but they may have needed to heat longer before pouring. Heat to 235°F using a candy thermometer.

Recommended Products

As an Amazon Associate and member of other affiliate programs, I earn from qualifying purchases.

• 

  Parchment Paper Sheets for Baking,

• 

  Clear Glass Baking Dish for Oven Glass Casserole Dish Rectangular Baking Pan Glass Oven Bakeware, 1 Piece (3.5 Quart)

• 

  GreenLife Bakeware Healthy Ceramic Nonstick, Rectangular Cake Pan, 13" x 9", Turquoise

• 

  USA Pan Bakeware Rectangular Cake Pan, 9 x 13 inch, Nonstick & Quick Release Coating, Made in the USA from Aluminized Steel

Nutrition Information:

Yield: 24Serving Size: 1
Amount Per Serving:Calories: 212Total Fat: 18gSaturated Fat: 5gTrans Fat: 0gUnsaturated Fat: 12gCholesterol: 11mgSodium: 128mgCarbohydrates: 9gFiber: 2gSugar: 5gProtein: 7g

We do our best to calculate, however, nutrition information may not be accurate.

Did you make this recipe?

Please leave a comment on the blog or share a photo on Instagram