Salty Nutty Peanut Bars Recipes

Steps:

• Be still my beating heart! Or perhaps this is not the best thing to say here, given the likelihood of this lusciously over-the-top piece of chocolate excess inducing just such an outcome. I wouldn't want to make this very often, so impossible is it to walk away from with any conviction. I fear it is the kitchen equivalent to crack cocaine.
• Still, as the French say "Everything in moderation, even moderation." This is gloriously intemperate, riotously vulgar. I love it.
• The key is the blaring balance between sweet and salty: it's like several klaxons going off in your head as you eat. And it's strange that while I would normally eschew an all-milk chocolate offering, I prefer it here to the bittersweet-and-milk mixed version. Not that either is bad, and since the jury is matched on this, I feel it only right to alert you to either option. For what it's worth, I like the darker version in the round pan and cut into panforte-type skinny wedges, and my preferred milk chocolate version set in a rectangular pan and cut into chunky, squat slabs (rather as I feel and look like after eating too many of them).
• Line your springform pan with aluminum foil or use a foil pan.
• Break up or chop the chocolate into pieces, and drop into a heavy-based saucepan. Add the butter and syrup, put on a low heat, and melt gently together.
• Tip the peanuts into a bowl, and crush the honeycomb candy with your hands, letting the golden-glinting rubble fall into the nuts.
• Take the melted chocolate mixture off the heat and stir in the peanuts and crushed honeycomb candy, then tip straight into the springform pan or foil pan. Smooth the top of the mixture as much as you can, pressing down with a silicon spatula or vinyl-disposable-gloved hand. Put into the refrigerator for about 4 hours, and once set, cut into slices as desired.
• Make Ahead Note: The bars can be made 1 day ahead. Transfer slices to airtight container, layered with parchment paper, and store in refrigerator. Keeps for 3 to 4 days.

Steps:

• In a large bowl, combine the cookie mix, oil, water and egg. Press onto the bottom of a greased 13-in. x 9-in. pan., Bake at 350° for 12-15 minutes or until set. Meanwhile, in a large saucepan, combine the chips, corn syrup and butter. Cook and stir over medium-low heat until smooth. Remove from the heat. Stir in the Rice Krispies, peanuts and vanilla., Sprinkle marshmallows over crust. Bake 1-2 minutes longer or until marshmallows begin to puff. Spread cereal mixture over top. Cool completely on a wire rack. Refrigerate until firm. Cut into bars.

Steps:

• Heat oven to 350°F. In medium bowl, mix flour, brown sugar and salt. Cut in 1/2 cup butter, using pastry blender or crisscrossing 2 knives, until evenly mixed. Press evenly in bottom of ungreased rectangular pan, 13x9x2 inches. Bake 15 minutes; cool slightly.
• Cut up any large nuts. Sprinkle nuts evenly over crust. In 1-quart saucepan, heat all remaining ingredients over low heat, stirring occasionally, just until chips are melted. Drizzle butterscotch mixture evenly over nuts. Bake 5 minutes. For bars, cut into 8 rows by 4 rows while warm for easiest cutting.

Steps:

• Butter a 9 1/2-by-13-inch rimmed baking sheet or quarter sheet pan and line it with parchment, leaving a 2-inch overhang on the 2 long sides. Then butter the parchment.
• Whisk the flour, cornstarch, kosher salt and cinnamon in a large bowl.
• Beat the butter and sugar in a medium bowl with an electric mixer on medium speed until light and fluffy, 5 to 7 minutes. Add the egg and vanilla and beat to combine, scraping down the sides as needed. Slowly add the flour mixture and beat on low until the dough is just combined; do not overwork.
• Transfer the dough to the prepared baking sheet, spreading it out as evenly as possible with a silicone spatula. Cover with plastic wrap, then use your hands to press and flatten the dough into a smooth even layer. Pull back the plastic wrap and use a fork to prick the dough all over. Cover again and refrigerate until cold, about 1 hour.
• Position an oven rack in the center of the oven and preheat to 325 degrees F.
• Uncover the dough and bake, rotating the baking sheet from front to back halfway through, until golden, 45 to 50 minutes. Transfer to a wire rack and let cool completely, about 1 hour.
• Combine the caramels and cream in a microwave-safe bowl and microwave in 30-second intervals, stirring between each, until melted and smooth, about 2 minutes. Pour the mixture over the shortbread and spread it evenly. Immediately sprinkle with the peanuts and a large pinch of flaky salt. Gently push down on the topping to make sure it sticks to the caramel. Let cool completely, about 1 hour.
• Use the parchment overhang to gently lift the shortbread and slide it onto a cutting board. Remove the parchment and cut into 24 squares. Store the bars in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 5 days.

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350 degrees F.
• Line a 15 x 10-inch baking sheet with parchment paper.
• Combine all crust ingredients, and press into bottom of the pan.
• Bake for 10-12 minutes (do not over bake).
• Remove from oven then sprinkle the peanuts evenly over crust.
• In a saucepan combine the topping ingredients; bring to a boil then cook for about 2 minutes until smooth (stirring constantly).
• Pour the hot mixture over the nuts, and return to oven.
• Bake for 15 minutes or until until golden.
• Cool completely before cutting into bars.

Steps:

• Heat oven to 350°F. Spray 15x10x1-inch pan with cooking spray.
• Reserve 3 tablespoons cookie mix. In large bowl, stir remaining cookie mix and the brown sugar. Cut in butter, using pastry blender (or pulling 2 table knives through ingredients in opposite directions), until mixture is crumbly. Press in bottom of pan. Bake 18 minutes.
• Immediately sprinkle peanuts and chocolate chips over partially baked cookie crust. In small microwavable bowl, microwave caramel topping on High about 30 seconds or until of drizzling consistency. Add reserved cookie mix; blend well. Drizzle mixture evenly over peanuts and chocolate chips. Sprinkle evenly with salt.
• Bake 12 to 14 minutes or until caramel is bubbly. Cool completely on cooling rack, about 1 hour. Refrigerate 15 minutes to set chocolate. Cut into 8 rows by 6 rows. Store covered at room temperature.

Steps:

• In a food processor, combine the flour, confectioners' sugar, almonds and lemon zest; cover and process until nuts are finely chopped. Add butter; pulse just until mixture is crumbly. Press into a greased 13x9-in. baking pan. Bake at 350° for 20 minutes., Meanwhile, in a large bowl, whisk eggs, sugar, coconut, lemon juice, flour, lemon zest and baking powder; pour over the hot crust. Bake until light golden brown, 20-25 minutes. Cool on a wire rack. Dust with confectioners' sugar. Cut into squares.

Steps:

• Place half of the corn chips and peanuts in a greased 13-in. x 9-in. pan; set aside. In a large saucepan, bring the corn syrup and sugar to a boil. Stir in peanut butter until blended. Drizzle half over corn chip mixture in pan. , Add remaining corn chips and peanuts to remaining syrup; stir until combined. Spoon over mixture in pan; press down lightly. Drizzle with melted chocolate. Cool before cutting.

Steps:

• Lightly coat an 8-inch square baking dish with cooking spray. Line with parchment paper, leaving a 1-inch overhang on all sides, then lightly coat parchment with spray. Cover paper with 1 1/4 cups peanuts.
• In a medium pot, combine 1 tablespoon water, caramels, and marshmallows over medium. Cook, stirring frequently, until caramels and marshmallows melt and mixture is smooth, about 8 minutes. Immediately pour over peanuts, then top with remaining 1 cup peanuts. Let cool until set, about 2 hours, then cut into 16 bars.

Steps:

• Place half of the peanuts in an ungreased 11x7-in. dish; set aside. In a large saucepan, melt butter and peanut butter chips over low heat. Add milk and marshmallows; cook and stir until melted. , Pour over peanuts. Sprinkle with remaining peanuts. Cover and refrigerate until chilled. Cut into 54 pieces (about 1-in. square).

Steps:

• Heat oven to 350°F. Spray bottom and sides of 13x9-inch pan with cooking spray (without flour).
• In medium bowl, stir cookie mix, 1/2 cup butter, the vanilla and egg until soft dough forms. Press in pan. Bake 15 minutes or until set.
• Meanwhile, in 1-quart saucepan, heat caramels, 2 tablespoons butter and the condensed milk over medium-low heat 5 to 10 minutes, stirring frequently, until caramels are melted. Remove from heat. Carefully pour filling over partially baked crust; spread evenly. Sprinkle with peanuts. Bake 15 to 18 minutes or until filling is bubbly. Cool completely in pan on cooling rack, about 1 hour. Cut into 6 rows by 4 rows.