Salty Peanut Squares
Author: 
 
Salty Peanut Squares Yield: 36 squares
Ingredients
  • 1½ cups all-purpose flour
  • 2 egg yolks
  • ⅜ cup firmly packed light brown suga
  • ¾ cup (1½ sticks) unsalted butter, softened, divided
  • 3 teaspoons pure vanilla extract, divided
  • ½ teaspoon salt
  • ½ teaspoon baking powder
  • ¼ teaspoon baking soda
  • 3 cups miniature marshmallows
  • ⅔ cup corn syrup
  • 1 (12-ounce) package peanut butter chips
  • 2 cups salted peanuts
  • 2 cups crispy rice cereal
Instructions
  1. Preheat the oven to 350 degrees. Lightly grease a 13-by-9-inch baking pan with floured cooking spray and set aside.
  2. In a mixing bowl, combine the flour, egg yolks, brown sugar, ½ cup of the butter, 1 teaspoon of the extract, salt, baking powder and baking soda at low speed until crumbly. Transfer to the prepared baking pan and press firmly in the bottom.
  3. Bake 13 to 14 minutes or until lightly golden. Remove from the oven and immediately sprinkle evenly with the marshmallows. Return to the oven for no more than 2 minutes or until the marshmallows begin to puff. Transfer to a wire rack to cool.
  4. In a large saucepan over medium heat place the remaining butter, remaining extract, corn syrup and peanut butter chips. Stir just until the mixture is completely melted and smooth. Remove from the heat and quickly stir in the peanuts and cereal. Evenly spoon over the marshmallow-topped crust, spreading as necessary. Transfer to the refrigerator to set before cutting into squares.
Recipe by The Tennessee Magazine at https://www.tnmagazine.org/go-time/