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Delicious Homemade PayDay Candy Bars are both salty and sweet, taste just like the real thing, & are SO easy to make!

If you love candy bars as much as I do you will LOVE these homemade payday candy bars. They are chewy and delish. For more homemade candy, try Homemade Reese’s, and Caramel Candy.

Homemade Pay Days on a white plate

Homemade is better!

Contrary to popular opinion, PayDays are actually one of my favorite candy bars! I know it’s not a super common one compared to Snickers or Kit Kat, but I just love the combination of salty and sweet!

Although it’s quick and convenient to pick up a candy bar at the grocery checkout line, sometimes homemade versions of candy bars are just BETTER! There is something to making it from scratch without any of the “extra” ingredients in manufactured products.

Good news, this homemade version is honestly so simple, it’s totally worth the little bit of effort for that homemade taste!

Layer of peanuts in a glass dish
marshmallows in a caramel mixture.
Creamy layer in a glass baking dish
Homemade Pay Days in a glass baking dish
cut homemade pay day bars on a white plate

Making Homemade Payday Bars

PEANUTS. Pour half your peanuts into a greased 11×7 pan and spread so they cover the bottom.

FILLING. In a small pan melt butter and chips until well combined. Add condensed milk and marshmallows and stir until all mixed. Pour over peanut mixture.

TOPPING. Top with remaining peanuts and let cool (refrigerate if desired).

cut homemade pay day bars stacked on a white plate

recipe tips

  • Microwave Melting Method: You can use a microwave safe bowl to warm the butter and peanut butter chips in 30 second intervals. Just take the bowl out every 30 seconds and stir it to make sure nothing is sticking and/or burning. After it is successfully melted mix in the sweetened condensed milk and marshmallows.
  • Peanuts: Using roasted peanuts gives the payday candy bar more crunch and a little bit more flavor.
  • Pan Size: If you only have a 9×13 pan your candy bars will just be a bit thinner and may need less time to cool and solidify.

Wrap them to share! Delivering homemade candies to others can be a little tricky. Just make sure that whatever you wrap it in doesn’t stick to the candy. Wrapping it in parchment paper and then other wrappings allow for the candy to not stick, but also look nice.

close up of homemade pay day bars stacked on a white plate

Storing info

STORE homemade paydays in an air-tight and sealed container in a cool and dry place. You can store them in the fridge, or if it is cool outside keeping them on the kitchen counter should be fine too. You can keep them for up to a week before the bars get hard and inedible.

Typically you shouldn’t FREEZE caramel based candy bars because they become rock solid and don’t defrost very well. We also recommend not freezing these homemade candy bars

For more easy homemade treats, try:

4.66 from 90 votes

Homemade PayDay Candy Bar Recipe

By: Lil’ Luna
Delicious Homemade PayDay Candy Bars are both salty and sweet, taste just like the real thing, & are SO easy to make!
Servings: 16
Prep: 5 minutes
Cook: 8 minutes
Total: 13 minutes

Ingredients 

  • 3 cups salted peanuts
  • 3 tbsp butter
  • 2 cups peanut butter chips
  • 2 cups mini marshmallows
  • 1 can sweetened condensed milk

Instructions 

  • Pour half your peanuts into a greased 11×7 pan and spread so they cover the bottom.
  • In a small pan melt butter and chips until well combined. Add condensed milk and marshmallows and stir until all mixed.
  • Pour over peanut mixture.
  • Top with remaining peanuts and let cool (refrigerate if desired).

Nutrition

Serving: 16g, Calories: 391kcal, Carbohydrates: 35g, Protein: 14g, Fat: 24g, Saturated Fat: 10g, Trans Fat: 1g, Cholesterol: 18mg, Sodium: 216mg, Potassium: 305mg, Fiber: 3g, Sugar: 26g, Vitamin A: 132IU, Vitamin C: 1mg, Calcium: 98mg, Iron: 1mg

Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.

Additional Info

Course: Dessert
Cuisine: American
Making this recipe? Tag us!
Share it with us on Instagram using the hashtag #lilluna, so we can see what you’re creating in the kitchen!

 

About Kristyn

My name is Kristyn and I’m the mom of SIX stinkin’ cute kids and the wife to my smokin’ hot hubby, Lo. My mom’s maiden name is Luna, and I’m one of the many crafty “Lil’ Lunas” in the fam. On this site I like to share all things creative - from recipes to home decor to gifts and home decor ideas. Welcome!

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Recipe Rating




142 Comments

  1. 4 stars
    This is a great recipe if a small additional step was included. To get peanut/caramel mixture to set, it must get to 240 degrees! I doubled the recipe and it took appx. 25 minutes. Go low temp and keep stirring. When mix starts to pull away from the sides you’ll be about 220. Keep a cup of ice water near. Drop a small amount of mix into water and let it cool. THAT will be the texture you’ll end up with if you take it off the heat. Make sure it’ll set hard enough for bars. It’ll be at 240 but using the ice water works great if you don’t have a thermometer or if you aren’t sure the thermometer is accurate.

  2. I enjoyed the taste but come out way to soft to be a bar. Next time I may make a short bread crust and add the peanut mixture on top. This time I may cut in small pieces and wrap in wax paper. Like when you eat taffy or homemade Carmel.