This post may contain affiliate links. Please read our disclosure policy.
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 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!
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).
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.
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:
- White Chocolate Reese’s Fudge
- White Chocolate M&M Popcorn
- Reese’s Pieces Puppy Chow
- Pecan Pralines
- Chocolate Caramel Rice Krispie Treats
- Salted Peanut Chews
Homemade PayDay Candy Bar Recipe
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
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
Will try this, love Paydays
Hope you enjoy!!
This recipe creates a good and very rich sweet snack. But it only vaguely tastes like a payday. I followed instructions to the T .
It is too ‘peanut buttery’ for lack of a better term. Paydays are more caramel-like in my opinion.
Thanks for the feedback and for giving the recipe a try!
This recipe is very simple. My first try was a huge success! It set in the refrigerator until completely cooled and cut beautifully. Thank you.
My husband is a huge fan of the commercial “Payday” candy bar, and he loved this version!!! I keep them stored in a sealed container in the refrigerator.
Yay!! I’m so glad they turned out well and that you and your husband love the candy bars. Thanks for sharing!
I just made these for the first time, they are delicious. Payday has always been my favorite. I have been disappointed in the store ones for years. These are great and I got to choose things like a good grade of peanuts and organic milk. Thank u so much for this recipe 😊
I’ve made these for Christmas since I found this recipe 3 years ago. They’re delicious and get rave reviews. I reviewed it before and I need to do it again. First make sure you’re using the pan size as listed. Second continue to cook and stir after adding the marshmallows until the mixture thickens and feels sticky. Maybe 5 minutes. Press the top layer of nuts in and there won’t be many that fall off. They fall off of a PayDay bar too. I’ve never had an issue with the final result being set. Thank you for sharing this recipe! My family appreciates it!
Thanks so much for you feedback and kind words! We’re so glad to hear you love the recipe and they have become a Christmas tradition!
We made them. They are delicious. Just trying to save them for a Christmas party. Try plastic bag, didn’t work. Would seal a meal work?
So glad you enjoyed the candy bars! We usually recommend to store the 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. So the seal a meal may work great!
Looks really 😋 yummy & easy to make.
Sticky, gooey mess! Would not set up even after a few hours in the fridge. They just taste like crunchy peanut butter. Something’s missing.
Thanks for the feedback and for giving the recipe a try!
Sounds great and all HOWEVER u might want to let people have a looksee at a sidebyside of the nutrition facts.. Because that unhealthy candy bar at the store to your wholesome good ones? Yeah no always the case… The junky store ones have no cholesterol your healthy one has how much? Oof right. And sodium.. Well under the 250+ your “healthy” one.. I could go on but id rather sit here and chuckle and enjoy my junkie store bought payday. 😊
Hi Beth! Thanks for your feedback. I apologize if you got the impression that these were a “healthier version”. We don’t ever state that in our post…. just that they are homemade and really tasty and worth the work! When made homemade, you know exactly what is being put into these candy bars, even though it may not necessarily mean it’s the most healthy. 😉 We’re also fans of the store bought version. Both are tasty treats!!
What a snarky remark. She never said they were healthier. You should go back and re-read what she wrote before making a comment like that. Enjoy that store bought Payday that’s been sitting on the shelf for years while the rest of us enjoy these fresh, homemade bars, WHICH I will be making this weekend, sodium and all!
The flavor was delicious but they were really gooey. Didn’t hold up as a bar. Wouldn’t be able to serve them. I followed the recipe exactly and put them in the fridge.
What happened?
would not cool completely so i couldn’t cut them or serve them
Sorry to hear they didn’t cool. Even putting in the refrigerator didn’t help them cool and set a bit more? Thanks for your feedback and for trying the recipe!
I have made this recipe at least ten times for parties and get togethers. Everyone loves them. They go first.
Yay! I’m so glad they are such a hit at your parties!