If you love Payday candy bars, here’s a Payday cookie bars version just for you. This easy recipe is full of peanut butter and marshmallow deliciousness and will leave you wanting just one more, that’s how good they are!
I have learned so many, many things from the Southern husband. For example: convertibles are light-years better than regular cars. Few meals in life are better than crayfish steamed in Old Bay spices and chased with Dixie beer. All the words to more Springsteen songs than I can count.
And Payday candy bars.
Before he bought me my first Payday bar, lo these many years ago, I foolishly thought that all candy bars needed to involve chocolate. Not so…the wonderful Payday bar is peanuts and caramel with not a bit of chocolate anywhere, and it is GOOD.
You don’t see them around too often, but when you do, it’s well worth buying one. Or two. And if you can’t find an actual Payday bar (or even if you can!), these Payday cookie bars are the next best thing!
This is the third dessert in a row that I have made with yellow cake mix as a base...what does this MEAN? Probably that I should start buying yellow cake mix at Costco. (Any excuse to go to Costco!)
Anyway, this is a three-step recipe, and each of the steps are easy — honestly, the hardest part of this entire thing was cutting the final product into squares. This is rich and dense and chewy, so cut those squares small. A little of this fabulous recipe goes a very long way!
Which also goes to show you…always listen to the Southern husband. :)
Payday Cookie Bars
Prep Time: 20 minutes- Cook Time: 25 minutes
- Total Time: 45 minutes
- Yield: About 20, depending on how big or small you cut them! 1x
- Category: Dessert
- Method: Stovetop and Oven
- Cuisine: American
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Pin RecipeDescription
If you love Payday candy bars, here’s a Payday cookie bars version just for you! This easy recipe is full of peanut butter and marshmallow deliciousness!
Ingredients
Layer One: The Crust
- 1 box yellow cake mix
- 2/3 cup butter, softened
- 1 egg
Layer Two: The Marshmallows
- 2 cups of mini marshmallows
Layer Three: The Peanutty Deliciousness
- 1 bag peanut butter chips
- 2 tablespoons butter
- 2/3 cup corn syrup
- 2 cups crispy rice cereal
- 2 cups salted peanuts
Instructions
Layer One
- Mix all of the ingredients, press into a slightly greased 9X13 pan. Bake at 350 for 20-25 minutes or until the edges are golden.
Layer Two
- Sprinkle marshmallows over top of crust. Bake for another 5 minutes
Layer Three
- Melt chips, butter and corn syrup in a saucepan. Remove from heat and stir in cereal and peanuts. Poor over base and spread evenly. Cool, cut into squares. Small squares. Trust me on this.
Notes
Need to add something to your kitchen equipment to make this recipe? Below are some of the items we used in the Framed Cooks kitchen to help cook this up. These are affiliate links to things we use and love, which helps to pay for all that bacon I keep buying!
Oh, my goodness. I think I have everything to make these tonight. If not, there'll be a trip to the grocery tomorrow.
Side note: You probably already know this but if you mix salted peanuts and candy corn together – wa-lah! – that Payday bar taste.
Oh man — you just made my night. How will I EVER wait until candy corn season now???
Wow, love Pay Day candy bars, can't wait to try this recipe!
I think they make Easter candy corn in some form or another. Pretty sure I saw some last year at Wal Mart (I hate that store, but they always have the best candy selection for whatever holiday we're celebrating).
Thanks for the recipe Kate!
i love pay day bars! i have convinced myself that they are "healthy" since there is no chocolate :)
Oh yay, I'm so glad you liked them! I just made them again this past Christmas for a cookie exchange. They even won for best cookie, hehe…I love them! You have a beautiful blog btw!
Take care,
Amber(The Lonely Baker)
Do the payday bars have a caramel taste?
A little bit, yes! Caramel and peanuts. :)
Love these! I cut small squares and put them in a candy paper cup and used them in s wedding cookie table! Big hit!! Thank you!
★★★★★
Tam! What a great idea – a wedding cookie table! I’m so glad these little cookies were part of such a special event. :)
This recipe originally appeared in a 1980 Pillsbury Sweet Success cook book, titled Salted Peanut Chews. The only difference is the original calls for 3 cups of miniature marshmallows.
Give this online recipe a try. You won’t be disappointed.
★★★★★
Thanks Ann – I always love knowing where a recipe was born! These are probably my husband’s favorite treats in the entire world. :)