Michael Symon's Nut Nuggets a.k.a. Payday Bar

By Redvettchick

From "The Chew"
Similar to a Payday Bar

Ingredients

• 2 16-ounce (4 cups) jars of Roasted Peanuts
• 1/2 stick Unsalted Butter
• 2 cups Mini Marshmallows
• 1 14-ounce can Sweetened Condensed Milk
• 1/2 cup Creamy Peanut Butter

Details

Cooking time 120mins
Adapted from abc.com

Preparation

Step 1

1 14-ounce can Sweetened Condensed Milk

For the homemade dulce de leche: Place your can of sweetened condensed milk in a deep stock pot. Fill the pot with water until it’s covering the can by a couple of inches, the deeper the better. Bring the water up to a boil, and continue boiling for 4 hours, adding more water as necessary to keep a few inches of water above the can. **You may want to do more than one can at a time so you have some handy for future use** After 4 hours, remove the can/cans from the water with tongs and place on the counter top to cool. These can be stored at room temperature like any canned good. ***Make sure the water level stays at least a few inches above the cans during boiling or they will explode!......and they will…..***
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Alternatively, pour the sweetened condensed milk into a large saute pan, and cook over medium-low for 45 minutes to an hour, being mindful to stir to ensure even cooking. Cook until the milk has turned an even caramel color.
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2 16-ounce (4 cups) jars of Roasted Peanuts

Spray a 13x9 pan with cooking spray. Line the pan with wax paper, and then spray the wax paper. Pour one jar of peanuts in to the bottom of the pan and smooth or shake in to an even layer.




1/2 stick Unsalted Butter
2 cups Mini Marshmallows
1/2 cup Creamy Peanut Butter

In a medium sauce pot, melt the butter over medium heat. When the butter is melted add the marshmallows and stir continuously until all of them are melted. Reduce the heat to low then whisk in the dulce de leche and the peanut butter. When the mixture is smooth and thoroughly combined, pour over the peanuts. Smooth out with an offset spatula, then sprinkle the other jar of peanuts over the top in an even layer. Press the peanuts down slightly using your hands, making sure everything sticks to the filling. Let set 4 to 5 hours or overnight until cool and set, then cut in to bars. **It is easier to flip out, peel wax paper, then cut into 3x8 bars.

Helpful Tip:
1. If you wet the spatula, then it will be easier to glide over the nougat.