Shelly's Recipe

CHEWY CRISPY PEANUT CARAMEL BARS

Category: Bars

Crust
1 1/2 cups flour
3/4 cup packed brown sugar
1/2 tsp baking powder
1/4 tsp baking soda
Pinch of salt
1/2 cup unsalted butter, room temperature
2 egg yolks
1 tsp vanilla extract
3 cups miniature marshmallows

Caramel Layer
3/4 cup sugar
1/4 cup water
1 tsp corn syrup
1/4 cup heavy cream, heated to warm

Topping
1/2 cup light corn syrup
3 tbsp unsalted butter, room temperature
2 cups creamy peanut butter
1 tsp vanilla extract
2 1/2 cups crispy rice cereal
1 cup toasted peanuts
1/2 cup semi-sweet chocolate chips

Crust: Preheat oven to 350 and light butter a 13x9 inch baking pan. Combine ingredients except marshmallow and mix until crumbly. Press mixture into pan and bake for 8-10 minutes or until lightly golden. Remove from oven and sprinkle with marshmallows just begin to melt and turn golden brown, approximately 3-4 minutes. Allow to cool on a wire rack.

Caramel Layer: Combine first 3 ingredients in a saucepan and cook over high heat without stirring until the syrup caramelized and turns an amber color. Slowly add the warm cream and cook over low heat until smooth. Let it sit for approximately 10 minutes, until thickened. Drizzle over marshmallows.

Topping. Combine first 3 ingredients over medium heat and stir until smooth. Add vanilla extract. Stir in the remaining ingredients until combined and immediately spoon over caramel layer. Let bars sit until topping is firm, about 1 hour, before cutting into bars.