Mars Snickers Candy Bars

Ingredients

• 3 tbsp water (Use 1 tablespoon for the nougat and 2 tablespoons for melting the caramels.)
• 0.25 cup light corn syrup
• 2 tbsp butter (Softened.)
• 1 tsp vanilla extract
• 2 tbsp peanut butter
• salt (Pinch.)
• 3 cup powdered sugar
• 35 Kraft caramels (Unwrapped.)
• 1 cup dry-roasted salted peanuts (The source also describes this as two 3.5-ounce packages.)
• 24 oz milk chocolate chips (Two 12-ounce bags.)

Steps

1. 1

   With a mixer on high speed, combine 1 tablespoon of the water, the corn syrup, softened butter, vanilla extract, peanut butter and salt until creamy.

2. 2

   Slowly add the powdered sugar while mixing until the mixture develops the consistency of dough.

3. 3

   Remove the nougat mixture from the bowl with your hands and press it into a lightly greased 9-by-9-inch pan. Set the pan in the refrigerator.

4. 4

   Melt the caramels in a small pan with the remaining 2 tablespoons water over low heat.

5. 5

   When the caramel mixture is soft, mix in the peanuts.

6. 6

   Pour the caramel-and-peanut mixture over the refrigerated nougat in the pan, then let it cool in the refrigerator.

7. 7

   When the refrigerated mixture is firm, melt the milk chocolate over low heat in a double boiler or in a microwave oven set on high for 2 minutes, stirring halfway through the cooking time.

8. 8

   When the mixture in the pan has hardened, cut it into 4-by-1-inch sections.

9. 9

   Set each bar onto a fork and dip it into the melted chocolate. Tap the fork against the side of the bowl or pan to remove excess chocolate.

10. 10

    Place the dipped bars on waxed paper to cool at room temperature below 70°F. The bars may take several hours to set; for faster setting, refrigerate them for 30 minutes.

Notes

The source says the recipe makes about 2 dozen bars. Bars set best at room temperature below 70°F, though refrigeration can speed setting. The source does not specify exact refrigeration times for firming the nougat and caramel layers.

Nutrition per serving

• dessert
• candy
• copycat
• American
• no-bake assembly
• peanut
• chocolate
• make-ahead