Homemade Payday Candy Bars

Ingredients:

• 1 cup granulated sugar
• 1 cup light corn syrup
• 1 cup creamy peanut butter
• 2 cups salted peanuts
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
• 1 tablespoon butter, for greasing

Instructions:

1. Prepare Pan:
   • Grease a 9×13-inch baking dish with butter or line it with parchment paper.
2. Make Caramel Mixture:
   • In a medium saucepan, combine sugar and corn syrup over medium heat. Stir constantly until the mixture comes to a boil.
3. Cook Caramel:
   • Once boiling, stop stirring and let it cook until it reaches 280°F (soft crack stage) on a candy thermometer. This usually takes about 5-7 minutes.
4. Add Peanut Butter and Peanuts:
   • Remove from heat and quickly stir in the peanut butter and vanilla extract until smooth. Then, add the peanuts and stir until evenly combined.
5. Pour into Pan:
   • Immediately pour the mixture into the prepared baking dish. Use a spatula to spread it out evenly.
6. Cool and Set:
   • Let the mixture cool and set at room temperature for at least 1 hour, or until firm.
7. Cut into Bars:
   • Once completely cooled and set, cut into bars using a sharp knife. You can cut them into small candy bar-sized pieces.
8. Store:
   • Store the homemade Payday bars in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 2 weeks.