Enjoy a perfect balance of sweet and salty with these Salted Nut Bars. A tender cake base, a fluffy marshmallow layer, and a crunchy topping of peanuts and chocolate combine to make a decadent, crowd-pleasing dessert.
How to Make Salted Nut Bars
These bars are built in layers, starting with a simple cake crust. Preheat the oven to 350°F and grease a 13 x 9-inch baking pan. Combine a yellow cake mix with 1/4 cup melted butter and one egg, press the mixture evenly into the prepared pan, and bake for 10–12 minutes until set. Remove the pan from the oven and immediately cover the baked crust with 3 cups of miniature marshmallows, then return the pan to the oven for about 3 minutes, just long enough for the marshmallows to puff.
While the marshmallows are puffing, prepare the crunchy chocolate peanut topping. In a medium bowl combine 2 cups salted peanuts and 2 cups Rice Krispies. In a small saucepan or heat-safe bowl, melt a 12 oz. bag of semi-sweet chocolate chips with 1/2 cup light corn syrup and 1/2 cup butter over low heat, stirring until smooth. Remove from heat and stir in 1 teaspoon vanilla. Pour the melted chocolate mixture over the peanut and cereal mixture and stir until everything is evenly coated.
Spread the peanut-chocolate mixture over the softened marshmallows, pressing gently so the topping adheres. Let the assembled bars cool at room temperature for about 30 minutes until they are set. Once cooled, cut into 24 bars. These keep well in a covered container in the refrigerator or freezer; wait to refrigerate until after cutting to prevent the bars from becoming too firm to slice easily.
These bars satisfy both sweet and salty cravings and are straightforward to make—perfect for potlucks, bake sales, or an indulgent home treat.
Customize Your Bars
Feel free to adapt the recipe to your taste or pantry. For a stronger peanut flavor, swap semi-sweet chocolate chips for peanut butter baking chips. You can also experiment with different cake mixes—chocolate or white will change the flavor profile and create a new twist on the classic. Use whatever you have on hand and make the bars your own.
Salted Nut Bars
Ingredients
- 1 yellow cake mix
- 1/4 cup melted butter
- 1 egg
- 3 cups miniature marshmallows
- 2 cups salted peanuts
- 2 cups Rice Krispies
- 12 oz. semi-sweet chocolate chips
- 1/2 cup light corn syrup
- 1/2 cup butter
- 1 tsp vanilla extract
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350°F. Grease a 13 x 9-inch baking pan.
- Mix cake mix with 1/4 cup melted butter and the egg. Press mixture into the prepared pan and bake 10–12 minutes. Remove from oven.
- Cover the baked crust with the marshmallows and return to the oven for about 3 minutes until they puff.
- In a medium bowl combine the peanuts and Rice Krispies.
- Melt chocolate chips with the corn syrup and 1/2 cup butter over low heat, stirring until smooth. Remove from heat, stir in vanilla, pour over the peanut and Rice Krispies mixture, and stir to combine. Spread the mixture over the marshmallows.
- Allow the bars to cool and set, about 30 minutes. Cut into bars once set. Store in a covered container in the refrigerator or freezer. Do not refrigerate before cutting, as the bars will become too firm to slice easily.
Nutrition
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Carbohydrates: 40 g
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Protein: 6 g
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Fat: 18 g
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If you enjoy layered desserts, these bars make a nostalgic and satisfying treat—this recipe was a favorite of the author’s mother and is shared here as a simple, delicious family classic.
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