Homemade PayDay Bars

Every year (except this year...sniff sniff) my dad's remodeling company goes to Harrison Hot Springs in Canada. And since my husband Bryan and I both work for his company we get to go! We rent a huge tour bus with plush seats, movie screens, and play fun games to win gift cards and other prizes. And that's just the ride up there! Oh, and did I mention that we eat the whole way up there too? Bagels, cookies, yogurt, soda, granola bars, cheese sticks, and....PayDay Bars.

My Aunt Jodi, whose husband also works for the company, makes these every year and they are divine! They are so good and Bryan and I can't get enough of them (you've heard the rule that calories don't count on vacation, right?). We even snatch a napkinful to have in our hotel room to snack on during our stay! So imagine my delight when I ran across the recipe in our family cookbook. I guess the recipe is my Aunt Sue's, and she was so nice to share her recipe! How sweet! These are easy to make and make an entire 9X13 pan - so it's really up to you. Share with your friends and neighbors...or eat the whole pan yourself (that's what I'd do!!).

For the crust, all you need is a cake mix, an egg, and melted butter.

The topping is super simple: rice crispy cereal, marshmallow, corn syrup, vanilla, butter, peanut butter chips, and peanuts.

Mix crust ingredients and press in bottom of the pan. Bake and then throw marshmallows on. It says 3+ cups on the recipe, but I would go more like 5 cups! The marshmallows really make the bar better.

Put the pan back in the oven for a few minutes until they are "puffy". Combine your corn syrup, butter, vanilla, and peanut butter chips in a saucepan until melted. Stir in cereal and peanuts and carefully  spoon over marshmallows, smoothing to make sure the top is covered.

Let the bars cool, and then chill in the fridge for an hour or so.

Homemade PayDay Bars



by Girls in Aprons, from Sue Dye

Crust:
1 box yellow cake mix
1 egg
1/3 cup melted butter
3-5 cups marshmallows

Preheat oven to 350. Mix ingredients (it will be really thick) and press in a 9x13 pan sprayed with cooking spray. Bake for 13 minutes.

Sprinkle crust with 3-5 cups of marshmallows, evenly placing them over the entire crust. Place back in the oven for 2-3 minutes until marshmallows become "puffy". Remove and set aside.

Topping:
2/3 cup light corn syrup
1/4 cup butter
2 tsp vanilla
2 cups peanut butter chips (like Reese's)
2 cups salted peanuts
1 1/2 cups rice crispy cereal

In a large saucepan over medium heat stir together corn syrup, butter, vanilla, and peanut butter chips. Stir until melted. Add cereal and peanuts. Carefully spoon over marshmallows and spread evenly. Once the pan is cool enough, chill in refrigerator for at least an hour. Cut into small squares and serve.

**Who thinks drizzling melted chocolate over this would be amazing?? I do!