No-Bake Salted Nut Bars

shared by Nancy H. (these taste just like Payday candy bars)

Ingredients:
3 cups salted peanuts (no skins), divided
2 1/2 tablespoons butter
2 cups peanut butter chips
14 oz. can sweetened condensed milk
2 cups miniature marshmallows
Kosher salt or sea salt (optional)

Instructions:

1. Place 1 1/2 cups peanuts in the bottom of an ungreased 11 x 7 pan.
2. Melt butter and peanut butter chips in a large saucepan over low heat.
3. Stir until smooth. Remove from heat.
4. Stir in condensed milk and marshmallows.  Continue stirring until smooth and well-blended.
5. Pour peanut butter mixture over peanuts in pan.
6. Sprinkle remaining 1 1/2 cups peanuts over the top of peanut butter mixture and lightly press them with a metal spoon into the mixture.
7. If saltier bars are desired, sprinkle lightly with salt.
8. Cover and refrigerate until chilled.  Cut into bars.  Bars can be served chilled or at room temperature.

Note:  These can be made in a 9 x 13 pan.  Use another cup of peanuts, divided between the bottom of the pan and the top of the bars.  The same amount of filling will work and will give you slightly thinner bars.  When the mixture has chilled, cut into bars and wrap individually with plastic wrap.