Salted Nut Roll Bars is such an easy recipe and is a fun twist on caramel nut rolls. This gooey bar has a cookie crumb base, and a gooey layer of marshmallows, topped with salty peanuts, coated in a sweetened peanut butter mixture similar to caramel.
If you’ve ever tasted Pearson’s salted nut rolls, you’ll know that this salty treat is a close copycat recipe. These candy bars are really popular in the mid-west and have the perfect combination of peanut butter, marshmallows, and puffed cereal on a buttery crust. The original version of the salted nut roll candy bar is a log shape, with a fluffy marshmallow center, but these bars are so much easier to make.
For those who enjoy making homemade candy, be sure to try my Martha Washington candy, peanut clusters (which will also help you use up the remaining cocktail peanuts), and copycat Reese’s treats such as bunnies and hearts. You may also like these trail mix bars that are filled with fun ingredients.
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🥜 Ingredients:
- Flour – we used all-purpose
- Light brown sugar – be sure to pack it in when measuring
- Baking powder and baking soda – make the crust rise
- Egg – helps to bind the ingredients together
- Unsalted butter – we like using unsalted so nothing is overly salty
- Vanilla extract – rounds out the flavors
- Marshmallows – we are using the mini kind
- Jar of peanuts – be sure to grab salty peanuts, it’s a star ingredient
- Peanut butter chips and light corn syrup – this makes a caramel-like mixture
- Rice Krispies cereal – store-brand puffed rice cereal can be substituted
For a full list of ingredients and their measurements, 📋 please view my printable recipe card at the bottom of the post.
Substitutions and Variations
- Large Marshmallows – if needed, you can use full-size marshmallows and cut them so they equal four cups.
- Marshmallow creme – can be used in place of regular marshmallows, but it’s a little messier.
- Gluten-free – use gluten-free all-purpose flour.
- Drizzle a little melted chocolate on top of the finished bars for a rich chocolate flavor.
🔪 Instructions:
PREP: Line a 9×13 baking pan with a piece of parchment paper. Preheat the oven to 350 degrees.
Step 1: In a medium bowl, combine all of the crust ingredients and mix well.
Step 2: Press the crust into the bottom of the pan and bake for 12 minutes.
Step 3: Remove from the oven, and immediately top with mini marshmallows. Place the dish back into the oven and cook until the marshmallows are golden and puffed.
Step 4: In a medium saucepan, melt peanut butter chips, corn syrup, and butter together over medium heat. Stir in the peanuts and Rice Krispies.
Pro Tip: To make the mixture flat, grease a rubber spatula with cooking spray and use it to press the topping down.
Step 5: Spread the peanut butter mixture on top of the gooey marshmallows.
Step 6: Cool bars completely before slicing.
GARNISH/SLICE/SERVE: Once they have cooled, lift the nut bars from the pan using the sides of the parchment paper. Use a sharp knife to cut into squares.
Recipe Tips for Salted Nut Roll Bar Recipe
- This homemade salted nut roll is full of amazing textures. The crumb cookie base holds the marshmallow layer, along with the caramel-like topping with the cereal and peanuts.
- Do not add more than 3 cups of peanuts. The saltiness will overpower the other flavors.
- Use a greased spatula to press down the topping to form a flat top.
- Start making the topping about 5 minutes after you have put the base back in the oven with the marshmallows.
Fun Fact
The Nut Roll candy bar has been around since 1933 and only cost a nickel back then!
Recipe FAQs
Keep leftovers in an airtight container at room temperature for 2-3 days or freeze for up to 1 month.
When freezing, wrap a layer of plastic wrap around the bars before placing them into a freezer bag. You can also freeze them with wax paper in between the layers so they don’t stick when you are ready to serve.
A salted nut roll bar is a type of candy bar made with nougat, caramel, and peanuts, and is typically coated in a layer of white fondant or white chocolate. The nougat is made from whipped egg whites, sugar, and corn syrup, while the caramel is made from sugar, cream, and butter. The peanuts are mixed into the fluffy nougat and caramel layers, giving the candy bar a crunchy texture.
The “salted” part of the name comes from the fact that the peanuts are often lightly salted, which adds a savory element to the sweet candy bar. Salted nut roll bars are a popular candy in the United States, particularly in the Midwest region.
More Decadent Bars and Brownies
If you tried this Salted Nut Roll Bars Recipe or any other recipe on my website, please leave a 🌟 star rating and let me know how you liked it in the 📝 comments below.
Salted Nut Roll Bars
Ingredients
Crust Ingredients:
- 2 cups all-purpose flour
- 1 cup packed light brown sugar
- 1 teaspoon baking powder
- ½ teaspoon baking soda
- 1 large egg
- ½ cup unsalted butter melted
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
Topping Ingredients:
- 4 cups miniature marshmallows
- 2-3 cups salted peanuts
- 10 oz. bag peanut butter chips
- ⅔ cup light corn syrup
- 2 cups Rice Krispies cereal
- ½ cup unsalted butter
- Flakey sea salt optional
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350°F.
- In a medium mixing bowl, beat together all of the crust ingredients until well combined. Press mixture into a 9×13 baking pan lined with parchment paper.
- Bake for 12 minutes.
- Remove crust from the oven and immediately spread the mini marshmallows over the crust. Place the baking dish back into the oven and bake until the marshmallows puff and begin to turn golden, another 12-15 minutes.
- Meanwhile, combine the peanut butter chips, corn syrup, and butter in a medium saucepan and stir over medium heat until melted and fully combined.
- Stir in the peanuts and Rice Krispies.
- Spread the topping mixture over the puffed and golden marshmallows and leave the baking dish to cool completely.
- When cooled, lift from the baking dish and cut into bars.
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