Ingredients:
- 1 ½ cups All-Purpose Flour
- ½ cup Granulated Sugar
- 1 cup (2 sticks) Unsalted Butter, melted
- 1 cup Chopped Dry Roasted Peanuts
- 14 ounces Soft Caramels (unwrapped)
- 2 tablespoons Heavy Cream
- 10-12 ounces Snickers Bars (chopped)
- 1 (14-ounce) can Sweetened Condensed Milk
- 1 ½ cups Semi-Sweet Chocolate Chips
- ¼ cup More Chopped Dry Roasted Peanuts (for sprinkling)
Instructions:
- Preheat oven to 350°F (175°C). Line a 9x13 inch pan with parchment paper, ensuring there is an overhang on the sides for easy lifting.
- Create the Base: In a mixing bowl, whisk together the flour and sugar. Pour in the melted butter and mix until a cohesive, crumbly dough forms.
- Press the dough evenly into the bottom of the prepared pan. Bake for 20–25 minutes until lightly golden brown around the edges. Remove from oven.
- Sprinkle the 1 cup of chopped peanuts evenly over the warm shortbread base.
- Melt the Caramel: Combine unwrapped caramels and heavy cream in a microwave-safe bowl. Microwave in 30-second bursts, stirring well until completely smooth and pourable.
- Pour the smooth caramel evenly over the peanut layer, followed by scattering the chopped Snickers bars over the caramel.
- The Gooey Binder: Drizzle the entire can of sweetened condensed milk evenly over the Snickers layer. Do not stir.
- Return the pan to the oven and bake for 15–18 minutes until the caramel is bubbly and the condensed milk appears set.
- While the bars cool slightly, melt the chocolate chips until glossy. Pour the melted chocolate over the warm bars and spread swiftly to cover completely.
- Immediately sprinkle with the remaining ¼ cup of peanuts. Allow the bars to cool completely to room temperature, then chill in the refrigerator for at least 2 hours before using the parchment overhang to lift and slice into 16 squares.