Snickers Magic Bars

What is your favorite candy bar?  My favorite tends to vary with my mood.  I have a handful of favorite candy bars; so depending on the day and my mood I could name off one of three: Take 5, Almond Joy, or Snickers.  That's not to say that there's not an occasional Hershey's bar, Milky Way Midnight or Butterfinger thrown in the mix every now and then.

Have you ever had one of those days where you wanted a specific type of candy bar but you also wanted some other type of dessert as well?  One of those days where having just one or the other won't cut it?  The only way that craving will be satisfied is if you have both of those sweets; and bonus points if those two separate items can be combined to form one mega dessert that will completely, 110% fulfill that craving.  Well folks, you guessed it!  I had one of those days.  One of those days where I wanted a Snickers bar but I also wanted to bake.  Decisions decisions.  Eat a candy bar or bake?

And then these bars were born.  Why not make something involving Snickers.  Then it hit me instantly; Snickers Magic Bars.  Perfect!  They are sweet, salty, gooey, chocolatey, crunchy and chewy all in one.  The perfect combination to quench my craving.  Plus they are bars.  I love bars because they are effortless to assemble and they can be ready to enjoy in no time.  I not only used an actual Snickers candy bar in this recipe; but I also amped up that wonderful Snickers flavor by adding dry roasted peanuts, homemade caramel, caramel candies and chocolate chips.  How good does that sound?  In my book it sounds pretty darn tasty.  And let me tell you, it was oh-so -good.  We loved them.  The caramel was melted and gooey, the peanuts added the perfect amount of crunch, and the chocolate chips just melted into pure chocolate perfection.  These would be perfect to enjoy at you next cookout, gathering or even if your just craving something with a little bit of sweet and salt.    

Snickers Magic Bars

Ingredients:

1 1/4 Cups graham cracker crumbs
4 Tbsp unsalted butter, melted
1 Can sweetened condensed milk
2 Tbsp caramel sauce, homemade or store bought
3/4 Cup caramel candies; unwrapped and cut in fourths
1 1/4 Cups chocolate chip
1/3 Cup dry roasted peanuts, roughly chopped
1 Snickers bar, roughly chopped and chilled

Directions:

Preheat oven to 350.  Line a 9x13 pan with parchment paper and set aside.

Combine graham cracker crumbs and melted butter and stir to combine.  Press the mixture evenly along the bottom of the prepared pan.  Pour the can of sweetened condensed milk over the cracker layer and spread to evenly coat.  Evenly sprinkle the chocolate chips, chilled Snickers pieces, peanuts and caramel candies over the condensed milk.  Drizzle with caramel sauce.

Place the bars in the oven and bake for 30-35 minutes.  Remove from oven and allow to cool completely, cut and store in an airtight container.

Recipe source: inspired by the original Magic Bars