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    Home » Sweets » Homemade PayDay Bars

    Homemade PayDay Bars

    Published: Oct 13, 2022 · Modified: Dec 2, 2022 by Kaylie Grace · Leave a Comment

    Jump to Recipe

    This post may contain affiliate links. Read the affiliate disclosure here. 

    Homemade payday bars are a vegan and gluten-free copycat of the original candy bar! It’s a sweet, caramel-like nougat covered in salted peanuts. They are made with peanut butter chips, mini marshmallows, and sweetened condensed coconut milk. These homemade candy bars are perfect for Halloween!

    a stack of vegan homemade payday candy bars

    What is a payday bar?

    The PayDay candy bar contains a caramel nougat that’s covered in salted peanuts. It was originally created by the Hollywood Candy Company in 1932. The Hershey Company began producing the candy bars in 1996, and still make them today!

    Have you tried a PayDay bar before? Although this candy bar is often overlooked by the more popular varieties, like Kit-Kat and Reese’s, it is truly delicious in its own right. This candy bar is simultaneously salty, sweet, crunchy and chewy. It’s perfect for peanut butter lovers and incredibly easy to make at home!

    These payday candy bars are:

    • Vegan, gluten-free, no-bake, and dairy-free
    • Sweet and salty
    • Made with 6 ingredients
    • Covered in crunchy peanuts
    • A homemade candy bar recipe
    • Great for Halloween parties & festivities
    homemade payday bars on a wire rack with peanuts and peanut butter

    What is a payday candy bar made out of?

    • Peanuts: Peanuts are the main ingredient in payday bars. I recommend using a salted and roasted variety for the best flavor.
    • Peanut butter chips: These are just like chocolate chips, but they have a peanut butter flavor. If you can’t find any, use butterscotch or caramel chips instead.
    • Sweetened condensed coconut milk: This is a dairy-free alternative to sweetened condensed milk. It’s made of coconut milk and sugar.
    • Vegan butter: You can either use dairy-free butter sticks or tub butter.
    • Mini marshmallows: Mini marshmallows are better than regular marshmallows because they melt quickly. If you are vegan, choose a gelatin-free variety.
    • Vanilla extract: Vanilla adds a sweet flavor and aroma.
    ingredients for homemade vegan payday candy bars

    How to make vegan payday bars

    For the full ingredient measurements and step-by-step instructions, scroll down to view the recipe card at the bottom of the page.

    First, line an 8×8-inch or 9×9-inch baking dish with parchment paper. Then, spread half of the peanuts across the bottom of the dish.

    Next, in a medium saucepan, add peanut butter chips and vegan butter. Melt together, stirring frequently, until combined. Add sweetened condensed coconut milk, mini marshmallows, and vanilla extract. Stir until melted and evenly combined.

    Then, immediately pour the mixture into the dish, spreading evenly across the layer of peanuts. Top with the remaining peanuts.

    After, chill in the refrigerator for 1 hour or until set. Remove from the refrigerator and slice into bars. Enjoy!

    a four part photo collage showing how to make homemade payday bars

    Tips for making these homemade payday bars

    Use peanut butter chips, not peanut butter. If you are vegan, it can be tricky to find dairy-free peanut butter chips. You can always try searching for butterscotch chips or caramel chips instead. They will provide a very similar flavor and texture.

    Use roasted and salted peanuts. If your peanuts are not salted, add ½ teaspoon salt to the nougat. Additionally, I recommend sprinkling flaky sea salt on top of the bars before chilling.

    Don’t forget parchment paper. Parchment paper is an essential component of this recipe. It will prevent the bars from sticking to the pan and allow you to easily remove them.

    Slice into full-size or fun-size bars. You can make these vegan candy bars as large or small as you’d like!

    three vegan homemade payday bars stacked

    Frequently asked questions (FAQ)

    Are PayDay bars vegan?

    The original payday candy bars are not vegan. However, these homemade payday bars are, indeed, vegan! Just be sure to use dairy-free peanut butter chips and gelatin-free marshmallows.

    Are PayDay bars healthy?

    Hershey’s PayDay bars are typically thought of as a “healthier” candy bar compared to others. How come? The first ingredient is peanuts and they contain 7 grams of protein.

    However, this candy bar still contains 20 grams of sugar, vegetable oil, and preservatives. I would not consider them to be a health food by any means, but you can certainly find worse candy bars out there.

    What is in the middle of a PayDay candy bar? Is there nougat in PayDay?

    The Hershey Company describes the PayDay candy bar as having “a nougat-like sweet caramel center.” It tastes like a traditional nougat, but it is sweeter and chewier.

    Are PayDay candy bars still made?

    Yes! This classic candy bar is still being made today by The Hershey Company.

    left hand holding a partially bitten homemade payday candy bar
    left hand holding a homemade payday bar with a bite taken out of it

    How to store vegan payday bars

    Store these homemade payday bars in a sealed container inside the refrigerator. They will keep for up to 1 week. If you would like to store them longterm, keep in the freezer for up to 3 months.

    a stack of three vegan homemade payday bars

    More homemade candy bars

    • Homemade Take 5 Candy Bars (Vegan & Healthy!)
    • Vegan Snickers Bars
    • Homemade Peanut Butter Cups
    • Crispy White Chocolate Almond Butter Cups

    If you try these Homemade PayDay Bars, please let me know your thoughts by leaving a rating and comment below! Ready for more? Subscribe to my newsletter or follow along on Instagram and YouTube!

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    a stack of vegan homemade payday candy bars

    Homemade PayDay Bars

    • Author: Kaylie Grace
    • Prep Time: 1 hour
    • Total Time: 1 hour
    • Yield: 20 bars 1x
    • Category: Dessert
    • Method: Stovetop, No-bake
    • Cuisine: American
    • Diet: Vegan
    Print Recipe
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    Description

    Homemade payday candy bars are vegan, gluten-free, no-bake, and dairy-free! The sweet, nougat-like caramel is covered in salted peanuts. They are made with peanut butter chips, mini marshmallows, and sweetened condensed coconut milk. These homemade vegan candy bars are great for Halloween, parties, and peanut butter lovers! #payday #candybars #candy #peanuts #halloween #candybar #paydaybars #peanutbutter #nougat 


    Ingredients

    Units Scale
    • 3 cups roasted and salted peanuts, divided
    • 2 cups peanut butter chips
    • 2 tbsp vegan butter
    • 2 cans sweetened condensed coconut milk (14 ounces total)
    • 2 cups vegan mini marshmallows
    • 1 tsp vanilla extract

    Instructions

    1. Line an 8×8-inch or 9×9-inch baking dish with parchment paper.
    2. Spread half of the peanuts across the bottom of the dish.
    3. In a medium saucepan, add peanut butter chips and vegan butter. Melt together, stirring frequently, until combined. Add sweetened condensed coconut milk, mini marshmallows, and vanilla extract. Stir until melted and evenly combined.
    4. Immediately pour the mixture into the dish, spreading evenly across the layer of peanuts. Top with the remaining peanuts.
    5. Chill in the refrigerator for 1 hour or until set. After, remove from the refrigerator and slice into bars. Enjoy!

    Notes

    • How to store: Store these homemade payday bars in a sealed container inside the refrigerator. They will keep for up to 1 week. If you would like to store them longterm, keep in the freezer for up to 3 months.
    • Peanut butter chips: If you cannot find peanut butter chips, you can use butterscotch or caramel chips instead.

    Nutrition

    • Serving Size: 1 bar
    • Calories: 280
    • Sugar: 20g
    • Fat: 16g
    • Carbohydrates: 26g
    • Fiber: 2.5g
    • Protein: 9g

    Keywords: homemade payday bars, vegan payday candy bars

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    Tag @purelykaylie on Instagram and hashtag it #purelykaylie

    This post contains affiliate links. If you make a purchase through one of these links, I earn a small commission at no additional cost to you. I only recommend products I personally use, trust, and love!

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    Hello, I’m Kaylie!

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