Salted Nut Roll Recipe (2024)

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Posted by Aimee 43 comments
Published: Sep 27, 2019 Last Updated: Oct 13, 2023

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Copycat Salted Nut Roll Candy Bar Recipeis a candy store classic. You can make it at home and give all your favorite people a homemade gift this year!

I love making homemade candy. From haystacks, turtles candy, and divinity to our favorite peanut butter fudge recipe.

Salted Nut Roll Recipe (1)

Why This Recipe is Best

These homemade candies were a true labor of love.

After several unsuccessful attempts, I finally created the result I was hoping for: a soft center wrapped in chewy caramel and salty peanuts!

There are a couple of candies that if put in front of me, I could never resist. Pay Day candy bars, Salted Nut Rolls, and Bullseyes (caramel creams). Are you familiar with any of these?

Today’s Salted Nut Roll recipe is a cross between those classic Caramel Creams and a salty Pay Day truffles.

If caramel is your thing, this is definitely the homemade candy for you, and it would also make a really great homemade Christmas gift.

  • Smooth, creamy marshmallow center
  • Chewy caramel coating
  • Crunchy, salted peanuts for the perfect finish

Ingredient Notes

  • Unsalted Butter – I use and prefer unsalted butter in all of my baking so I can control the amount of sodium. If all you have is salted, it should work fine, too.
  • Marshmallow Cream – Also called marshmallow fluff, this is the base of the inner roll for the candy. We love using homemade marshmallow fluff for this too!
  • Powdered Sugar – Also called “confectioner’s sugar,” it dissolves into the marshmallow fluff to sweeten it and create a super smooth dough.
  • Caramel Bits – Any brand will do, but you need TWO 11-ounce bags for this recipe.
  • Peanuts – Use dry roasted, salted peanuts for best sweet and salty peanut flavor. And while peanuts are classic for this candy, you could try switching up the nut if you need to avoid peanuts.
Salted Nut Roll Recipe (2)

Easy Instructions

Make the dough. Melt the butter and marshmallow cream in the microwave for about 30-60 seconds, until butter is fully melted. Mix with the powdered sugar and vanilla and cream together until just combined.

Form and freeze the dough. Place the dough on the siplat and knead into a dough ball. Divide the “dough” into 6 equal portions. Roll each portion into a 7-8 inch log (about 1-inch thick around). Wrap each log in parchment paper and freeze for 2 hours, until firm. You can freeze overnight if you’d like.

Make the caramel mixture. Melt caramel bits and butter in an 11×7-inch baking dish in the microwave, about 1 1/2 minutes, until smooth. The mixture will be very thick, and the butter will separate from the caramel. That’s OKAY. Using your hands, once the caramel has cooled slightly, press the caramel into the dish and then use a knife to make 6 equal slices.

Assemble the logs. Unwrap the frozen marshmallow log and using your hands, literally spread the caramel until it covers the center completely. Once the entire log is covered, press the chopped peanuts into the caramel to adhere. Re-wrap in parchment paper and refrigerate. Repeat for each log.

Slice and serve. When ready to enjoy, slice the logs into 1-inch pieces and enjoy!

Salted Nut Roll Recipe (3)

Tips and Tricks

  • Invest in a Silicone Baking Mat for kneading the marshmallow mixture to have a stable base that won’t stick to the dough.
  • Knead the marshmallow mixture using your hands until it’s nice and smooth to create a creamy filling for the candies.
  • You’ll need to use your fingers to stretch and shape the caramel around each log of the marshmallow dough until it’s entirely covered. It’ll feel like you’re working with play doh.
  • Have the chopped peanuts ready to go so you can immediately press them into the soft caramel and have them stick.
  • Be sure to refrigerate the candies after they are assembled so they set up completely and are easy to slice.
Salted Nut Roll Recipe (4)

Recipe FAQs

Can I make these candies ahead?

Yes! The marshmallow dough needs to be frozen for 2 hours before assembling the rolls and the whole candy needs to be refrigerated to set, so these are a great candy recipe to make in advance.

How do I store Salted Nut Roll?

These candies need to be refrigerated. Store in an airtight container for up to 1 week, if they last that long.

Can I freeze salted nut roll?

You can freeze the marshmallow dough logs overnight or even up to 1 month in advance to make these candies easier to assemble. You can also freeze leftovers of the candy. Wrap tightly in plastic wrap and place in a freezer-safe ziplock bag. Freeze for up to 2-3 months. Let thaw overnight in the refrigerator before slicing and enjoying.

More Candy Recipes

  • English Toffee
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  • Churro Toffee
  • Divinity Candy
  • Pralines
  • Buckeyes
  • More Easy Dessert Recipes

Salted Nut Roll

4.75 from 31 votes

By: Aimee

Salted Nut Roll is a candy store classic. You can make it at home, and give all your favorite people a homemade Christmas gift this year!

Prep Time: 40 minutes minutes

Cook Time: 2 hours hours

Total Time: 2 hours hours 40 minutes minutes

Servings: 48 servings

Ingredients

for the filling:

  • ½ cup unsalted butter
  • 7 ounces marshmallow cream
  • 5 cups powdered sugar
  • 1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract

for the coating:

  • 2 bags caramel bits 11 ounces each
  • 2 tablespoons unsalted butter
  • 2 cups chopped peanuts

Instructions

For the filling

  • Melt the butter and marshmallow cream in the microwave, about 30-60seconds, until butter is fully melted.

  • In a large mixing bowl, combine melted butter and marshmallow to the powdered sugar and vanilla. Cream together until just blended.

  • Drop onto a silpat (or large piece of parchment paper). Use your hands to knead the “dough” into a large ball.

  • Divide the ball into 6 equal portions. You’ll then want to use your hands to roll each portion into a 7-8-inch log (the key is to keep it 1-inch thick around).

  • Wrap each log in parchment paper and freeze two hours until firm.

For the coating:

  • Melt caramel bits and butter in an 11×7-inch baking dish in the microwave, about 1 1/2 minutes, until smooth. The mixture will be thick, and the butter will separate from the caramel. That’s OKAY.

  • Allow caramel to cool slightly, then using your hands, combine the butter into the caramel and press the mixture into the bottom of the baking dish. Score it into 6 equal portions.

  • To cover the marshmallow centers, unwrap the frozen log and using your hands, take one section of caramel and spread it over the center completely. It will feel like you’re working with playdoh.

  • Once the entire log is covered, press the chopped peanuts into the caramel. Re-wrap in parchment paper and refrigerate. Repeat for each log.

  • When ready to enjoy, slice each log into 1-inch pieces.

Notes

  • Any kind of caramels will work.
  • The classic candy is made with peanuts but feel free to switch it up.

Nutrition

Calories: 143kcal, Carbohydrates: 24g, Protein: 2g, Fat: 5g, Saturated Fat: 2g, Polyunsaturated Fat: 3g, Cholesterol: 6mg, Sodium: 73mg, Fiber: 1g, Sugar: 21g

Course: Candy

Cuisine: American

Did you make this recipe?Mention @shugarysweets or tag #shugarysweets!

Salted Nut Roll is a candy store classic. You can make it at home, and give all your favorite people a homemade Christmas gift this year!

Salted Nut Roll Recipe (2024)

FAQs

What's inside of a Salted Nut Roll? ›

It has a nougat center that is surrounded in a layer of caramel and then covered with salted Virginia peanuts. Pearson's use of reduced lactose whey makes this confection easier to digest for lactose-sensitive individuals. The Salted Nut Roll is available in a variety of sizes - . 5, 1.8 and 3.25 oz.

What's the difference between a payday candy bar and a Salted Nut Roll? ›

Payday candy bars are very similar to nut rolls but nut rolls usually contain nuts that are not roasted. They also have a softer texture, with more of a sugary-candy fluffy nougat base than the crunchy and sweet caramel combination found in Payday candy bars.

Are salted nut rolls healthy? ›

Salted nut rolls are packed with essential nutrients, including vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants. Nuts are a good source of vitamin E, an antioxidant that protects cells from damage.

Do they still make salted nut rolls? ›

Stock your pantry today with Pearson's Salted Nut Rolls for grab-and-go snacking.

What are the different types of nut roll? ›

Nut rolls are known also by many specific regional names, including: orechovník in Slovak; makowiec in Polish; potica, povitica, gibanica, orahnjača/orehnjača in Slovenian and Serbo-Croatian (walnut variant, makovnjača for variant with poppy seed, in Croatia can also be made with carob); kalács and bejgli in Hungarian; ...

Who invented the Salted Nut Roll? ›

Pearson's introduced the Salted Nut Roll in 1933, at the height of The Great Depression. The success of the Salted Nut Roll prompted other manufacturers to mimic the confection. Pearson's subsequently changed the roll's name to the Choo Choo Bar, to distinguish the product.

What candy was invented in 1933? ›

1933 – Kraft creates first Caramels. 1938 – Krackel bars came with the almond among its ingredients. Soon creators decided to take it out. 1941 – Six colored M&Ms.

What candy bar makes you feel like a nut? ›

During the 1970s, Peter Paul used the jingle, "Sometimes you feel like a nut / Sometimes you don't", written by Joey Levine, to advertise Almond Joy and Mounds in tandem.

Why is PayDay candy so good? ›

This staple candy bar has been on the market for decades. In fact, it still ranks high on many “best candy bar” lists until this day! This is due to its unique flavor profile of salted peanuts, sweet and rich caramel, and soft nougat.

What is the healthiest nut butter in the world? ›

Almond nut butter

With 200 calories, nearly 19 grams of fat, and almost 5 grams of protein, almond butter can help you bridge the gap between meals when you're hungry. It contains heart-healthy monounsaturated fats as well as vitamins and minerals, including vitamin E, magnesium, and calcium.

Are salted peanuts healthier than potato chips? ›

She said a small amount of peanuts is better than a small amount of potato chips, because of the fibre and other nutrients contained in peanuts. “But they are much higher in fat, so if you are going to have handfuls it would be better to eat the chips,” she said.

Why is nut butter so high in calories? ›

Due to its high fat content, peanut butter is calorie-dense. This is concerning for some, since excess calories may lead to weight gain over time. However, some research suggests that peanut butter may boost weight loss when eaten in moderation ( 1 ).

Can you still buy 7 up candy bars? ›

Despite its initial appeal, the 7 Up Candy Bar was discontinued in the 1970s. The oil crisis led to increased production costs, making it expensive to produce a candy bar with so many different components. Additionally, the bar faced competition from simpler, easier-to-produce options that dominated the market.

What is nougat made of? ›

Nougat is a confection made with sugar or honey that's cooked and then whipped with egg whites to aerate it. It often contains almonds or other nuts, candied fruits and chocolate, although it can be left plain. Nougat can be soft and tender like marshmallow but is more often dense and very chewy.

Where did the Salted Nut Roll come from? ›

The Nut Roll was first manufactured in Pearson's Minneapolis facility in 1933. It was called the Choo-Choo because there were many salted nut rolls at the time. The original Choo-Choo cost a nickel. "The center is the beginning," said David King, assistant production superintendent at Pearson's.

How do they get the salt inside roasted in shell peanuts? ›

Once the hoppers are full, a vacuum pump is applied for about a minute, which pulls all of the air out of the hopper. As the air is sucked out of the peanuts, the salty brine gets pulled inside the shells (physics class flashback).

Where are salted nut rolls made? ›

Pearson's Candy Company in St. Paul has been producing the Salted Nut Roll for nearly 80 years. Each day, 225,000 Salted Nut Rolls roll down conveyors inside Pearson's Candy Company on West 7th Street in St. Paul.

What is the salted cold foam made of? ›

If you aren't familiar with cold foam, it's made out of low-fat milk frothed up to make a thick heavy cream without ever actually pouring in 'real cream. ' To get that salted cream flavor, you'll blend in a little bit of sea salt in the milk. It's what makes that nice salty & sweet blend.

References

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