These homemade Salted Caramel Nut Rolls start with a shortcut fluffy nougat, then coated in golden caramel and rolled in salty peanuts into logs. No candy thermometer needed to make these halfway-homemade candy bars that starts with the microwave! Perfect for gift giving at the holidays or quick energy pick-me-up from the protein in the crunchy peanuts.
Any homemade candy with golden caramel and salty peanuts is a winner in my book, especially when it is a copycat version of one of my favorites (Pearson's Salted Nut Roll) and doesn't involve a candy thermometer! I'll share all my shortcuts with you like using the microwave!
Pearson's candy company has been making Salted Nut Rolls for almost a century. I love those sweet and salty logs, but I can't always find them in my Alabama town so I like to make my own.
Honestly, the thought of making homemade vanilla nougat using a candy thermometer and timing the beaten egg whites just right makes me want to settle for a cookie, instead.
Luckily, with this super easy shortcut nougat trick, you don't need any fancy ingredients or equipment. Also, I just melt soft caramel candies instead of starting from scratch on that, too.
What's the shortcut?
- First, making a fluffy vanilla nougat from powdered sugar and marshmallows. Pure genius.
- Melting soft caramel candies instead of making caramel from scratch. No brainer there.
- I use the microwave to melt both the marshmallows and caramels. Boom! Easy peazy.
- Using miniature marshmallows. (Marshmallow creme is messy and sticky.)
- Finally, not having to wait all day for the nougat to firm up by putting it in the freezer for awhile.
Pro tip: I like mini marshmallows or even regular size marshmallows better than marshmallow creme in the tub because there's no mess. Marshmallow creme sticks to everything and is hard to get out of the tub and off the spoon. Truth.
Ingredients you will need
Scroll down to printable recipe for ingredient quantities.
- Miniature or regular marshmallows
- Butter
- Powdered sugar (also called confectioners sugar)
- Vanilla extract
- Soft caramel candies ( I used Kraft)
- 1 tablespoon water or whipping cream
- Salted, skinless (cocktail) peanuts. I prefer cocktail peanuts over dry roasted peanuts because, well, they aren't so "dry". I get mine from the Alabama Peanut Producers Association whenever I can to support Alabama farmers.
How to make Shortcut Salted Caramel Nut Rolls
Scroll down to the bottom for the printable recipe with detailed instructions.
- Melt marshmallows and butter in a large bowl in the microwave. (See printable recipe below for times and stovetop variation.) Add vanilla.
- Gradually stir in powdered sugar. It's ok to use your hands to "knead" in the last little bit.
- Shape the marshmallow nougat into 5-inch logs. Chill in the freezer for about 30 minutes to an hour or until firm.
Tip: My microwave is 1200 watts so adjust the time a bit up or down according to your microwave's wattage.
- Meanwhile unwrap the caramels and melt in the microwave with water. (Stovetop melting directions in NOTES of recipe below.)
- Pour melted caramel in one shallow bowl and peanuts in another one.
- Working quickly with one log at a time (keep remaining logs in fridge), and using two forks, coat the log with caramel.
- Immediately, roll the caramel-coated log in the peanuts.
- When the caramel has cooled, wrap each log in wax or parchment paper.
Substitutions & Variations
- Marshmallows- Miniature marshmallows melt quickly. Ten ounces of regular size marshmallows can also be used, you'll just have to stir the mixture a bit longer for them to melt. A 7-ounce tub of marshmallow creme can be used if that's what you have on hand.
- Powdered sugar- No real substitute for this but make sure it is lump-free. You may have to shake it through a sifter or fine metal strainer if yours has lumps from being exposed to moisture. Also called confectioner's sugar.
- Vanilla extract- I prefer vanilla but if you love almond-flavored nougat don't overdo it. 1/2 teaspoon of almond extract goes a long way. I personally think it fights with the flavor of the peanuts, but hey, it is a "nut" roll.
- Caramel- I used individually wrapped soft caramel candies because I always have them on hand and buy them when they are on sale. You can also use caramel tidbits found near the bags of chocolate chips. Just use about 16 ounces of either one.
- Peanuts- You really can't go wrong here but if you want your nut rolls to look most like Pearson's use salted skinless peanuts like cocktail peanuts. Dry roasted peanuts will also work. Just don't use "raw" peanuts which are dried but not roasted.
- Other Nuts- If peanuts are not your favorite nut or someone in your family has a peanut allergy, other coarsely chopped nuts can be use like pecans, walnuts, pistachios, almonds, and macadamia nuts.
How to give Salted Caramel Nut Rolls as a gift
If these candy bar logs are someone's favorite candy, surprise them at Valentine's Day or Christmas by making them yourself. The recipe also makes plenty for Christmas food gifts, cookie swaps, or goody trays.
Wrap individual nut rolls in waxed or parchment paper. Pinch the ends together and secure with string or ribbon. Tie a gift tag on with the string. These sweet and salty treats make perfect holiday and Valentines Day gifts.
Storage
Shortcut Salted Caramel Nut Rolls can be stored at room temperature or in the refrigerator. They will stay fresher if first wrapped in wax or parchment paper. This also prevents the caramel from becoming sticky if stored in the fridge. They can also just be placed in zip-top plastic bags, then laid on a cookie sheet to keep them flat or in airtight containers.
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Want more shortcut candy recipes?
Shortcut Salted Caramel Nut Rolls (Peanuts & Nougat)
Equipment
- Microwave
Ingredients
- 1 10-ounce package miniature or regular marshmallows
- 2 tablespoons salted or unsalted butter
- 3 cups confectioner's powdered sugar
- 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
- Parchment or wax paper
- 1 1/2 11-ounce packages soft caramels (I used 54 pieces Kraft caramels)
- 1 tablespoon water or whipping cream
- 1 12-ounce can salted, skinless peanuts (3 cups), coarsely chopped or whole
Instructions
- Place the marshmallows and butter in a large (3-quart) microwave safe glass bowl. For mini marshmallows, microwave, uncovered, on HIGH for 1 minute, stir until marshmallows are completely melted and mixture is smooth. (For regular size marshmallows, microwave 1 minute 15 seconds.)
- Add vanilla. Gradually stir in powdered sugar until all sugar is incorporated. It’s ok to use clean hands to “knead” the mixture to incorporate the sugar at the end. Mixture will be fairly stiff.
- Shape marshmallow “nougat” into six (5-inch-long) logs, about 3/4-inch-thick. Place on a parchment-lined plate in the freezer for about 30 minutes or until firm.
- Meanwhile, unwrap the caramels. Combine caramels and water in a microwave-safe glass bowl. Microwave at HIGH for 1 minute; stir well. Microwave an additional 15 seconds; stir until smooth. Microwave an additional 15 seconds and stir until all caramels have melted.
- Place whole or coarsely chopped peanuts on a plate or shallow bowl. Cut 6 pieces of parchment or wax paper (about 12x8”).
- Working quickly with one nougat log at a time, coat with melted caramel, using two forks. (Keep remaining logs in the fridge until ready to coat.) Using the same two forks, place the coated logs onto the pile of peanuts.
- Once the bottom of a log is covered in peanuts, use cean hands to roll and gently press peanuts into all areas. Place the log on a piece of parchment paper. When the caramel has cooled, roll it up and twist both ends to seal it. Tie curling ribbon around the ends for gifting, if desired.
Notes
- Marshmallows- Miniature marshmallows melt quickly. Ten ounces of regular size marshmallows can also be used, you'll just have to stir the mixture a bit longer for them to melt. A 7-ounce tub of marshmallow creme can be used if that's what you have on hand.
- Powdered sugar- No real substitute for this but make sure it is lump-free. You may have to shake it through a sifter or fine metal strainer if yours has lumps from being exposed to moisture.
- Vanilla extract- I prefer vanilla but if you love almond-flavored nougat don't overdo it. 1/2 teaspoon of almond extract goes a long way. I personally think it fights with the flavor of the peanuts, but hey, it is a "nut" roll.
- Caramel- I used individually wrapped soft caramel candies because I always have them on hand and buy them when they are on sale. You can also use caramel tidbits found near the bags of chocolate chips. Just use about 16 ounces of either one.
- Peanuts- You really can't go wrong here but if you want your nut rolls to look most like Pearson's use salted skinless peanuts like cocktail peanuts. Dry roasted peanuts will also work. Just don't use "raw" peanuts which are dried but not roasted.
Nutrition
Nutrition analysis on GritsAndGouda.com recipes are mostly calculated on an online nutrition calculator. I am not a dietitian and nutritional information is an estimate and can vary based on products used.
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