Layered Chocolate Caramel Candy

Source: Very Best Baking/Nestles

A finalist of the 2002/2003 Better Homes and Garden's & Nestlé Toll House "Share the Very Best Recipe" contest is Kori Hall of Kansas City, MO with her prize winning caramel candy. This recipe features milk chocolate and butterscotch morsels melted with peanut butter and topped with a marshmallow and caramel layer.



1 recipe CHOCOLATE LAYER
1 3/4 cups (11.5-oz. pkg.) NESTLÉ TOLL HOUSE Milk Chocolate Morsels, divided
1/2 cup NESTLÉ TOLL HOUSE Butterscotch Flavored Morsels, divided
3/4 cup creamy peanut butter, divided
1 recipe MARSHMALLOW LAYER
1/4 cup (1/2 stick) butter
1 cup granulated sugar
1/4 cup CARNATION Evaporated Milk
1 jar (7 oz.) marshmallow creme
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
1 1/2 cups lightly salted peanuts, coarsely chopped
1 recipe CARAMEL LAYER
1 pkg. (14 oz.) vanilla caramels
1/4 cup heavy whipping cream

LINE 13 x 9-inch baking pan with foil; grease foil with butter.

FOR CHOCOLATE LAYER:
HEAT 1 cup milk chocolate morsels, 1/4 cup butterscotch morsels and 1/4 cup peanut butter in small saucepan over low heat, stirring frequently, until melted. Spread chocolate mixture over bottom of prepared baking pan; cover. Refrigerate for 20 minutes or until set.

FOR MARSHMALLOW LAYER:
MELT butter in heavy-duty saucepan over medium heat. Add granulated sugar and evaporated milk; heat to a boil. Cook, stirring occasionally, until sugar is dissolved. Reduce heat until mixture comes just to a boil. Heat for 5 minutes (do not stir); remove from heat. Stir in marshmallow creme, 1/4 cup peanut butter and vanilla extract. Stir in nuts. Carefully spoon marshmallow layer over chocolate layer; cover. Refrigerate for 20 minutes or until set.

FOR CARAMEL LAYER:
HEAT caramels and whipping cream in medium saucepan over low heat, stirring frequently, until caramels are melted and mixture is smooth. Spread caramel mixture over marshmallow layer; cover. Refrigerate for 15 to 30 minutes or until set.

FOR TOPPING:
HEAT remaining morsels and remaining peanut butter in small saucepan over low heat, stirring frequently, until mixture is smooth. Spread over caramel layer. Refrigerate at least 2 hours or overnight.

USE foil to lift candy from baking pan; remove foil. Cut into 1-inch pieces. Store in airtight container in refrigerator for up to 1 week.