Description
Peanut Butter Fritos Candy is a delightful sweet and salty treat combining crunchy Fritos corn chips coated in a glossy, rich peanut butter and caramel-like syrup. Easy to make with just a few pantry ingredients, this candy offers a perfect balance of sweetness, saltiness, and texture, ideal for snack time or sharing at gatherings.
Ingredients
Scale
Main Ingredients
- 1 bag (9–10 oz) Fritos corn chips
- 1 cup creamy peanut butter
- 1 cup granulated sugar
- 1 cup light corn syrup
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
Instructions
- Prepare the baking sheet: Line a baking sheet with parchment paper or wax paper and set it aside to cool the candy later.
- Prepare the Fritos: Pour the Fritos corn chips into a large heatproof bowl. Gently break up any large clumps to ensure even coating with the peanut butter mixture.
- Make the syrup: In a medium saucepan, combine granulated sugar and light corn syrup. Heat over medium heat while stirring constantly until the sugar dissolves and the mixture comes to a gentle boil. Cook the boiling mixture for just 1 minute to avoid overcooking, then remove from heat immediately.
- Incorporate peanut butter and vanilla: Off the heat, stir in the creamy peanut butter and vanilla extract until the mixture becomes smooth, glossy, thick, but still pourable.
- Coat the Fritos: Pour the warm peanut butter mixture over the Fritos in the bowl. Use a spatula to gently fold and mix the chips until they are evenly coated without crushing them, preserving their crunch.
- Shape the candy: Spoon the coated Fritos mixture onto the prepared baking sheet. You can drop spoonfuls for clusters, press into a slab to cut later, or shape into rustic mounds as desired.
- Set the candy: Allow the candy to cool at room temperature for 30 to 45 minutes until fully set and firm.
Notes
- Be careful not to overcook the syrup to prevent the candy from becoming too hard.
- Use a spatula gently to avoid crushing the Fritos and maintain their texture.
- The candy can be stored in an airtight container at room temperature for up to one week.
- You can customize this treat by adding chopped nuts or sprinkling sea salt on top before it sets for extra flavor.
- If desired, use chunky peanut butter for added texture.
