If there is an official Olson family candy bar, it would be the Nut Goodie. They are even made in Minnesota like all good Olson’s. When any of us goes back to the mother country, we always bring some home with us. We love the maple flavor.
My favorite Gkid, you know the one, has always been the Nut Goodie assistant. We can’t make them without him. Let me rephrase that, we refuse to make them without him because they always turn out extra creamy good when he’s helping. And even though he’s in college now, we try and work candy production around his holiday homecoming.
Even though there are only a few steps, you really don’t want to rush them. Chilling is very important in each layer. We usually make a layer, play a game, have lunch, play a game, make a layer, play a game. We have so much fun cooking with the Gkids, we make it last as long as possible. The process will only take about an hour, so multi-tasking is a great option here. Since you won’t be using your mixer or oven for the candy, you can easily mix up a batch of cookies to make at the same time the layers are chilling. Be sure and sneak in a game or 2 anyway.
Melt: 1 square unsweetened chocolate, 12 ounces milk chocolate chips, 12 ounces butterscotch chips together. Stir until smooth.
Add: 2 cups smooth peanut butter, stir until smooth.
Spread ½ mixture in a jelly roll pan (10 x 15) lined with foil and greased. Chill.
Filling:
Combine in a saucepan: ½ cup evaporated milk, 1 cup butter, ¼ cup dry vanilla pudding mix (NOT INSTANT), ¼ teaspoon salt, ½ teaspoon maple flavoring. Bring to a boil.
Add 2 pounds sifted powdered sugar. Beat to combine.
Spread over chilled layer.
Sprinkle with 1 pound Spanish peanuts.
Cover with remaining chocolate mixture.
Chill.
* From the Recipe Box:
The recipe as written above is from mom’s recipe box. Because I’m lazy, I typically add another ounce of chocolate chips rather than a square of chocolate. Also, I use semi-sweet chocolate chips instead of milk chocolate with no loss in taste appeal.
If you use the larger Virginia peanuts, I’d give them a rough chop. If the nuts are too big, the layers don’t stay together.
Nut Goodie Candy Bars are a Minnesota thing. We love them. It’s the maple. Mom got this recipe from a Minnesota cousin, but I can’t remember which one. Keenan is the principal helper; no Keenan, no Nut Goodies. And I’m pretty sure they are good for you.
and remember what Julia Child said: Learn how to cook – try new recipes, learn from your mistakes, be fearless and above all, have fun! Big kiss, Lynn
From the Recipe Box 