3 cups sugar, divided
3/4 cup milk
1 tsp. vanilla
2 cups peanuts

Bring 2 cups sugar and milk to a boil; cook slowly for 7-8 minutes, stirring only long enough to dissolve sugar.

Melt remaining sugar in cast iron pan; pour into cooked mixture. Slowly add vanilla; beat with spoon until slightly thickened.

Pour peanuts into a 9x13-inch buttered pan. Pour thickened mixture over peanuts evenly.

Cool several hours or overnight.