Peanut Butter Maple Fudge

1 1/2 cups maple syrup
3/4 cup whole milk
1 teaspoon vanilla
4 tablespoons crunchy natural peanut butter
1/4 teaspoon salt
1/3 cup chopped peanuts, optional

Mix syrup and milk together in a large saucepan. Boil mixture on high heat without stirring until it reaches 238�F on a candy thermometer (soft ball stage). This will take 10 to 15 minutes. Remove from heat and cool. Mix peanut butter, vanilla, salt and peanuts together. Beat peanut butter into cooled syrup/milk with a wooden spoon until it loses its gloss. Pat fudge into buttered 8-inch square baking pan and smooth with the back of the spoon. Mark it into squares and let it cool several hours before cutting. Makes 16 squares.