If you’re in the mood for an easy no-bake treat that will satisfy those cravings for something crunchy, chocolatey-sweet, and salty, then these Crockpot Chocolate Peanut Clusters are a must-try! These peanut butter clusters dipped in chocolate are made with minimal ingredients that you are likely to already have in the pantry.
This recipe is as easy as adding all ingredients to the slow cooker and then scooping the mixture into single cluster servings on a cookie tray for freezing before serving! You can even get creative and make caramel chocolate peanut clusters by using my homemade caramel sauce in this Pumpkin Bread Pudding recipe.
Just like these Chocolate Coconut Balls, these chocolate peanut clusters are ideal for adding to charcuterie dessert boards, gifting to friends and family on special occasions, or as a tasty post-dinner sweet treat. And if you love all things chocolate and peanut butter that doesn’t require any baking, make sure to add these Chocolate Peanut Butter Hearts and my Peanut Butter Chocolate Ice Cream Pie to your list!
- You only need a maximum of 5 ingredients to make these addictive candies;
- They’re a no-bake treat that can easily be made with the help of your kids;
- They can be made well in advance of the holidays or stored away as treats to serve whenever required;
- They make adorable homemade holiday gifts that can be stacked in cello bags with decorative ribbons and tags for teachers, family, and friends.
What Ingredients do I Need for Chocolate Peanut Clusters?
- Chocolate melting wafers – semi-sweet or dark chocolate melting wafers can be used.
- Chocolate chips – I’ve used a combination of white chocolate chips and milk chocolate chips. You can also use semi-sweet chocolate chips or white almond bark instead of white chocolate chips.
- Peanut butter – Creamy peanut butter is best. Stay away from natural peanut butter as this can be very dry and affect the clusters.
- Peanuts – I love the flavor that dry roasted peanuts provide. Raw peanuts could also be used.
PRO TIP: I always try to find ways to reduce excess cleanup when cooking and baking which is why I highly recommend using a Crockpot liner and lining the baking sheets with parchment paper.
How to Make Chocolate Peanut Clusters
PREP: Add all of the chocolate peanut cluster ingredients to a Crockpot and set to low for 1 hour. After 30 minutes, check on the ingredients and stir well. Continue cooking for the remaining 30 minutes until the ingredients are fully melted and smooth (except for the peanuts).
ASSEMBLE AND CHILL: Scoop the melted chocolate peanut cluster mixture on a cookie tray lined with parchment paper, using a cookie scoop for ease. Make sure that the individual scoops of the mixture have enough space between them so that they don’t touch. Transfer to the freezer for 5 minutes to harden. Add the chilled chocolate peanut clusters to a serving tray and enjoy!
- Whichever type of nuts you decide to use, make sure that they are lightly salted so that you get a good balance of sweet and salty in your crockpot peanut clusters.
- You’ll need to watch that your chocolate doesn’t scorch in the crockpot and ensure that the setting is on low at all times.
- The oil in the peanut butter is important since it helps to smooth and bond the chocolate mixture. If you choose to make your clusters with a different nut then consider using the same nut butter. For example, if you choose to make chocolate almond clusters then use almond nut butter instead of peanut butter.
- You could also scoop your chocolate peanut cluster mixture into silicone muffin liners or cupcake liners when chilling them.
- Since these no-bake treats are so simple to make, they’re a great sweet treat to make with kids. Get them involved by helping you make homemade no-bake treats for their teachers, family, and friends!
Did you know that there’s a National Peanut Cluster Day on the 8th of March each year in the United States? I kid you not!
It’s a great excuse to make a batch of these scrumptious Chocolate Peanut Clusters in celebration of the winning sweet and salty combination of chocolate and peanuts that was introduced in the States once the process of turning chocolate into a moldable form was discovered by Joseph Fry (a British chocolatier in the 1800s).
- You could use dark chocolate instead of milk chocolate. While kids tend to enjoy the sweeter milk chocolate, 60% dark chocolate is a great treat for the slightly older palate or those who enjoy less sweetness.
- If you’re making these chocolate peanut clusters for Christmas, try adding some peppermint extract to the melted chocolate for a holiday version.
- Create some fancy-looking chocolate peanut clusters by drizzling some melted white chocolate on top once the milk chocolate coating is dry.
- You could make caramel peanut clusters using my caramel sauce in this Pumpkin Bread Pudding recipe, let them chill in the refrigerator, and then coat them with melted chocolate for a sweet and salty caramel chocolate peanut cluster recipe! This variation will require you to make your peanut clusters the old-fashioned way, melting your chocolate on the stovetop instead of adding all ingredients to the crockpot.
- Instead of using peanuts, you could make these clusters with almonds, cashews, or macadamia nuts!
- You can substitute peanut butter chips for peanut butter if you wish.
- White melting chocolate can be used if you prefer to make these as white chocolate treats.
These Chocolate Peanut Clusters are essentially clusters of peanuts held together by melted chocolate and creamy peanut butter, then scooped onto parchment paper and chilled till solid.
They are incredibly easy to make with minimal ingredients required yet are some of the most delicious and addictive no-bake treats I’ve enjoyed and are super popular with kids and adults alike.
Whether you have leftovers or want to make some chocolate peanut clusters ahead of time, store them in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 2 weeks or in the freezer for up to 3 months.
When ready to enjoy, simply serve them chilled or allow any frozen clusters to thaw in the refrigerator first before serving.
Yes, absolutely! If you don’t have a crockpot or prefer to make these treats using a different method, then you can do so by following these simple steps:
1. Melt your chocolate in the microwave or in a bowl over boiling water;
2. Add in your peanut butter and occasionally stir until the mixture is smooth;
3. Remove the mixture from the heat and pour in the peanuts, mixing until they are all well coated (you could also add some mini marshmallows if you like);
4. Once coated, follow step 4 onwards of my recipe directions.
Chocolate Peanut Clusters
Ingredients
- 10 oz. semisweet or dark chocolate melting wafers
- 12 oz. white chocolate chips
- 12 oz. milk chocolate chips
- 1 cup creamy peanut butter
- 16 oz. dry roasted peanuts
Instructions
- Place all of the ingredients into a crockpot (you can use a crockpot liner if desired for easy cleanup).
- Turn the crockpot on to the low setting for 1 hour. After about 30 minutes, check on the ingredients – if they are looking glossy and beginning to melt, give everything a good stir.
- Continue heating until the mixture is completely smooth (except for the peanuts), stirring occasionally.
- When all ingredients are thoroughly combined, line two cookie sheets with parchment paper. Use a cookie scoop to make even scoops of the peanut mixture and place each scoop onto the parchment paper. Leave just enough room between each cluster that they don’t run into each other.
- Place the full cookie sheet into the freezer for 5 minutes to chill and allow the peanut clusters to harden.
- Lift chilled peanut clusters from the cookie sheets onto a serving tray.
Nutrition
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