These peanut clusters are the ultimate no-bake holiday treat. Made with just four simple ingredients (chocolate, peanut butter and roasted peanuts), this chocolate peanut cluster recipe is perfect for Christmas cookie exchanges, gift-giving or whenever you fancy a sweet treat.
Making peanut clusters in a slow cooker is much easier than traditional baking methods. Just mix your ingredients, put them in the slow cooker, and let it do its thing. You’ll have delicious, chocolate-covered peanut snacks ready to go in no time.
What You Need For Crockpot Peanut Clusters:
Chocolate: You can mix and match chocolate types. A mix of dark and semi-sweet chocolate is the best choice, but you can use all milk chocolate for a sweeter treat, or add white chocolate for a pretty look.
Peanut Butter: Creamy peanut butter is the best choice because it melts easily. Avoid natural peanut butter as the oil separation can affect the texture.
Peanuts: For best results, use dry roasted or cocktail peanuts. Don’t use honey-roasted peanuts, as they make the clusters too sweet and sticky.
How to Make Peanut Clusters
Step 1: Add chocolate to your slow cooker. Put both bags of chocolate chips in your slow cooker. You don’t need to grease the pot—the chocolate will melt without sticking.
Step 2: Add peanut butter and peanuts. Pour the peanut butter over the chocolate chips. Then add all the roasted peanuts on top. Do not stir at this stage.
Step 3: Melt on a low heat. Put your crockpot on a low heat setting and put the lid on. Let everything melt for one hour without stirring. This slow melting process makes sure the chocolate melts evenly and smoothly.
Step 4: Stir and Keep Melting. After 1 hour, stir the mixture thoroughly to mix all the ingredients together. Put the lid back on and keep cooking, stirring every 15 minutes, until the chocolate has completely melted and is smooth (this will take another 20-30 minutes).
Step 5: Pour onto baking paper. Line a baking sheet or mini muffin tin with baking paper. Use a cookie scoop or two spoons to put small amounts of the peanut cluster mixture onto the prepared surface. Work quickly before the chocolate starts to set.
Step 6: Add decorations (if you want to). If you like, you can sprinkle holiday-themed sprinkles, crushed candy canes, or sea salt on top while the chocolate is still warm.
Step 7: Let Set. Let the peanut clusters cool on the kitchen counter for 1-2 hours, or put them in the fridge for 30 minutes until they are completely hard.
How to Store Peanut Clusters:
Room Temperature: Store in an airtight container in a cool, dry place for up to two weeks. Put layers on top of each other between sheets of parchment paper to stop them sticking.
Refrigerator: Store in the fridge in an airtight container for up to a month. This is perfect for when it’s warmer and chocolate can soften at room temperature.
Freezer: Peanut clusters freeze really well! Here’s how:
- Leave the clusters to set completely before freezing.
- Put them in a freezer-safe airtight container or a zip-top bag.
- Layer them between sheets of parchment paper.
- Freeze them for up to 4 months.
- Thaw them at room temperature for 10-15 minutes before serving.
What are the best peanuts for peanut clusters?
For this recipe, use dry roasted peanuts or cocktail peanuts. These varieties have a neutral flavour that goes well with chocolate without making it taste extra sweet. Avoid honey-roasted peanuts, as they can make the clusters too sweet and sticky.
Can I make peanut clusters without using a slow cooker?
Yes! You can make peanut clusters on the stovetop using a double boiler or in the microwave. To use the microwave method, melt the chocolate and peanut butter in 30-second intervals, stirring in between each interval, until the mixture is smooth. Then add the peanuts and mix it all together.
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Crockpot Peanut Clusters Recipe
Learn how to make delicious chocolate peanut clusters using your slow cooker! This easy recipe uses just four ingredients and can be made in 90 minutes. You don't need to bake it!
Ingredients
- 16 oz (1 bag) dark chocolate chips – gives a rich chocolate flavour
- 16 oz (1 bag) semi-sweet chocolate chips – balances the sweetness
- 1 cup creamy peanut butter – makes it smooth and adds peanut flavour
- 4 cups dry roasted peanuts (or cocktail peanuts) – the most important ingredient
- Optional: You can use white chocolate chips, milk chocolate chips, or holiday sprinkles to decorate.
Instructions
- Add chocolate to your slow cooker. Put both bags of chocolate chips in your slow cooker. You don't need to grease the pot—the chocolate will melt without sticking.
- Add peanut butter and peanuts. Pour the peanut butter over the chocolate chips. Then add all the roasted peanuts on top. Do not stir at this stage.
- Melt on a low heat. Put your crockpot on a low heat setting and put the lid on. Let everything melt for one hour without stirring. This slow melting process makes sure the chocolate melts evenly and smoothly.
- Stir and Keep Melting. After 1 hour, stir the mixture thoroughly to mix all the ingredients together. Put the lid back on and keep cooking, stirring every 15 minutes, until the chocolate has completely melted and is smooth (this will take another 20-30 minutes).
- Put the mixture onto the parchment paper. Line a baking sheet or mini muffin tin with parchment paper. Use a cookie scoop or two spoons to put small amounts of the peanut cluster mixture onto the prepared surface. Work quickly before the chocolate starts to set.
- Add decorations (if you want to). If you like, you can sprinkle holiday-themed sprinkles, crushed candy canes, or sea salt on top while the chocolate is still warm.
- Let Set. Let the peanut clusters cool on the kitchen counter for 1-2 hours, or put them in the fridge for 30 minutes until they are completely hard.
Notes
- Use a cookie scoop: A medium cookie scoop makes evenly sized clusters that look like they were made by a pro and are easy to portion.
- Don't overheat it: Keep the slow cooker on a low setting to stop the chocolate from burning or going hard.
- It's better to work in batches. If your mixture starts to go hard while you're scooping it up, just put it back in the warm crockpot for a short time.
- Store it properly: Keep the finished clusters somewhere cool and dry to keep them from going floppy.
- Size matters: Smaller clusters set faster and are easier to portion for gift-giving.
Nutrition Information:
Yield: 50 Serving Size: 1Amount Per Serving: Calories: 150Total Fat: 10gTrans Fat: 0gCarbohydrates: 12gSugar: 8gProtein: 5g
Sos Recipes is not staffed by nutritionists or dietitians, and any provided nutritional information is an approximation. If calorie count and nutritional value are crucial to you, we suggest inputting the ingredients into your preferred online nutritional calculator. The actual calorie and nutritional content may differ based on the brands used.