These Crockpot Chocolate Peanut Clusters are easy to make and require just 6 simple ingredients. Enjoy this salty, crunchy, and chocolatey dessert as a snack, or add to any homemade holiday gift!
The crock pot is not just for savory recipes. In fact, you can use the crock pot to make many different types of dessert recipes, including chocolate peanut clusters!
Chocolate peanut clusters are a classic combination that just works! Smooth chocolate is melted, then mixed with crunchy, salty peanuts until coated. Once mixed together, portion them out into bite-sized pieces and let them cool for a few hours to harden.
While this recipe is traditionally made on the stovetop, you can use your slow cooker to do all the work! Enjoy this chocolate crock pot candy as a quick, sweet, and crunchy snack, or add it to a gift basket for any occasion!
Why You’ll Love This Recipe
- This crock pot dessert couldn't be easier to make. No baking or stovetop cooking is required!
- The slow cooker also helps make sure that the chocolate won’t burn. Since slow cookers keep a consistent temperature, it's easy to control the heat.
- You can change up the type of chocolate or the type of nuts you use to make it your own.
- It's a great thing to make when you're in a pinch and need a delicious dessert that also makes a great snack!
Ingredients You’ll Need
- Dry Roasted Peanuts - This crunchy and salty nut has a great flavor and is even better paired with the taste of sweet chocolate.
- Butterscotch Chips - Adds a layer of butterscotch flavor to the mix that complements the chocolate and peanut flavor.
- Chocolate Chips - A mixture of milk chocolate and semi-sweet chocolate chips gives these peanut clusters a great chocolate flavor.
- White Almond Bark - This baking ingredient helps ensure the chocolate coating hardens after it sets.
- Toffee Chips - This dessert texture and rich toffee flavor are present throughout the candy.
How To Make Peanut Clusters In The Crock Pot
Prepare the crock pot: Spray the inside of the crock pot with a light layer of non-stick cooking spray.
Add ingredients in layers: To the bottom of the crock pot, add the peanuts, butterscotch, milk chocolate chips, semi-sweet chocolate chips, almond bark, and toffee chips in layers. Cover and Do Not Stir!
Slow cook the chocolate: Let the mixture slow cook for one hour, then stir it. Cook for an additional hour, being sure to stir every 15 minutes.
Let the candy harden: As the chocolate is cooking, add parchment paper to a large baking sheet. Use a tablespoon scoop to add even scoops of clusters to the baking sheet.
Chill and serve: Add the baking sheet to the fridge and let the clusters harden. This should take about one hour. Once the chocolate is fully hardened, enjoy!
Recipe Tips
- The crock pot will create steam as the chocolate gets melted. It is VERY important that you don't let water from the lid into the chocolate mixture as this will ruin the flavor and cause the chocolate not to emulsify properly.
- When adding the ingredients to the crock pot, it's important not to stir as this will cause the chocolate to seize up and be too thick, preventing it from being properly mixed with all of the ingredients.
- The time it takes for the chocolate to melt fully will depend on the size of the chocolate chips and your crock pot. Check on the chocolate at the 45-minute mark to judge the consistency before stirring.
Variations
- Topping Ideas: Before the chocolate hardens, sprinkle with coarse sea salt, toasted coconut flakes, or mini marshmallows for different flavor variations.
- Chocolate Options: Use dark chocolate chips or white chocolate chips as an alternative to milk and semi-sweet chocolate.
- Add dried fruit: Add some dried cranberries, cherries, blueberries, or apricots to the crock pot recipe for a tangy flavor.
- Change up the nuts: You can use cashews, almonds, walnuts, or even sunflower seeds in place of the peanuts. Just make sure they are roasted nuts.
- Add flavor extract: For a more intense flavor, add ½ teaspoon of almond extract or vanilla extract to the crock pot.
Storing & Freezing
Storing: Once the peanut clusters are hardened, store them in an airtight container at room temperature for up to one week.
Freezing: Place layers of parchment paper between the candy and store in a freezer-safe container for up to 3 months.
FAQ
It typically takes about one hour for the chocolate to be fully melted. Check-in on it around the 45-minute mark to judge consistency before stirring.
Yes, parchment paper is essential as it prevents the clusters from sticking together and will help them harden more quickly.
Yes, you can place the clusters on a parchment-lined baking sheet and freeze them for 30-45 minutes. This will help them harden faster and make them easier to store.
More Crock Pot Dessert Recipes
- Slow Cooker Hot Chocolate
- Crock Pot Blueberry Cobbler
- Cracker Barrel Fried Apples {Slow Cooker}
- Slow Cooker Sticky Buns
- Crock Pot Apple Crisp
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Crockpot Chocolate Peanut Clusters
Ingredients
- 32 oz salted, dry-roasted peanuts (2 jars)
- 22 oz butterscotch chips (2 bags)
- 16 oz milk chocolate chips (1½ bags)
- 12 oz semi-sweet chocolate chips (1bag)
- 2 lbs white almond bark or vanilla candy coating chips
- ⅓ cup toffee chips
Instructions
- Coat a 6-quart crock pot with non-stick cooking spray.
- Add layers of peanuts, butterscotch, milk chocolate chips, semi-sweet chocolate chips, almond bark, and toffee chips. Cover and Do Not Stir!
- Cook on low for 1 hour, then stir everything and continue to cook for one more hour. Continue to stir every 15 minutes.
- Line a baking sheet with parchment paper. Using a tablespoon size scoop, scoop onto a parchment-lined baking sheet about 1 inch apart.
- Chill in the fridge for 60 minutes.
Notes
- Do Not Get Water In The Chocolate: When removing the lid to stir and when the chocolate is done cooking. Be careful not to let the condensation from the lid get into the chocolate. Wipe the lid down with a dish towel before adding it back onto the Crock Pot.
- Add decorative sprinkles or sea salt before the chocolate hardens to make them more festive.
Nutrition
*Nutrition information is an estimate. It may vary based on ingredients, brands, and changes in cooking methods listed in the recipe. If you need exact ingredient numbers, I recommend calculating them with your preferred nutrition calculator.
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