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Make Christmas candy in your slow cooker. It’s a decadent chocolate treat with the addition of peanuts and pecans. Add some holiday sprinkles, and you have another treat for your holiday cookie trays.
Forget oven baking all your treats this year and put your slow cooker to use. Also, try my candied pecan recipe to go along with this Christmas Candy!
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This will be my third year making this. It is so delicious! I make them in mini muffin cups and I have also spread it on a cookie sheet and broke it up like bark. My family seriously can’t get enough! It’s dangerous .
– gina
What is Crockpot Candy?
- Crockpot candy is a blend of almond bark and peanuts. There are many variations and mine has the addition of peanut butter to make it less hard and easier on the teeth.
- Christmas Candy is perfect for gift giving in trays or tins and also for having around on Christmas Day.
Key Ingredients
Almond Bark – You can usually find the almond bark on the baking aisle during the holiday season. If you can’t find it there I always have luck finding it a craft store such as Michael’s (or any craft store).
Dark chocolate chips – If you prefer you can use milk or semi-sweet chocolate chips.
Creamy Peanut butter – Adding peanut butter will keep the candy from being rock hard.
Peanuts – Find dry roasted peanuts or regular salted peanuts.
Pecans – Adding chopped pecans will add another layer of flavor and texture.
Sprinkles – You can use Christmas sprinkles or even fall sprinkles.
How to Make Crockpot Christmas Candy
- Load the crockpot with the nuts and chocolates and let everything melt together.
- Stir every 20 minutes until smooth.
- Scoop into liners, add sprinkles, chill, and you’re done.
What is almond bark?
- Almond bark has a similar texture and flavor to chocolate. Almond bark is made with vegetable fats instead of cocoa butter.
- Almond bark is cheaper than chocolate and is great for bulk recipes like crockpot candy.
- You still need to stir almond bark often for it can burn just like chocolate.
How to package crockpot candy for gifts
- You can prepare crockpot candy in muffin liners OR just scoop directly on wax paper into clusters.
- Place in clear bags with ribbon.
- Put on cookie trays or in tins with your other cookies or fudge. This candy makes perfect gifts for friends and neighbors.
Variations
Rice Krispies – Replace the peanuts with Rice Krispies, though you’ll want to stir them in after the chocolate melts.
Pretzels – Use 2 cups of slightly crushed pretzels instead of peanuts.
Chow mein noodles (crunchy) – You can make this candy with crunchy chow mein noodles; wait to add them until after the almond bark and chocolate have melted.
How to Store
I store these in ziplock bags or Tupperware, just as I do with homemade fudge. Crockpot candy can last in the fridge for two weeks. You can also put it in the freezer though it may not look as pretty when thawed.
Crockpot Christmas Candy
How to Video
Equipment
- 36 Cupcake liners
- Muffin tins
- A 2 tablespoon cookie scoop
Ingredients
- 2 cups peanuts, dry roasted or regular salted.
- 1 cup chopped pecans
- 1 1/2 cups creamy peanut butter
- 1 lb. vanilla almond bark
- 1 lb. chocolate almond bark
- 12 oz. dark chocolate chips
- 1/4 cup Christmas sprinkles, optional
Instructions
- Toss all ingredients, except for the sprinkles, into your slow cooker. Place on low for 2 hours or high for one hour, stirring about every 20 minutes.
- Once your candy is completely melted and combined, place 2 tablespoons into each cupcake liner in a regular sized muffin tin. This helps to keep the candy’s shape. Top with desired Christmas sprinkles and place into your fridge for 1-2 hours until firm.
- Once they are set, enjoy!
Sarah’s Notes
Nutrition
Nutrition info is auto-generated. This information is an estimate; if you are on a special diet, please use your own calculations.
More slow cooker candies
Butterscotch Haystacks, Avalanche Cookies, and White Chocolate Cranberry Clusters are quick, no-bake treats that add variety to any holiday dessert table.
Slow Cooker Cinnamon Almonds, Slow Cooker Turtles, and Slow Cooker Peanut Clusters are effortless crockpot candies that make great homemade gifts.
Almond Joy Candies bring that nostalgic chocolate-coconut flavor and fit perfectly into any Christmas candy lineup.
I have been making this recipe for a couple of years now. It is so easy and everyone loves it. Getting ready to make a second batch this weekend.
can this recipe be made without the peanut butter and still be good? May family doesn’t like peanut butter.
You can BUT it will be a harder candy.
How is everyone using 36 liners but only a 12 muffin tin? Are you able to pour this directly into a muffin liner without using a muffin pan? Sorry for the confusion here. Also, do you have to spray your liners first?
You don’t have to spray the liners first. If you don’t have extra muffin tins you can do clusters on parchement paper. If you add the mix directly to a muffin tin it will be really hard to remove (even if sprayed).
Thank you!
Wow, after making complicated fudge recipes for 50 years, making this was a breeze. I used the Ghirardelli melting wafers & this turned out delicious. I also used the honey roasted peanuts, then to half of it I added some miniature marshmallows ( I have grandchildren) & marshmallows are always a hit. Thanks so much for giving me an easy, fun recipe. Happy Holidays!
I’m on Nova Scotia and have not seen the bark in my local grocery. Is it labelled bark ?
It may not be available in your area, I apologize.
I make this in festive silicone molds. They are so yummy and adorable! Add a pinch of star shaped gold edible glitter to the top!
Such a great idea Kelly! I will have to try.
Has anyone tried putting raisins in?
This will be my third year making this. It is so delicious! I make them in mini muffin cups and I have also spread it on a cookie sheet and broke it up like bark. My family seriously can’t get enough! It’s dangerous .
This came out wonderful for my first time. Do the candies need to remain in fridge after they have become firm. I want to place in candy gift bags and wanted to know how to store.
Hi! They do not need to remain in the fridge. As long as your house isn’t really hot (like summer time) then they will hold up just fine!
I made this last year and it was great. This year however, not so much. The mixture melted but didn’t get liquid enough to scoop out and started to burn around the edges, even on low. Ended up throwing the whole batch away. Wondering if the almond bark was old as I’ve had it since January 2023, but there wasn’t an expiration date. The taste was good but not the texture.
Can you use chocolate melts instead of the bark?
Yes! Use the same weight.