No oven needed for these easy peanut clusters. Warm the chocolate and peanuts in your slow cooker and make a big batch of these popular treats.
You will love this easy candy recipe! Also, try my candied pecans, sea salt almond clusters or Ritz cracker thin mints.
These peanut clusters (often called crockpot candy) will be the easiest Christmas dessert you will ever make. My version uses 4 types of baking chips instead of almond bark like other recipes use. I do not use almond bark for it can taste waxy. These clusters are perfect for filling up your holiday cookie trays.
How to make peanut clusters in the crockpot:
- Chips: I use 4 bags of baking chips; milk chocolate chips, semi-sweet chocolate chips, white chocolate chips (or vanilla), and peanut butter chips.
- Peanuts: Use dry-roasted salted peanuts. The saltiness offsets the sweetness from all the chocolate. I find these in the bulk section of the store.
How long do heat this for?
- Cook the chocolate and peanuts on LOW for about 1.5 hours. Stir OFTEN!
- Every slow cooker heats slightly different and this will burn if you don’t keep an eye on it.
How do I make the clusters?
- Turn off your slow cooker, and take the insert out of the heating element. It will continue to cook if you keep it on the heat.
- Line 3 cookie sheets with wax or parchment paper.
- Scoop the peanuts onto the cookie sheets. I use a medium-sized levered cookie scoop to do this. You can use a small one if desired.
- If you do not have a cookie scoop use two tablespoons, use one to scoop and the other to scrape the mixture onto the pan in a cookie shape.
- Flatten the cluster with the back of the scoop or a spoon.
- Add sprinkles if desired.
- Place the cookie sheets in the fridge for about 3 hours or until set.
Can I use a different variety of baking chips?
As long as you use a combination of 4 bags of chips there will be plenty to cover your peanuts. You can use anything you like. Leave out the peanut butter chips and use a bag of the following instead:
- Butterscotch Chips
- Cinnamon Chips
- Bailey’s Irish Cream Chips
- Caramel Chips
- Heath Toffee Chips
- Espresso Chips
How do I store peanut clusters?
- Keep them in the fridge until ready to add to a holiday cookie platter or take to a party.
- Freeze any extra you can’t eat within a week. They won’t look perfect after being frozen but will still taste great.
Other slow cooker desserts to try next:
- Slow Cooker Candied Pecans
- Slow Cooker Scalloped Apples
- Slow Cooker Crustless Pumpkin Pie
- Slow Cooker Sea Salt Peanut Clusters
- Slow Cooker Ritz Cracker Thin Mints
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Slow Cooker Peanut Clusters
Equipment Needed:
- Slow Cooker- 6 quart or larger
Ingredients:
- 2 lbs. salted dry roasted peanuts (I get these in the bulk section of the store)
- 11.5 oz. pkg. milk chocolate chips
- 11.5 oz. pkg. semi-sweet chocolate chips
- 11.5 oz. pkg. white (or vanilla milk) chocolate chips
- 10 oz. pkg. peanut butter chips
Instructions:
- Add the peanuts and baking chips to the slow cooker. Stir.
- Place the lid on a slow cooker. Cook on LOW for about 1.5 hours. This timing will depend on your slow cooker. STIR OFTEN. This will burn if left too long since it's real chocolate.
- Turn off the slow cooker after the chocolate has completely melted. Remove the insert out of the base onto pot holders.
- Line 3 baking sheets with parchment or wax paper. Scoop the mixture onto cookie sheets on the lined baking sheets. I use a medium-sized cookie scoop, though you can use 2 tablespoons, use one to scoop and one to scrape the mixture onto the pans. Flatten the mixture into a flat cookie shape.
- Add sprinkles if desired.
- Place the sheet pans of clusters in the fridge to set up. This takes about 3 hours.
How to Video:
Recipe Notes:
- Butterscotch Chips
- Cinnamon Chips
- Bailey’s Irish Cream Chips
- Caramel Chips
- Heath Toffee Chips
- Espresso Chips
- Keep them in the fridge until ready to add to a holiday cookie platter or take to a party.
- Freeze any extra you can’t eat within a week. They won’t look perfect after being frozen but will still taste great.
Nutrition Information:
Nutrition info is auto-generated. This information is an estimate; if you are on a special diet, please use your own calculations.
I’d love to make these, only thing is I have only seen white, milk and dark chocolate chips here in Holland, the other chips you mentioned aren’t available here. What can I use in place of?
You can use more of another you can find.
Can I use white almond bark instead of white chocolate chips?S
Yes, that will work great.
I do not have parchment paper or wax paper , will foil work?
Yes, I don’t think it will stick. Especially if you refrigerate.
Did these on the stove top in a pan. I did substituted butterscotch chips for the peanut butter chips and added raisins. So delicious!
Just finished making these. Followed the above advice about the tea towel. No issues with the chocolate seizing. I’m wondering if people are not stirring it enough. If you stir it frequently, then the act of taking the lid off to sir would release condensation. Delish! Recipe is a keeper
I just have the old fashioned round type crockpot. Will that be ok?
yes, but stir often.
I’d like to make a suggestion
Place a folded tea towel over the crockpot (slow cooker) before putting the lid on. It should collect the condensation keeping the water from getting into the chocolate and causing it to seize up. Works for me as it also worked for Edith.
Have you ever added raisins to this?
I have not! Sounds great though.
I’m an experienced candy maker, but when I made these last year, the chocolate seized in the slow cooker from condensation. Yes, I cooked it on low. Any ideas what went wrong? It was an expensive failure.
Laura I am not an expert candy maker but I find if you put a towel over the crock then put the lid on it absorbs all the condensation I do this with a lot of my recipes
What insert are you talking about that needs to be taken out?
The ceramic slow cooker out of the heating element so it stops cooking 🙂
Can I use Rice Krispies in place of peanuts?
I don’t see why not!
Can I use cashews instead of peanuts?
Yes! Will work fine!
I do it all the time and it’s great!