Slow Cooker Peanut Clusters
Are you ready for Christmas baking? December is absolutely my favorite time of the year, and I love nothing more than baking Christmas cookies and goodies. It just wouldn’t be Christmas without the classics and a few other new finds sprinkled in for good measure. While I love eating nut clusters, I had never actually made them myself; once I saw this insanely easy slow cooker recipe, it was only a matter of time!
My aunt shared this recipe on her Facebook page and I immediately saved the link. Two types of peanuts, two types of chocolate chips, peanut butter chips, AND you can make it in a slow cooker? I was immediately sold, and I think you will be, too.
It took me literally five minutes to make this. Everything gets dumped into the slow cooker, cover, turn on low, and let it go for 2 hours. At that point, it’s likely that everything will be melted (mine was), but if you need more time, an additional 30 minutes should be all you need. I experimented with scooping the nut clusters out in a variety of ways – with a large spoon, with a medium cookie scoop, and then I just poured the mixture into a parchment-lined pan and broke it into pieces. My verdict? I liked the clusters scooped with a cookie scoop the best – they were the most uniform and by far the most pleasing to the eye, which is important when it comes to Christmas cookie trays, right?! :)
While I am immensely partial to peanuts, you could absolutely make this with any type of nut you like, or a combination of them. My father-in-law even suggested skipping the nuts and using coconut for coconut clusters. There are tons of possibilities, and these little clusters would make fantastic holiday gifts – just place in a clear cellophane bag and tie with a pretty ribbon!
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Watch How to Make Crock Pot Peanut Clusters:
Slow Cooker Chocolate-Covered Peanut Clusters
Ingredients
- 16 ounces (453.59 g) unsalted peanuts, or dry roasted peanuts
- 16 ounces (453.59 g) salted cocktail peanuts
- 12 ounces (340.2 g) semisweet chocolate chips
- 12 ounces (340.2 g) milk chocolate chips
- 20 ounces (566.99 g) peanut butter chips
- 32 ounces (907.19 g) white almond bark or vanilla candy melts
Instructions
- Layer all of the ingredients in order in a 6-quart slow cooker. Cover and cook on low for 2 hours. [NOTE: While I have made this multiple times without an issue, it seems that many people have experienced the ingredients burning. I would recommend stirring all of the ingredients together and checking on it and stirring every 30 minutes to avoid an issue.]
- Remove the lid and stir to combine. If not all of the chocolate is melted, cover and cook for an additional 30 minutes on low.
- Using a spoon or cookie scoop, scoop mounds of the clusters onto parchment-lined baking sheets. Allow to sit at room temperature until completely set, 1 to 2 hours. The clusters can be stored in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 1 month. They also freeze very well!
Notes
Did you make this recipe?
Leave a review below, then snap a picture and tag @thebrowneyedbaker on Instagram so I can see it!
I made this tonight and will have to say I am super disappointed, to say the least. I had to throw the entire batch out. Not a cheap night. Will not re moment this to anyone. I am a seasoned cook/baker.
Really? What happened? I’m about to make this and spent enough on ingredients that I don’t want to risk wasting. See,s like a very straightforward and basic recipe, melting chocolates and mixing in nuts…I need to know in what way it can go so wrong so I don’t do it! Only thing I can think is burning, but that’s easy to avoid by watching and stirring, and as a seasoned cook, you’d know that so it must be something else. Do share!
I used 2 jars of dry roasted peanuts & some of my peanuts burned. I didn’t cook them any longer than the recipe called for & the chocolate was melted.
My peanuts burned at the bottom! Smelled something burning after an hour, the peanuts were BLACK! The order is bad! All those expensive ingredients down the trash!!! I’m upset as all get out!
I had this problem because my crock pot cooked to hot on low setting & it didn’t have any other settings, just high & low. 😥 I finally asked for a new crock pot for Christmas! Yay! This recipe turned out perfect with my new HAMILTON BEACH Crock Pot! 😋 Most of you that are burning this candy recipe, probably have crock pots that cook too hot, like my old one did.
Instead of peanut butter chips, would peanut butter work??
Hi Maria, I’m not sure, I haven’t tried that. If you do, let me know how it turns out!
Hi, my batch burned a little which is likely a reflection of my crappy crock pot :) But, I am wondering, could I just made this in a double boiler on the stove? It would seem to be that it would cook pretty quickly and result in the same candies?
Hi Kelli, Yes, you could do this in a double boiler.
I made these yesterday. The chocolate seized and I added a little shortening as I stirred. They loosened nicely and made wonderful little candies. Do you think they seized because I cooked too long or too hot. Also what do you recommend for seized chocolate?
Thanks for a great recipe. This is a keeper.
Hi Molly, Yes, the chocolate definitely could have seized due to temperature. I try to gently melt into already-melted chocolate again, which it sounds like you did with success.
Would cooking time need to decrease if recipe was cut in half? Thanks for the yummy recipe!
Hi Linda, Yes, definitely cut down on the cooking time if you cut the recipe in half.
My friend cut the recipe in half and cooked it in half the time as well. It was grand! :-)
I was short about 10 oz of chips but the recipe still worked, and my batch made 12 dozen. Next time I’m going to add dried cranberries and coconut. They look fantastic and I can’t wait to give them away as gifts! I have never made a recipe from your site that I didn’t like. Thank you and Merry Christmas!
I love these! We make them every year and call it “crockpot candy”. One of the best things I’ve ever put in my mouth.
I actually had found this recipe on a different site (didn’t present as nice as yours!) and had made these. Did you have any issues with your peanuts burning? I did it exactly as the recipe said, which is how your recipe is as well, and after 2 hours a lot of the peanuts were burnt! Thanks!
Hi Lauen, Oh no! None of my peanuts burnt at all. Perhaps your crock pot is running a little hot?
ADD peanuts LAST.STIR FOR 5 MIN AT END.
I made these last year and they were absolutely delicious! I have friends that love dark chocolate. Could I substitute the milk chocolate for dark and leave the peanut butter chips out?
Yes, absolutely, just make sure you keep the amount of chips the same.
I love the idea of this – will definitely have to to try it! I love making treats around the holidays and this will be perfect…not to mention EASY.
I wonder . . . do you know if you can temper chocolate in the crock pot?
Hi Elisabeth, I’ve never tried it!
these look fantastic! and they’re made in a slow cooker – I’m intrigued!
This sounds awesome
Wow! This recipe is awesome and I love that it can be done in a slow cooker. I cannot wait to make it. I also love the idea that it can be made in various combinations. Endless possibilities.
It is so dangerous how easy these are to make because you can literally make them any time you want without the hassle! YUM!
So simple and delicious! Can’t wait to try these in my slow cooker :)
Lovely!
I would use a crockpot liner when making these. I hate cleaning up chocolate in any
kind of pan!
For Christmas, I love making clusters of white chocolate with dried cranberries and macadamias or almonds or cashews. So pretty!
If you wipe it out with a paper towel while still warm, the crock pot is easy to clean with just a little soaking in warm soapy water.
Do you mke the white clusters in the crock pot as well?
Love peanuts and this recipe does not make as many as the ones I have read before. Sounds so good.
Oh MY! This is just too simple! I have to make these now. Going to the store this weekend! I love Christmas.
These look awesome and I bet my husband will LOVE them! What kind of almond bark do you use? Would nestles white chocolate chips work for this? My tight budget only allows walmart shopping and I wasn’t happy with the almond bark I found there. Thanks for your recipes I almost always save them!
If you have aldi I would look there for the bark, very reasonable.
Hi Sara, I used CandiQuik, which I bought at my regular supermarket.
I use Nestle white chocolate chips for this.
HA! I love that you put A LOT for how many it makes!! :0)
OH SNAP! I am the slow cooker queen at my house and I cannot WAIT to make these little babies! :)
Those look like a great Christmas gift. I’d like to try the recipe with almonds minus the peanut butter chips. Sounds tasty.
Hi!
This seems easy and delicious!
Have you noticed and problems of condensation from the crockpot lid getting into the chocolate? If so, did it make the chocolate seize?
Thanks!
Hi Janet, I didn’t notice any issues. Some of the chocolate around the edges seized, I think just from the heat, but as soon as I stirred, it melted right in.
Simply perfect candy for my lazy ways. I might switch out one of the peanut butter chip bags with a butterscotch then my son will definitely eat them (less for me is a good thing). Thanks for sharing!
Yum Yum Yum! These must go on my holiday treat list!
Wow, yet another use for a slow cookier! Who woulda thunk? I wonder if honey roasted peanuts would work in this? I love the recipe!
Honey roasted peanuts sound AWESOME!
I used honey roasted peanuts and they burnt – had to trash it.
Before you make this recipe, find out first if your slow cookie will burn the nuts and seize up the chips. Mine did and several others have written that their’s did, too. I lost a very expensive bunch of candy because of it. Made another batch just melting the chips in the micro wave and then stirring in the nuts. Worked much much better and gave me the great results I was hoping for in the recipe put on line here by BEB. Normally she puts out great recipes…however, this recipe should have explained that some units do burn the items. Just check it out first, before you spend $$$$$ for the ingredients like I did, and others, too.
I stirred my ingredients every 20 minutes. Never leave it for any extended time without stirring. Also, put a towel between the lid and top of the crockpot to prevent any moisture from collecting. Simple steps like this will correct the issues of the candy getting burnt or water dropping in.
Peanuts covered in chocolate are definitely my kind of snack! i love this!
These look amazing. I’m going to make them this weekend. I was reading some older posts and it looked like you have a peanut/peanut butter allergy? Can that be true? Tragic!!!
Hi Marla, I did actually develop a peanut allergy in my mid-20’s, abstained from it for nearly 5 years and had allergy shots, and it miraculously went away! My allergist said that adults can develop food allergies later in life, and you can also grow out of them. Thank goodness!