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!
Awesome recipe, everyone loved,thank u
So easy and so delicious 😋 Made mine in mini cupcake liners this year. Question ~ How many would you give as a gift in a tin?
So easy and so delicious 😋 Made inini cupcake liners this year. Question ~ How many would you give as a gift in a tin?
I made these but managed to completely forget the white chocolate. I did use 2 bags of reeses chips too though. They are already set and in fridge before I realized I never used the almond bark.
Is this a deal breaker???
I dont wanna Re Melt in crockpot and chance “overcooking” the already cooked chocolate just to add the white chocolate if I dont have to…thoughts?
I think they will be fine! The almond bark helps to thin the melted chocolate so that it spread and coats more smoothly; without it, melted chocolate can sometimes get clumpy. If they’re already scooped and set I wouldn’t remelt anything, they will taste just as good :)
I have made your recipe a couple of years now at Christmas time. I’ve made them in batches of dark chocolate and batches of milk chocolate. Both are delicious but our favorite is using dark choc and then putting them in the refrigerator. Thank you for sharing this recipe. P.S. My Air Force Son says they mailed very well and his unit loved them 😀
just curious, why “layer the ingredients in order” if you are going to stir the mixture? Can you not just put it in the pot? And could this be melted faster, like in a regular pot if you don’t have a slow cooker
I will give this recipe a 10!! So easy, and delish!! I do use extra peanuts tho. I like more nuts in the cluster. I do use the mini cupcake liners when positioning them out. Easier for me to make them uniform. As not to have some big and some small. And it a nice presentation when giving them to others. They do not stick to the liners. Just an added touch. When I add the extra peanuts I use more salted dry roasted as I like the chocolate salty taste. I am going to try with pretzels. Will be more time consuming but worth a shot!! Everyone I have given them to LOVE them and want more!! So will be making for Valentine’s treats!! Again simle and so easy. Especially in the crockpot. I have run out of time and room so just reward. Turn out great!! My Aunt can’t chew the nuts so I experimented. And chopped up the clusters and remelted, and They turned out great!! She loved them !! Taste was still there, and was able to enjoy!! Thank You Again for an awesome versatile recipe!!!
My chocolate got hard….like moisture got in Can it be saved? Lots of wasted ingredients!
I needed more peanuts, dark chocolate would be nice but all in all they are very good.
I used to make these for my mom. She loved them! Going to bring them to a work party this year. Thanks for sharing the recipe :)
Can you taste the peanut butter cups? Just curious
I MADE IT AND EVERYONE LOVED IT GOING TO MAKE IT AGAIN ..SORRY NO PICTURE
These were a big hit for Christmas!
Can you substitute almonds for peanuts?
Made these last year and everyone loved them! Then I lost the recipe):
So excited to find this back!! Can’t wait to make these tomorrow:)
I was unable to find peanut butter morsels so I used Butterfinger Bits instead. They came out wonderfully.
So easy and it was a hit.
So sorry….can you put scoops of it in fancy cupcake liners while still warm?
Once everything has melted and you put scoops of it in cupcake liner?
Can I use caramel chips instead of peanut butter?
i can not find any peanut butter chips can i use just peanut butter????
I have done this recipe multiple times in the past and they are always a FAVORITE! Thank you! This year I am having trouble finding peanut butter morsels anywhere. Do you have any ideas of how to substitute for that? As in, could I use actual peanut butter in the recipe to add that flavor? Or will it be too oily to set up correctly? Thank you so much!
These peanut clusters were a hit with the neighbors.
I have made this and candied pecans every Christmas to give as gifts.
I love the peanut clusters.
I made these came out beautifully. I want to use coconut instead of peanuts. How do I go about it in the recipe.?Thank you
thats what I want to know…how to add coconut
I have all ingredients, except the peanut butter chips. Completely forgot them. I do have 40 oz of almond bark though. Do you think I could just use that and be okay? Not sure.
yes
OMG I just made these last minute to share with my neighbours and they are FANTASTIC!! I couldn’t find white chocolate on Christmas Eve so I got a bag of sea salt caramel chips. I will definitely make these again
I tried this today and unfortunately, my chocolate seized up!! I tried adding butter and cream and it was like a ball. I spread it out in as thin as I could get and put melted chocolate over it with some sea salt. I have them in the freezer right now. Hopefully all is not lost!
Is the two hr cook time to melt the chocolate or is it necessary for a successful cluster? As soon as the the chocolate was melted less than 30 minutes I made my clusters and although delicious they are a tad bit slimy to touch. Should I throw them all back into the slow cooker and cook for the full two hours?
It is to melt the chocolate; everything should be completely melted and smooth. I haven’t experienced these being slimy at all; did you make any substitutions to the ingredients?
These are fabulous! They only took about 45 min in my slow cooker.