Crock Pot Peanut Clusters
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Crock Pot Peanut Clusters only have 4 ingredients and make the BEST chocolate covered peanut candy I’ve ever eaten!
This easy chocolate peanut cluster recipe calls for 3 kinds of chocolate that melt in a crock pot. Stir in peanuts, drop on wax paper and a homemade holiday candy is ready to share!
Easy Crockpot Chocolate Peanut Clusters
Using almond bark is an inexpensive way to make homemade candy that tastes like it came from a candy shop. As a chocolate connoisseur, I love how smooth this easy dessert recipe tastes. Making it in the crockpot saves time and makes this recipe so much more simple!
The white almond bark, Baker’s German chocolate bar and semi-sweet chocolate chips create a smooth triple chocolate coating for the crunchy peanuts that we can’t stop eating!
Our family LOVES chocolate candy! Whether it’s a Chocolate Dessert Pizza, Almond Bark Specials or White Chocolate Haystacks delicious and easy recipes are popular in our house. Then we learned that crock pot candy is even easier!
Just like our Classic Peanut Butter Balls, these are the perfect treats to make for a Christmas or holiday gift exchange, bake sale or as gifts for neighbors and co-workers. My son is thinking about making another batch to give to his teachers along with some Christmas Chex Mix.
Sometimes melting chocolate can take more patience and attention than I have to give. When a recipe requires stirring often and keeping an eye on things it’s not uncommon for me to get distracted and forget to stay focused.
How to Melt Chocolate in the Crockpot
Break large blocks of chocolate into smaller pieces. Place the chocolate in the slow cooker for an hour on high. Come back, stir and turn on low. Stir every 15 minutes until the chocolate is all melted. This shouldn’t take more than 30 – 60 minutes.
I have tested melting chocolate on high and low and chocolate melts in about 45 minutes on high compared to about 60 minutes on low. Each appliance can vary, so test this recipe using your own device and keep good notes for future use.
No is fuss needed! If 15 minutes turns into 20, it’s okay. Just stir a few more times to prevent chocolate from crystalizing along the edges and all is well.
White chocolate chips taste great in this recipe and in our Cherry Chocolate Candy, but white chips take almost twice as long to melt as almond bark. The white chips are also more challenging to get smoothly melted.
Chocolate Peanut Clusters
We love making these SUPER EASY homemade chocolate candies. The smooth chocolate blend compliments crunchy peanuts wonderfully! I had no idea four ingredients could blend to together to deliver such a premium taste!
Also called 4 ingredient crock pot chocolate peanut clusters, nut clusters, and chocolate peanut clusters candy there are many variations of the name. It doesn’t matter what you call them, this is a recipe you will crave after taking one bite. This recipe is always popular on Pinterest around Christmas!
My husband said these peanut clusters taste like a chocolate version of a PayDay Candy bar. Pay Day Crunch has Chex cereal loaded with peanuts. That’s delicious, but covering peanuts in a triple chocolate mixture is AMAZING!
This recipe was given to me along with the Best Sour Cream Cookies, Chocolate Hermits, White Hermits and Chocolate Thumbprint Cookies from a lady at church. You know those church lady recipes are delicious.
Tips for Making Nut Clusters
- Chocolate melts on high in about 45 minutes and on low in about an hour.
- Use a slow cooker liner to make clean-up a breeze!
- Break chunks of almond bark into 2 to 4 pieces and spread pieces as evenly as possible in the crock. Stacking is acceptable if necessary.
- Spread other chocolate out evenly across crock pot
- After one hour on high, turn to low and stir often until all chocolate is melted
- Drop by spoonful onto wax paper
- Use a scoop to create a more uniform shape if that’s important to you
- Will take 2-3 hours to set-up
- Don’t plan to move wax paper until candy is set up
- I like to line cookie sheets with wax paper, so I can move them if needed
How to Make Slow Cooker Peanut Clusters
Line crock pot with liner.
Break up white chocolate into chunks and place in the bottom of the crock.
Add remaining chocolate in as even of layers as possible.
Sprinkle peanuts on top.
Turn on high and do not stir for 45 minutes to 1 hour.
Turn down to low. Stir every 15 minutes until chocolate is melted and the mixture is smooth.
Drop by spoonful onto wax paper and cool.
Microwave Option
Chocolate covered peanut clusters are easy to make in the microwave half of a batch at a time.
Break apart all squares of white almond bark. Distribute by spreading out as evenly as possible in the bottom of a microwave safe dish that is big enough to fit all of them in a single layer.
Use the directions on the package to get started melting the almond bark.
The German chocolate melts just a little bit more quickly than the bark. So add the German chocolate broken into pieces in the first :30 to :60 seconds.
Flip the squares of bark over to help get a better heat distribution and melt more quickly.
Microwave and short intervals and stir often to prevent getting hot spots from the appliance that can cause chocolate to burn.
The semi sweet chocolate may melt from the residual heat of the other chocolate. If not microwave once or twice for :15 seconds and stir really well each time.
Once the chocolate mixture is silky and smooth add the peanuts.
Stir really well.
Drop candy using a spoon or small cookie scoop onto wax paper covered baking sheets.
Chill to speed up the hardening time and enjoy once set up!
Other Delicious Holiday Treats
- Cinnamon Cream Cheese Bars
- Cranberry Duff Cake
- Best Chocolate Chip Cookies {Farmhouse Style}
- Easy Farmhouse Fudge
- Chocolate Macadamia Nut Cookies
- Cranberry Christmas Cookies
Printable Crock Pot Peanut Clusters Recipe
Crock Pot Peanut Clusters
Author: JenniferIngredients
- 2 pounds white almond bark
- 4 ounces Baker's German Chocolate Bar
- 12 ounces Semi-sweet chocolate chips
- 24 ounces Dry roasted peanuts
Instructions
- Place crock pot liner in crock.
- Add almond bark to crock in as even of a layer as possible. Sprinkle additional chocolate evenly on top.
- Finally, add peanuts in an even layer.
- Turn on high for 45 minutes to 1 hour and do not stir.
- Turn down to low. Stir every 15 minutes until chocolate is melted and mixture is smooth.
- Drop by spoonful onto wax paper and cool.
Notes
- Chocolate melts in about 45 minutes on high and about an hour on low in my crock pot, but appliances will vary so keep a close eye on the clusters the first time trying this recipe.
- Use a slow cooker liner to make clean-up a breeze!
- Break chunks of almond bark into 2 to 4 pieces and spread pieces as evenly as possible in the crock. Stacking is acceptable if necessary.
- Spread other chocolate out evenly across crock pot
- Use a scoop to create a more uniform shape if that’s important to you
- Will take 2-3 hours to set-up
- Don’t plan to move wax paper until candy is set up
- I like to line cookie sheets with wax paper, so I can move them if needed
Video
Originally published December 6, 2019, post updated on October 27, 2021 and October 2, 2023.
Made the peanut clusters they are awesome! What is the best way to store them?
So glad to hear you love them too! We stored them in zip lock bags and plastic containers after they had set up. I also froze some and I’m curious to see how they taste in a month or so. Happy Holidays!
I make a version of this only I replace one pound of the almond bark with a bag of Reese’s peanut butter chips.
That sounds delicious!
Can honey toasted nuts be used. I also have white chicolate chips. Can these be substituted?
Hello! I haven’t tested these variations, but they sound delicious. I think the nut substitution will not affect the recipe. I’m not sure if the white chips would melt differently in a crock pot compared to almond bark or not. Please let me know how it turns out if you give it a try. Thanks!
The German chocolate bar is it the unsweetened or sweet bar
I buy the Baker’s brand German chocolate in the green box. Here is the online description: One 4 oz. bar of Baker’s Sweetened German’s Chocolate Baking Bar with 48% Cacao
I hope the recipe turns out great for you!
I saw a recipe with the exact same ingredients but it called for cooking on low the whole time.. Wondering which way is best 1 hr on high then switching to low or low the whole 2 hours ? Don’t want to ruin the chocolate !
I think it depends on how your slow cooker works. Ours was fine on high. If you want to be extra cautious you could turn to low after 45 minutes or use low the whole time. I hope they taste great for you!
Hi-the 2 lbs of almond bark candy – is there a specific brand – where are you purchasing it.. I see a picture of Vanilla Candy Coating in the picture..can you clarify please.
Hey there! Great question! I’ve used both, the vanilla candy coating and almond bark of multiple brands it always works well. Just keep an eye on it, stir often and drop candy as soon as the chocolate is melted and it’s delicious!
Mine isn’t shiny like your, why?
Hmm, I’m not sure. Sometimes I get a glare when taking pictures, but I’m not for sure. I hope they still taste great!
Can you use parchment paper instead of wax paper?
Yes! I think either parchment paper or wax paper should work well in this recipe. Hope you enjoy it as much as we do!
Can I use the chocolate almond bark in place of the white for the peanut clusters.
Hey There! I love this idea and I haven’t tested it, so I’m not sure. I know that I really like how the combination of a variety of chocolates tastes in this recipe. Please let me know if you give it a try. Thanks!
Great taste and texture, so easy to make. I used white chocolate chips that gave this a milk chocolate taste. Easy and excellent results. Clean up was almost non existent due to using crock pot liner.
Do you have to use the german sweet chocolate or can I use something in it’s place?
Hey There! Great question! I have not tested this recipe with substitutions, but I do believe there are other combinations of chocolate that would be delicious! Please let me know if you try others and how it goes 🙂
I use your recipe but, instead of peanuts I use pecans. And it turn out so delicious. The pecans custer was awesome.Thank you
Merry Christmas!!
I have made these a few times & my co workes love them! So making again for Christmas snack!!!
Thank you!!!
Can I make this with raisins instead of peanuts?
Hey There! I haven’t tested that version, but I have added other dried fruit like cherries and I do like the crunch from a peanut or almond. Raisins might work well, but might be nice to add another complementary ingredient too. Hope you enjoy!
I’m excited to try this I have it going now! This is my first time making peanut clusters! Wish me
Delicious and so easy!
So easy and so good!! Thank you!!
So easy and so good!! Thank you!!
I started making these before there were crockpot liners. Personally I wouldn’t use them, it’s easy to scrape the crock pot, you don’t waste any of that yummy goodness. I started with waxed paper then switched to parchment. As long as the candy is cold it’s easy to lift.
I have also made them with pecans!
While still a little soft, top with a few grains of course salt or crushed peppermint candy!!