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This simple crockpot Christmas candy recipe is an easy way to make chocolate peanut clusters in the slow cooker. Only 4 ingredients and perfect for sharing with friends and family during the holiday season!
Easy Christmas Crockpot Candy Recipe
My easy recipe for chocolate peanut clusters is probably one of the easiest crockpot desserts you can find. Seriously. While these no-bake treats are not just for Christmas, they’re perfect for gifting. And this easy crock pot candy recipe makes a lot — we’re talking a HUGE batch of candy, so it’s perfect for parties, a cookie exchange or sharing with friends, neighbors and co workers!
You can pack a couple pieces in cellophane bags along with peppermint bark, million dollar fudge, Oreo cake balls or Christmas puppy chow. All no bake! Best of all, you make this sweet treat entirely in the slow cooker with just a few minutes of prep time!
Table of Contents
Ingredients
You only need 4 simple ingredients to make this recipe for crock pot peanut clusters. They should be easy to find in grocery stores or Target or Walmart. Full amounts are in the printable recipe card below.
- Peanuts — 32 ounces or about 5 cups of nuts. I used a combo of dry roasted peanuts, salted cocktail peanuts and cashews. You can use all cocktail peanuts, unsalted peanuts or whatever you prefer
- White almond bark — (vanilla almond bark) This melts better than white chocolate chips, and gives the candy a glossy finish
- Bakers German’s Sweet Chocolate — melts easily and adds sweetness
- Semi-sweet chocolate chips — pairs well with the sweet chocolate
- Holiday sprinkles — Christmas sprinkles in red and green for decoration or crushed candy canes. Flaked salt or sea salt adds to the salty/sweet combo
You will definitely need a crock-pot — the larger, the better. I use my 7 quart crockpot for this recipe. I also use baking sheets and parchment paper or wax paper.
How to Make Crockpot Candy
First, lightly spray the inside of your slow cooker with nonstick cooking spray. Next, break up the almond bark and German chocolate bar into smaller pieces. Then, add the peanuts.
Next, add the pieces of almond bark and chocolate bars on top of the peanuts. After that, pour the chocolate chips on top. Do NOT stir everything together.
This next step is optional, but I recommend placing a kitchen towel over the top of the crockpot. Then, place the lid on top of the towel. I do this just to make sure condensation doesn’t fall into the melted chocolate when you lift the lid.
Cook the peanut mixture on low for 1 hour. Then, remove lid and gently stir the ingredients with a wooden spoon or large spoon. The almond bark may not be completely melted, so place the lid back on, and stir every 15 minutes or until the chocolate is completely melted.
My slow cooker candy took 1 hour and 15 minutes to melt. The cooking time may vary with different brands and models.
Next, turn the slow cooker off, and give the mixture a good stir. Finally, use a small cookie scoop or tablespoon to drop spoonfuls of the melted chocolate onto cookie sheets lined with wax paper.
You can decorate the clusters with holiday sprinkles or flaked salt before it sets up.
The candy takes about 1-2 hours to set at room temperature. If your house is warm, it may take a little longer. You can speed the process up and place it in the refrigerator, but you may not have room for all of it.
How to Store
Store these Christmas treats in an airtight container in a cool place. You can place wax paper between layers so that the candies don’t stick.
You do not need to refrigerate them unless your house is very warm. They last about 1 week unrefrigerated and 2 to 3 weeks in the refrigerator.
You can freeze the treats in ziploc bags or airtight containers for up to 3 months for best taste.
Helpful Tips
Try to use the ingredients as listed. This combination will give you perfect chocolate clusters.
Start with the peanuts on the bottom. This will help prevent scorching.
You can find almond bark in the baking aisle at Walmart and other grocery stores. You need 2 pounds almond bark for this recipe.
Use the low setting. Mine cooks fast, and the low setting was perfect. If you have an older model, you may have to cook the ingredients for longer than 1 hour.
Use a kitchen towel or paper towel under the lid to keep the candy dry.
Variations
To make without nuts, substitute pretzel pieces or Rice Krispies cereal. Pro tip — you’ll need to add that after the chocolate is melted.
You can use candy coating or candy melts if you can’t find almond bark. If you want more peanut flavor, substitute peanut butter chips for the semi sweet chocolate chips.
Almonds, macadamia nuts, cashews, walnuts and pecans work well. You can mix different kinds of nuts.
Add 1 or 2 cups mini marshmallows after stirring the melted chocolate. These taste absolutely delicious!
Crockpot Christmas Candy
Equipment
- 1 crock pot
Ingredients
- 32 ounces peanuts
- 2 pounds almond bark broken up
- 4 ounces Bakers Sweet German chocolate bar 1 bar, broken up
- 12 ounces semi sweet chocolate chips
Instructions
- Lightly spray the bottom of the slow cooker with non stick cooking spray
- Pour the peanuts into the crockpot
- Add the almond bark, then the Bakers chocolate bar and chocolate chips
- Place the lid on the crockpot and cook for 1 hour on low
- Stir the chocolate and peanuts together. If it's not quite melted, cook for an additional 15 to 30 minutes, stirring after each 15 minute increment until melted, and stir again
- Turn crockpot off. Scoop mixture onto wax paper lined cookie sheets using a small cookie scoop or tablespoon. Try to form small mounds so that they candies are not flat
- Decorate with holiday sprinkles or flaked salt, and allow to set. Clusters take 1-2 hours to set at room temperature
Notes
Nutrition
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
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I’m having trouble finding the Bakers Sweet German chocolate bar. What would be a good substitute? I’ve never made candy before so I’m clueless, but I can’t seem to find any other brand with a “sweet” option.
Bakers has extra sugar, so you can use more semi-sweet chocolate or bittersweet chocolate, but the candy won’t be as sweet. You can also add a little sugar if you are using a different chocolate, but I have not personally tried this.
These were delicious! I brought some into work and they were all gone by lunchtime! I will definitely be making these again and including them in my Christmas cookie boxes. Thank you for sharing 🙂
So glad everyone liked the candy. Thanks for the wonderful review!
Made a test batch and it was delicious! Definitely making it again for a cookie swap!
So glad you like the candy! Thanks!