Save
Slow Cooker Clusters combine crunchy peanuts, melty semi-sweet chocolate chips, and smooth almond bark into one tasty treat. Add some festive sprinkles on top and you've got sweet-and-salty bites perfect for giving as gifts, adding to cookie platters, or serving at gatherings. They're super easy to make since your slow cooker does most of the work.
What Makes Slow Cooker Clusters So Good
This simple treat brings together the yummy mix of crunchy, salty peanuts and smooth, rich chocolate that folks can't get enough of any time of year. Your slow cooker handles everything while you do other things, and those fun sprinkles make them look extra special. You won't believe how little effort it takes to make something everyone will grab by the handful.
Must-Have Components For Great Results
- Unsalted Dry Roasted Peanuts: 16 ounces, full and unbroken, kept at room temp, making sure each one is snappy and good with no off smells. Try to find ones that are all about the same size without lots of broken bits so your clusters feel nice when you bite them.
- White Almond Bark: 24 ounces, snapped into small chunks, kept at normal room temp between 65-75°F (18-24°C). Pick a good quality brand that looks smooth and shiny.
- Premium Semi-Sweet Chocolate Chips: 12 ounces kept at room temp between 65-75°F (18-24°C), containing around 54-56% cacao so they'll melt just right.
- Seasonal Decorations: 2-3 tablespoons fun sprinkles, either long jimmies or tiny round ones, stored somewhere cool and dry under 75°F (24°C) so the colors won't run together.
Making It Step By Step
- Get Your Slow Cooker Ready
- Put a slow cooker liner in your 6-quart pot or give it a light coating of cooking spray. Check that the low setting hits about 170°F/77°C.
- Stack Everything In Order
- Put ingredients in this way: peanuts on the bottom, chunks of almond bark next, chocolate chips on top. Don't mix them yet. Make sure everything's spread out evenly across the bottom.
- Cook And Watch
- Set to low for exactly 90 minutes. After an hour, stir everything gently with a silicone spoon until it all reaches 160°F (71°C). The mix should be totally smooth without any lumps of chocolate.
- Shape And Add Sprinkles
- Use a 1.5-inch cookie scoop to drop little mounds onto baking sheets covered with parchment paper, keeping them an inch apart. Sprinkle the tops right away while they're still wet and shiny. Keep the mixture between 155-160°F (68-71°C) while you work.
Mix It Up With Different Options
Try using one jar of salted peanuts instead of unsalted if you want less salt. Feel free to try pecans, cashews, or almonds for something different. Want them extra chocolatey? Use chocolate almond bark instead of the white kind. You can leave off the sprinkles or use rainbow ones if you're making them outside of holiday season.
How To Keep Them Fresh
Keep your candy clusters in a container that seals tight at room temp for up to a week, or pop them in the fridge for up to a month. Let them set completely before you put them away so moisture doesn't mess up their texture.
Save
Pro Tricks For Better Results
Don't let water drops from the slow cooker lid fall into your candy mixture - chocolate and water really don't mix well. A cookie scoop makes all your pieces the same size, or you can pour the mix into tiny muffin papers for bite-sized goodies. Make a batch the evening before you need them so they can fully harden overnight.
Recipe FAQs
- → Can I swap out the peanuts for other nuts?
Definitely! Try using pecans, almonds, or even a mix. Just be sure they're salted and roasted for the best flavor punch.
- → How long will this candy last?
When sealed in an airtight container, they stay fresh for about a week at room temperature or up to a month when refrigerated.
- → Why did my chocolate turn grainy?
This can happen if water sneaks into the chocolate mixture. Avoid lid condensation dripping into the pot—it only takes a little to mess things up.
- → Is it possible to freeze these candies?
Yes! Freeze them up to 3 months. Just layer the pieces with wax paper in an airtight box and thaw in the fridge overnight when you need them.
- → What’s the best way to gift these candies?
Pack them in gift tins or holiday boxes. Use some wax paper between layers for a polished, stick-free presentation.