Chocolate Peanut Clusters Recipe (2024)

Published: · Modified: by Raquel · This post may contain affiliate links · 14 Comments

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This Salted Peanut Clusters Recipe has been around for at least a few decades. This recipe is so easy and fun to make!

When I was younger, I remember that my Dad used to love these, and we had them in the house quite often. These Chocolate Peanut Clusters taste so good and are ridiculously easy to make.

Hello Friends! today I am sharing an easy homemade candy recipe that is so delicious and so easy! Homemade peanut clusters are one of the easiest things to make and they taste delicious!

Chocolate Peanut Clusters Recipe (1)

Why You Will Love This Recipe

  • These are so delicious and tastes like store-bought candy clusters. They look scrumptious on holiday trays or dessert boards.
  • This peanut cluster recipe is one of those easy recipes that you can make year after year. These are also the perfect treat for movie nights and game nights.
  • Made with just a few ingredients, these chocolate peanut clusters are made with both milk chocolate and semi-sweet chocolate chips. In the old days, we melted the chocolate in a double boiler, but now, thanks to microwaves, these are even easier to whip it.
  • These easy no-bake treats take only a few minutes to make if you use the microwave method. A big win when during the holiday season.
  • You can make these in your slow cooker too!
  • It makes a nice edible gift for Christmas.

Ingredients for Microwave Chocolate Peanut Clusters

Chocolate Peanut Clusters Recipe (2)

All you need is four simple ingredients.

Peanuts - Many peanut cluster recipes call for dry-roasted peanuts, but I prefer mine with salted peanuts. There is just something about the salty-sweetness that makes these fabulous! You can also use Spanish peanuts for this recipe. You can also use unsalted peanuts if you want.

Semi-Sweet Chocolate Chips - If you are like me, you have these in your pantry year-round. They balance nicely with the next ingredient. I prefer chocolate chips to chocolate melts for this recipe, because you want a true chocolate flavor.

Milk Chocolate Chips - These chips add a nice sweetness to the candy and add a creamier texture to the recipe. I use these chocolate chips.

Shortening - Why do you need to add shortening to the melted chocolate chips? Because it helps thin out the chocolate. Do not try to substitute butter as it will not work.

Equipment & Kitchen Tools

  • bowl
  • measuring cups
  • spoon
  • wax paper or parchment paper
  • cookie sheets or large baking sheets
  • microwave

How To Make Homemade Peanut Clusters

Chocolate Peanut Clusters Recipe (3)
Chocolate Peanut Clusters Recipe (4)

Then you add the peanuts andwhile it looks like baked beans, it is really quite sweet.

Chocolate Peanut Clusters Recipe (5)
Chocolate Peanut Clusters Recipe (6)

You can put them in cupcake liners or candy liners. If you don't have liners, you can just drop candies on a sheet of waxed paper or lined baking sheet and chill.

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After chilling these are ready!

Chocolate Peanut Clusters Recipe (8)
Chocolate Peanut Clusters Recipe (9)

These make a delicious treat any time of year! These are also great for a Valentine's Day gift idea.

Chocolate Peanut Clusters Recipe (10)

Pro Tips and Timesaver Shortcuts

  • Be sure to place clusters on parchment-lined paper for easy removal when set.
  • To speed up the setting process, you can place the clusters in the refrigerator for an hour.
  • To make crockpot peanut clusters, place ingredients in a slow cooker on low for about 2 hours, stirring every 20 minutes.

Variations, Notes, and Substitutions

  • You can substitute white chocolate chips for a nice variation
  • You can add a little coconut to the mixture for a candy variation

Can you make Peanut Clusters in a Crock Pot?

Yes, try my Crock Pot Peanut Clusters recipe.

Serving and Storage Suggestions

  • Store peanut clusters in an airtight container.
  • You can place a few in a cellophane bag and tie them with a ribbon for a fun holiday party favor.
  • Place a few in a food-safe candy box or a mason jar for a nice homemade gift idea.

Freezing Tips

  • You can freeze homemade peanut clusters
  • To freeze, place candies in a zippable freezer bag or a freezer-safe container and store it in the freezer.
  • You can freeze these for up to 2 months.
  • To defrost, simply let warm to room temperature.

More Easy Candy Recipe Ideas

  • Christmas Fudge
  • Easy Homemade Pecan Pie Bark Recipe
  • S'mores Snack Mix
  • Easy Old Fashioned Chocolate Coconut Balls Recipe

.

Salted Peanut Clusters Recipe with Chocolate Chips

📖 Recipe

Chocolate Peanut Clusters Recipe (15)

Salted Peanut Clusters Recipe

Raquel Pineira

This Salted Peanut Clusters Recipe makes delicious candies with just a few ingredients.

Print Recipe Pin Recipe

Prep Time 10 minutes mins

Cook Time 5 minutes mins

Course Candy, Peanut Clusters

Cuisine American

Servings 24

Calories 130 kcal

Ingredients

  • 1 cup semi sweet chocolate chips
  • 1 cup milk chocolate chips
  • 2 tablespoons shortening
  • 2 cups salted peanuts

Instructions

  • In a medium sized bowl, melt chocolate chips and shortening for 1 minute at 50% power.

  • After one minute, try stirring the chocolate.

  • If it is not fully melted, try and additional 30 seconds at 50%. Repeat if necessary

  • Once fully melted, mix together chips and add peanuts.

  • Drop by tablespoonful onto cupcake liners or waxed paper.

  • Chill for 30 minutes in the refrigerator.

Notes

Let the candies cool in the refrigerator at least an hour for best results.

You can also use a baking sheet lined with parchment paper to chill.

Nutrition

Calories: 130kcalCarbohydrates: 9gProtein: 3gFat: 10gSaturated Fat: 3gPolyunsaturated Fat: 2gMonounsaturated Fat: 3gTrans Fat: 1gCholesterol: 2mgSodium: 42mgPotassium: 113mgFiber: 1gSugar: 6gVitamin A: 4IUCalcium: 14mgIron: 1mg

Tried this recipe?Let us know how it was!

I hope you enjoyed this easy homemade peanut clusters recipe. These are great for snacking, lunch boxes or to make for someone special as a gift idea.

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About Raquel

Southern California mom who blogs about time-saving recipes, entertaining and party ideas.

Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. Akaleistar

    Yummy! I can't have peanuts, but I think this would be awesome with pecans 🙂

    Reply

    • Raquel

      I am sure it would be! I love pecans!!

      Reply

  2. Tamara

    It's like the perfect snack! I was wondering what the white ingredient was! Shortening. Well it does the trick.

    Reply

  3. Betsy @ Desserts Required

    Brilliant idea to put the candy into cupcake liners! It makes it sooooo much easier! Sharing on Desserts Required. 🙂

    Reply

    • Raquel

      Thanks so much for sharing Betsy!

      Reply

  4. angie

    my sil always makes peanut clusters my husbands favorite candy. She gives them the treat around chrismas time and his birthday
    thanks for sharing maybe I can make him some now as well
    come see us at http://shopannies.blogspot.com

    Reply

  5. Rose | RoseBakes.com

    Chocolate Peanut Clusters Recipe (16)
    LOVE these Raquel! I mix half semi-sweet chocolate and half peanut butter chips and I also love the salted peanuts! So, so good!

    Reply

    • Raquel

      Thanks so much Rose!

      Reply

  6. Sahana

    Yummy! Thank you for linking up with us at #HomeMattersParty .We would love to see you again next week.

    Reply

    • Raquel

      I will be there - thanks Sahana!

      Reply

  7. Emily

    These sound so good, especially as a holiday treat! Thanks for linking up with Merry Monday!

    Reply

    • Raquel

      Thank you Emily!

      Reply

  8. Ardemia

    Can the shortening be substituted

    Reply

    • Raquel

      You can try it with butter, but I am not sure it works as well.

      Reply

Leave a Reply

Chocolate Peanut Clusters Recipe (2024)

FAQs

Why didn't my peanut clusters harden? ›

This is caused by the ratio of almond bark to chocolate being too low. You need enough almond bark to ensure ensure your Crockpot Chocolate Peanut Clusters harden.

How many calories are in a homemade peanut cluster? ›

Peanuts, Chocolate Covered, Peanut Clusters (1 peanut cluster) contains 7g total carbs, 6.3g net carbs, 4.7g fat, 1.8g protein, and 73 calories.

Why does peanut butter and chocolate go so well together? ›

Partly because about 90 percent of taste is the result of smell, and in the case of peanut butter and chocolate, the complex interplay of their odors works very well. "The flavor and composition of roasted nuts are close to those of cocoa beans, but complementary," says Gregory Ziegler, Ph.

Why is my homemade chocolate not hardening? ›

It could be that your room temperature is too high. If the temperature is over 68 F, this can cause problems. The ideal setting temperature is between 65 and 68 degrees Fahrenheit. It could also be that the chocolate wasn't tempered, because untempered chocolate takes quite a bit longer to set.

How long do chocolate covered peanuts last? ›

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!

When were peanut clusters invented? ›

Fun Fact: Peanut clusters have been around for many years dating way before 1912 when they were made popular by the Goo Goo Cluster.

Can I eat peanuts during keto? ›

Can You Have Peanuts on Keto? The short answer is yes! A ¼ cup serving of peanuts has about 3g net carbs. When you consider that most keto diets restrict daily carbs to about 20-50g, that isn't too bad!

How many calories are in chocolate peanut clusters? ›

Our Family
Nutrition Facts
For a Serving Size of 4 pieces (40g)
How many calories are in Chocolate Covered Peanut Clusters? Amount of calories in Chocolate Covered Peanut Clusters: Calories 220Calories from Fat 153 (69.5%)
% Daily Value *
17 more rows

How many peanuts in a spoon of peanut butter? ›

1 tsp of peanut butter = 5 peanuts.

Which is better chocolate peanut butter or peanut butter? ›

If you are trying to avoid added sugar, salt, or oils, then the natural peanut butter might be the best option for you. If you are looking for a sweeter taste, then the honey or chocolate peanut butter might be more suitable.

Why do you put almond butter over peanut butter? ›

Almond butter is slightly healthier than peanut butter because it has more vitamins, minerals, and fiber. Both nut butters are roughly equal in calories and sugar, but peanut butter has a little more protein than almond butter.

Is it better to eat chocolate or peanut butter? ›

Peanut butter is a good source of protein and healthy fats, while chocolate contains antioxidants and can be a source of flavonoids. It's important to keep in mind that both peanut butter and chocolate can be high in calories and sugar, so it's best to consume them in moderation.

What happens if peanut brittle didn't harden? ›

Why didn't my homemade peanut brittle get hard? The main reason why peanut brittle doesn't get hard and have the crunch we expect is because the sugar was not cooked long enough. The sugar needs to be cooked to what is called the hard crack stage, 300ºF.

Why isn't my hard candy hardening? ›

In hard candy making, it is important to cook all the water out of the sugar/corn syrup/water mixture. If the sugar mixture is not cooked to the proper temperature (the hard-crack stage 300-310° F {149-154° C.} or if you are working in a kitchen with high humidity, chances are your candy is retaining too much moisture.

Why are my peanut butter balls runny? ›

Confectioners' Sugar: Confectioners' sugar binds everything together and adds sweetness. Without this powdery sugar, the peanut butter filling will be too liquid.

Why are my peanuts not getting soft? ›

Dried peanuts may require boiling up to 24 hours until they soften. If your water is hard, full of minerals, or you are boiling at high altitude, then your boiling times for dried peanuts may be greater than 24 hours.

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