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Crockpot Candy is the definition of an easy treat! No baking, no candy thermometer, and no tempering required! Made with peanuts and a variety of chocolate and peanut butter chips, these nut clusters are sweet, salty, and take just minutes to prep. Perfect for holiday parties or a no-bake treat in the heat of summer.
Kristen's Keys for Crockpot Candy
Paying attention to these few things will help to ensure your nut clusters are glossy, easy to portion, and always delicious.
- Skip the almond bark. Instead of candy melts or almond bark, opt for a combination dark chocolate, white chocolate, and peanut butter chips, which ensures a rich and decadent treat that is perfectly balanced.
- Pick quality white chocolate. Look for white chocolate that contains actual cocoa butter (like Guittard white baking chips), not just palm oil or coconut oil. This will ensure a creamy melt and the best flavor.
- Place a towel under the lid. A small clean kitchen towel will absorb condensation, preventing moisture from dripping into the chocolate, which would cause the chocolate to potentially seize up.
- Cook on low heat. Low, steady heat melts chocolate gently, keeping it glossy rather than grainy.
How to Make Crockpot Candy
Think of this section as me guiding you through exactly how I make these chocolate covered nut clusters in my own kitchen.
Step One: Layer Ingredients in Slow Cooker
Start by greasing the liner for your slow cooker with coconut oil or nonstick spray. Then add in peanuts (or nuts of your choice) and top with dark chocolate, white chocolate, and peanut butter chips. Do not stir!
👉🏻Don't skip greasing the liner! It saves cleanup and keeps clusters from sticking.
Step Two: Slow Cook
Place a clean kitchen towel over the liner of the slow cooker and then place the lid on the slow cooker. Cook on low heat for 1 hour. After an hour, give the mixture a stir. If the chocolate is not fully melted, place the towel and lid back on the slow cooker and cook for an additional 15-30 minutes.
Step Three: Scoop Clusters
Once the chocolate is fully melted, use a small cookie scoop or two small spoons to portion out the crockpot candy into small mounds onto parchment paper or into mini muffin cups.
👉🏻Want to add sprinkles? Immediately sprinkle nut clusters with sprinkles or flaky sea salt before the chocolate has time to harden.
Step Four: Let Harden
Let the candy sit out at room temperature for 1-2 hours until the chocolate is hard to the touch.
👉🏻Speed it Up! Pop the candies into the refrigerator to speed up the setting time.
Recipe Variations
- Make it Festive: After scooping the chocolate peanut clusters out onto the parchment paper, sprinkle them with festive sprinkles suitable for Christmas, Halloween, Valentine's Day--any holiday you like!
- Swap out the Nuts: Walnuts, almonds, pistachios, cashews, or a combination or different nuts works in place of the peanuts.
- Nut-Free Crockpot Candy: If you are nut-free, use 3 cups of small pretzels, raisins, an/or or mini marshmallows. You will also want to replace the peanut butter chips with either additional white or dark chocolate chips.
- Butterscotch Crockpot Candy: For a sweeter, buttery-tasting Crockpot Candy, replace the peanut butter chips with butterscotch chips.
Tips on Storage
Crockpot candy needs to be stored in an airtight container in a cool, dry spot and will last for up to 2 weeks. If your house is on the warmer side, it is best to store the candies in the refrigerator, rather than at room temperature, to prevent the chocolate from melting.
More Easy No-Bake Chocolate Treats
Crockpot Candy
Video
Ingredients
- coconut oil or nonstick spray for greasing
- 16 ounces dry roasted, salted peanuts
- 1 cup dark chocolate chips, (6 ounces)
- 1 cup peanut butter chips, (6 ounces)
- 1 cup white chocolate chips, (6 ounces)
- 1 cup semi-sweet chocolate chips, (6 ounces)
Instructions
- Lightly grease the liner of the slow cooker with coconut oil or nonstick spray for greasing. Line 2 large baking sheets with parchment paper or silicone mats and set aside.
- Spread 16 ounces dry roasted, salted peanuts out on the bottom of the slow cooker. If your nuts are not salted, sprinkle with ½ teaspoon of salt. Sprinkle 1 cup dark chocolate chips, 1 cup peanut butter chips, 1 cup white chocolate chips, and 1 cup semi-sweet chocolate chips evenly over the nuts. Do not stir.
- Place a clean kitchen towel over the liner of the slow cooker and then place the lid on the slow cooker. Turn the slow cooker to LOW heat. Cook on low heat for 1 hour.
- Remove the lid and towel and give the mixture a stir. If needed, recover and continue to cook for 15-30 minutes until the chocolate is fully melted. After 15 minutes, remove the lid again, and mix the nuts evenly into the melted chocolate until everything is nice and combined and the nuts are fully coated in the chocolate mixture.
- Using a small cookie scoop or two small spoons, scoop 1-2 tablespoons of the crockpot candy into small mounds onto the prepared baking sheets. Allow the candy to set up and the chocolate to harden at room temperature for an hour or so, or speed up the process by placing the trays into the refrigerator for 10-15 minutes.
- Remove the candy from the silicone mats or parchment paper and store them for up to 14 days in an airtight container in the refrigerator or a cool, dry spot.
Notes
Nutrition
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
Thank you Kristen. I just saw my bag of semi sweet chips is 12 ounces I could just use that whole bag.
Absolutely! Enjoy!
I have made this and everyone really enjoyed it. Will be making again.
Wonderful! I love hearing that!
can you double this recipe
Hi Anne! Yes, you can, but keep in mind you may need a tiny bit longer to cook, so that the chocolate fully warms through. Enjoy
If you have a peanut allergy which chocolate would you recommend as a replacement?
I would use semi-sweet or milk chocolate in place of peanut butter chips 🙂
Making this for Christmas gathering. Would pecans work well in this? If so, what amount of pecans and would they need to be chopped?
Hi Sheena! If you would like to use pecans, I would suggest using 3 cups of halved pecans. Enjoy!
Thanks so much! Can't wait to give it a try 🙂
One more question - should I add salt since they are not like the salted peanuts? (Thank you for answering all my questions lol)
Hi Sheena! For unsalted nuts, simply add ½ teaspoon of kosher salt or sea salt to the crockpot before slow cooking.
Hello - We LOVE this candy! Does one piece = 1 serving? Thank you for the effort and time you put into such a delightful blog!
I am thrilled to hear you enjoy! The nutrition is based on approximately 1 cluster. 🙂
We’re do we get the peanut butter chips we don’t have them in Australia a haven’t seen them
Hi Kerry! You can use additional chocolate chips in their place.