Just 5 minutes, 4 ingredients and 2 hours in the crock pot will get you great candy for holiday giving or use these chocolate peanut clusters for the cookie exchange, or the office holiday party.
It is the holiday season, and we are all rushed. Or at least you are, I’m retired now, YEA.
So I have for you a recipe that will take you only 5 minutes preparation time mostly spent breaking up the chocolate and almond bark. 2 hours on low in the crock pot and a few minutes scooping. Use your two hours any way you want. I took a nap.
I have seen this recipe around for a few years, and I’m sure it is a lot older than that. I will use the Food.com version as my stated inspiration piece.
But I found at least six variations. Some used half unsalted nuts. There is some variation in the chocolate and a few add vanilla.
My Rating
An easy 5. These are evil good.
Pro Tips: Recipe Notes for Crock Pot Chocolate Peanut Clusters
It is alway interesting to read the comments on recipes. The comments on this one will tell the story. Everybody gave it 5 stars.
There were lots of variations by the commenters, so this should tell you it is a very forgiving recipe. Change the nuts, add some coconut, switch out the almond bark for something else. It just always works.
The Almond Bark
Almond bark is a vanilla flavored candy coating is made with vegetable fats instead of cocoa butter. It also has some coloring and flavors added.
Almond bark comes in bars and chunks and it is very a chocolate-like in uses texture and tastes but tends to be harder. Sometime called coating candy.
It is a bit “old school” to use almond bark since the newer (ok not that new) candy melts are basically the same or at least close enough, you use the same weight.
Almond bark is sometimes hard to find. Smaller market will usually have during the holiday season. Walmart, I believe, usually has it in stock.
The Nuts
I used standard dry roasted peanuts. The recipe calls for two pounds, and my container was just over the 2 pounds. I eat the extra. But it would have been fine just to dump it all in.
Some recipes use part or all unsalted. Cashews or almonds would be great substitutes. Some added coconut which would also be a nice addition.
The size of the recipe and servings.
I know this is to be a large amount. But my wife had plans to give some away. I suggest a half recipe for most households.
The serving size is about one tablespoon which is about one heaping kitchen teaspoon. Make them a little small says the guy who has eaten a hundred of these.
Low Vs. High on the Crock Pot.
Why low? Can I just turn it up? No, please don’t do that.
On low, most crock pots are about 200 degrees. On high some crock pots may run 250+ degrees. They shouldn’t but they do. That is just too high for chocloate and will ruin the texture.
I use a standard size (6-8 quart) size crock pot for this recipe. If you cut it in half, you can use a smaller crock pot.
Only 4 ingredients.
Dump the peanuts into a medium to large crock pot. Top with the rest of the ingredients. Cover and cook on low for 2 hours.
Mix well. Spoon heaping spoonfuls onto parchment paper. Try not to make them too big. It is candy not cookies.
Allow to cool for about 2 hours.
Do you want more recipes from 101 Cooking for Two? Sign up for the newsletter and get all posts delivered straight to your inbox!
If you enjoyed this recipe, the pleasure of a rating in the recipe card is requested.
- 2 pounds dry roasted peanuts salted or light salted
- 2 pounds white almond bark May use candy "melts"
- 1 pound semi-sweet chocolate chips or chunks
- 4 ozs German milk chocolate bar
- Dump the peanuts into a medium to large crock pot (6-8 quart). Top with the rest of the ingredients. Cover and cook on low for 2 hours.
- Mix well. Spoon heaping spoonfuls onto parchment paper. Try not to make them too big. It is candy not cookies.
- Allow to cool for about 2 hours.
Pro Tips:
- Cook on low with cover on. Do not cook on high.
- You may use candy "melts" if unable to find almond bark.
- I like the German chocolate but if you must, substitute in more chocolate chips.
- I suggest a half recipe for most households.
- The serving size is about one tablespoon which is about one heaping kitchen teaspoon. Make them a little small.
- I like lightly salted nuts here, but full salt is ok. Some recipes call for a pound each of salted and unsalted.
________________________________
All nutritional information are estimates and may vary from your actual results. This is home cooking, and there are many variables. To taste ingredients such as salt will be my estimate of the average used.
If you like this recipe or find it useful, the pleasure of a nice 4 or 5 rating would be greatly appreciated. Rating is done by clicking on the stars above.
Last updated
November 25, 2016
Related Posts:
Jenny
I added a bag of small marshmallows to this recipe, it worked out perfectly!
Chris
Would there be a difference between vanilla almond bark and chocolate almond bark?
DrDan
Hi Chris,
Welcome to the blog.
The chocolate usual has some cocoa but does not have to where the vanilla has vanilla ( I had to say it). I think the vanilla adds a little something but extra cocoa wouldn’t be bad either. So use what you can find.
Dan
Diane
Can you use
milk chocolate chips
DrDan
Yep, it should be fine. The milk chocolate has more sugar and less cocoa so the flavor will be slightly different but still fine. If you made a batch of each, you might not be able to tell them apart but I think I could if I knew there was a difference. But I believe I would like both equally.
Dan
Helen
Using a plastic crock pot liner makes this an even better experience!!
Lori
Going to make these today. Is there a specific nut that stands out more than another for this recipe? I saw some suggestions but wondering what the consensus is.
DrDan
Dry roasted lightly salted peanuts are my favorite. Friends use roasted almonds.
Eva
Have made different recipes for crock pot fudge before without much luck! Made this recipe and it is delicious🤗. Am making another recipe for gifts 👌🏻
monica
Well…I’ve made this before but I forgot the German Chocolate at the store and cant get there for a few days and I need to make it. :) So, I am going to give it a try without GC. I think all it does is add a bit more sweetness to it or more balance…I dunno. Gonna try anyways.
DrDan
Maybe some chocolate chips?
Dan
Joe
I made several batches of these, and this recipe is VERY flexible. I tried it with almonds and coconut. I added caramel chunks to the peanuts, and I also made a batch with white chocolate and cashews. Then, I tried pretzel sticks instead of nuts. We put one of each variety in gift bags to hand out during the holidays.
DrDan
Many of our friends did this over the holidays with endless variations. It just always works.
Thanks for the note and Happy Holidays.
Dan
Rita D.
I too changed out the almond bark for more chocolate. And I found something interesting. I now know why you say to use parchment paper or waxed paper – if you drop it onto aluminum foil to cool, it acts like putting them into the frig and the chocolate dries to a dull finish instead of a shine.
BEWARE all you folks who didn’t go out and buy parchment paper!
Robin Baker
I I’m not a big fan of peanuts and neither is my husband, so we switched out the peanuts for cashews and made the recipe otherwise the same way… Oh my goodness! Heavenly is all I can say. Our daughter and her husband finished off what we couldn’t, and I swear I put on several pounds, but it was definitely worth it!! Thanks so much
DrDan
Sounds great.
Thanks for the note and happy holidays
Dan
I'm not a cook
What about subbing in a package of caramel bits for some of the almond bark and pecans instead of peanuts. Has anyone tried it? Did it work?
DrDan
I don’t know the characteristics of the caramel and how it will react to cooking like this to answer that part. But I have many friends doing pecans and almonds for the peanuts.
Bud
That is a great idea. Try adding 2 tblsp of vanilla and a 1/4 teaspoon of nutmeg to this recipe along with the original recipe. Add or substitute the pecans and any kind of nuts to this and there you will have them begging for more.
DrDan
I think way too yummy. Bound to be repeated here frequently.
I took a whole recipe to my old office last week. I make the pieces a little more appropriate size and had 120 for the 20 employees. It does make a huge amount. But I would think it would freeze well.
Dan
Leslie
5 star recipe, easy and yummy! I put half of the candy I made in my freezer, have not tried (the frozen) version, will update after serving.