Crock Pot White Chocolate Almond Clusters

Great white chocolate almond clusters are an easy crock pot candy with these step by step photo instruction for the perfect white chocolate candy.

Everybody loves great candy, and it makes awesome gifts. What would be better than to give great candy that you made yourself? Just don’t tell them how easy it is to make.

I have a wonderful chocolate peanut cluster recipe that many people use for holiday gifts, but it is time to change it up a bit. This kicks up that recipe a few notches.

My Rating:

This is the easiest 5 rating of the year.

Pro Tips: Recipe Notes for Crock Pot White Chocolate Almond Clusters

What is White Chocolate?

The FDA said to be called white chocolate; a product contains at least of 20% cocoa butter, 14% milk solids, and 3.5% milk fat — and no more than 55% sugar or other sweeteners. There is a bit more to it, but that is enough for us.  FDA Offical Definition

Note that there is no cocoa powder in white chocolate. Obviously, that would no longer be white. Some will argue it is not chocolate without the cocoa powder. That is an argument for another day.

What “chocolate” to use?

White cooking chips are almost never labeled as chocolate since they don’t meet the minimum requirements. Many are just downright bad.

Since the main “feature” of this recipe is the coating, I went with one of the top-rated chips from Ghirardelli. I added a bar of white cooking chocolate for more cocoa butter. I also used some “Almond Bark.”

NOTE: This is NOT a sponsored post, and I have no relationship of any type with Ghirardelli. I mention them by name since it is a commonly available good quality brand. There are other excellent choices also. But the quality of the components is important for top quality results.

Almond Bark vs. Candy Melts:

Candy Melts, candy wafers, chocolate coating, and almond bark are products made for coating without needing to temper chocolate or other special handling.

Almond bark (which do not contain almonds) is a bit old school, and in recent years, we see more “candy melt” products available. These candy making components will have partly hydronated oil that will firm up the coating and have no cocoa butter.

Think of them all as interchangeable. They will help you produce excellent results with no fuss.

Some people like the results with just almond bark/candy melts and only use these for all the “chocolate” in a recipe like this. I want better.

The Nuts:

I used roasted almonds this time, but you can add almost anything. Since we are using a closed crock pot, you don’t want anything with significant water.

The Ratio:

You will want about 1 1/2 pounds of “chocolate” to 1 pound of nuts. It can be a little more or a little less.

I used an 11 oz bag of chips, 4 oz of white chocolate baking bar, and 10 oz of almond bark (5 squares of the brand I used). So 25 oz of “chocolate.”

Other Crock Pot Candies
Crock Pot Chocolate Peanut Clusters
Crock Pot Fudge

Decide on the “Chocolate” you are using. I have 11 oz. of  Ghirardelli chips, one four oz bar of Ghirardelli white baking chocolate and I used 10 oz. of white almond bark.

Spray a smaller crock pot with a good coat of PAM.

Add 1 pound of almonds to the crock pot then top with all the “chocolate”. Cover and cook on low. In most crock pots that should be 2 hours, but some crock pots are a bit hotter and may have a hotter area. Stir and check at 60 and 90 minutes. When it is melted and combines completely, you are done.

Mix well then spoon out onto parchment paper. The serving size is about one tablespoon which is about one heaping kitchen teaspoon.

I like to use two spoons: one to scoop and one to push it onto the parchment. Make them a little small with 3-4 almonds each and mix the crock pot occasionally while spooning.

Allow to cool about 30 minutes.

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5 from 5 votes

Crock Pot White Chocolate Almond Clusters

Great white chocolate almond clusters are an easy crock pot candy with these step by step photo instruction for the perfect white chocolate candy.

Prep Time10 mins

Cook Time2 hrs

Total Time2 hrs 10 mins

Author: Dan Mikesell AKA DrDan

Servings/Adjustment: 80

Ingredients

• 1 pound almonds
• 11 oz white chips - Ghirardelli preferred
• 4 oz white chocloate bar - Ghirardelli preferred
• 10 oz vanilla almond bark - or candy melts

US Customary - Metric

Instructions

• Decide on the "Chocolate" you are using. 11 oz. of Ghirardelli chips (one bag), one four oz bar of Ghirardelli white baking chocolate and I used 10 oz. of white almond bark.
• Spray a smaller crock pot with a good coat of PAM.
• Add 1 pound of almonds to the crock pot then top with all the "chocolate".
• Cover and cook on low. Add 1 pound of almonds to the crock pot then top with all the "chocolate". Cover and cook on low. In most crock pots that should be 2 hours, but some crock pots are a bit hotter and may have a hotter area. Stir and check at 60 and 90 minutes. When it is melted and combines completely, you are done.
• Mix well then spoon out onto parchment paper. The serving size is about one tablespoon which is about one heaping kitchen teaspoon.
• I like to use two spoons: one to scoop and one to push it onto the parchment. Make them a little small with 3-4 almonds each and mix the crock pot occasionally while spooning.
• Allow to cool about 30 minutes.

Recipe Notes

Pro Tips

1. You can use a larger crock pot.
2. You need a ratio of about 1 pound of nuts to 1 1/2 pounds of "chocolate."
3. Since the coating is the main feature of this recipe, you need good quality. There is a lot of bad white "chocolate" out there. I used Ghirardelli which is good quality.
4. I added the baking chocolate bar to get more cocoa butter and even better taste.
5. Think of almond bark and candy "melts" of various types as interchangeable.
6. Most crock pots that should be 2 hours, but some crock pots are a bit hotter and may have a hotter area. Stir and check at 60 and 90 minutes. When it is melted and combines completely, you are done.
7. I suggest getting about 4 almonds in most clusters as you spoon them out. They are very rich, and that is the size I think most people will want.
8. I got at least 80 pieces, but I had some bigger pieces. I think if you keep to the 4 almond per piece range, you will be closer to 100.
9. An easy recipe to double or cut in half.
10. Store in airtight container. If refigerated then good for several weeks. Freeze if you need to store longer.

Nutrition Facts

Crock Pot White Chocolate Almond Clusters

Amount Per Serving

Calories 82 Calories from Fat 54

% Daily Value*

Total Fat 6g 9%

Saturated Fat 3g 15%

Cholesterol 0.3mg 0%

Sodium 15mg 1%

Potassium 36mg 1%

Total Carbohydrates 7g 2%

Dietary Fiber 1g 4%

Sugars 6g

Protein 1g 2%

Vitamin A 0.1%

Vitamin C 0.1%

Calcium 2%

Iron 1%

* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.

 

Have a question or something not clear? Ask in the comments.

 

Nutrition is for one serving. Number of servings is stated above and is my estimate of normal serving size for this recipe.

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.

Originally Published December 2, 2018