When you are short on time these chocolate peanut clusters will save the day! Loaded with peanuts and marshmallows, these homemade chocolate candies are quick and easy to prepare for a crowd. They make a perfect addition to your holiday baking!
Every holiday season I have to bring a treat to my son’s piano recital. And each year it always falls the week before Christmas and somehow manages to sneak up on me. Because there are a lot of people in attendance, I always look for recipes that make a large quantity so I can leave some at home and still bring enough to share. While I love making cute Christmas treats, sometimes they are just too time consuming. Last year I added a small twist on classic chocolate peanut clusters and they were a huge hit with both my family and the concert goers.
How to Make Chocolate Peanut Clusters
Making chocolate peanut clusters is ridiculously easy. I love homemade candies like these for holiday baking because not only are they quick, they are virtually fool proof. To make them, you’ll need to melt chocolate chips and peanut butter and stir in dry roasted peanuts. I like to mix things up by using both butterscotch and milk chocolate chips but you could also use semi-sweet chocolate or swap out the chocolate chips for almond bark. Then you simply drop into little clusters on a lined baking sheet and refrigerate until firm. It really takes less than 15 minutes to make. You can even make them in a crockpot.
Chocolate Peanut Clusters with a Twist
Last year I added in mini marshmallows which really made this classic candy even better! The combination of the smooth chocolate, chewy marshmallows and crunchy peanuts was a perfect blend of flavors and textures. If you aren’t a fan of marshmallows, no problem. You can simply add 5 cups of dry roasted peanuts and leave out the marshmallows entirely.
Quick Tip: You’ll want to be sure you give your chocolate mixture a chance to cool a bit so you don’t melt the marshmallows as you stir them in.
Chocolate Peanut Clusters
When you are short on time these chocolate peanut clusters will save the day! Loaded with peanuts and marshmallows, these homemade chocolate candies are quick and easy to prepare for a crowd. They make a perfect addition to your holiday baking!
Ingredients
- 1 bag 11.5 oz milk chocolate chips
- 1 bag 11 oz butterscotch chips
- 1 cup creamy peanut butter
- 4 cups mini marshmallows
- 2 cups dry roasted peanuts
Instructions
-
In a heavy saucepan over low heat, melt chocolate and butterscotch chips and peanut butter until smooth, stirring often. (Can also melt in intervals in microwave.)
-
Cool for 10 minutes.
-
Stir in peanuts and gently fold in marshmallows.
-
Line baking sheets with a silicone baking sheet, wax paper or aluminum foil.
-
Drop candy by rounded tablespoonfuls onto baking sheets.
-
Refrigerate until firm, approximately 30 minutes.
-
Store in airtight container.
While I might make this recipe for my Christmas baking, it works great year round and for other holidays like Thanksgiving, New Years, Valentine’s Day and Easter. If you love making your own candy, I highly recommend these homemade peanut butter cups!
Do you have a favorite easy holiday candy that you make year after year?
Leave a Reply