Easy Crockpot Candy Recipe (Peanut Clusters) + Video
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Crockpot Candy is a staple of the holiday season in my house. Ooey gooey chocolate cascading over roasted nuts for a remarkably simple yet devastatingly delicious homemade Christmas candy! Even better, you can make these crockpot peanut clusters right in your slow cooker with simple ingredients!
I’m not exaggerating here — watch the video in this post to see just how mouthwatering this easy recipe is!! The creamy chocolate makes this easy crock pot candy recipe one of the best!
You can make this for a holiday party or as a fun and easy way to treat your sweet tooth. This easy crockpot candy recipe is the best way to make a lot of candy for everyone in the house!
There’s no way that you won’t be able to eat these candy clusters – so be ready to dive into these homemade treats!
It’s so much fun to make your own candy at home – new recipes like this are the best! Follow the simple steps on the printable recipe card below to get started!
Crockpot Candy
Sometimes the best sweets are the simplest, and does it get more classic than chocolate and peanuts? My crockpot candy recipe is no fuss with no funny business.
This sweet treat is full of just wholesome, delicious flavors that you can share with your loved ones during the most wonderful time of the year!
The secret to homemade Christmas candy? Make a whole lot of it!! Saltine cracker candy and fudge are super shareable and could put a smile on even the Grinch’s face!
This easy crockpot candy is a must have on your holiday cookie trays. It is such an easy candy to make this time of year with all the gifting and holiday parties.
We enjoy taking time together to bake treats and these take so much less time that most other holiday baking.
Ingredient Notes & Swaps for Chocolate Peanut Clusters
- Peanuts – Honey roasted are my preference, but you’re not limited to just those!
You can certainly use unsalted peanuts, I feel like the honey roasted really make this homemade candy special!
Other nuts are great, too – almonds, walnuts, cashews, and macadamia nuts are some sweet subs your family will love. Or try stirring in some pretzels or rice krispies. - White Almond Bark – I recommend using vanilla for its sweet, subtle flavor. But you could certainly use white chocolate chips. You could even use candy melts.
But, as I always say, the more chocolate the better! So use chocolate almond bark if you’d like. - Semi-sweet Chocolate Chips – Using milk chocolate chips would be a tad too sweet, in my opinion, but you’re welcome to! You can use half semi-sweet and half peanut butter chips.
Dark chocolate chips could also add a nice bitterness. Feel free to also mix and match to get a good balance! - German Chocolate Bar – Baker’s is my go-to! This is also a rather sweet chocolate, so you may want to substitute with a richer option if that’s your preference.
- (Optional) Garnishes – Crushed candy cane, mini marshmallows, holiday sprinkles, toffee bits – there’s almost no end to the holiday toppers you could use!
You could even use a sea salt garnish.
If you’re nuts for nuts, you could even add more crushed peanuts on top to finish!
Tips, Tricks, and Substitutions
- Allergy Friendly Fixes – You don’t need nuts for texture!
There are plenty of pairs for chocolate: pretzel pieces, pumpkin seeds, candy cane chunks, or graham crackers. Just choose your favorite! - Cool Them Quick – Once you’ve laid the crockpot peanut clusters onto the baking sheets lined with parchment or wax paper, pop them in the fridge to help them chill faster.
If you’re planning on using this tip, you may want to use a tiered container or perhaps several smaller baking dishes to fit easily in your fridge. - Tips for Less Mess – Rather than using parchment paper, consider placing the candies in individual muffin liners.
Not only can you easily move them from one place to another, but you can serve them right in the liners! - Great For Gifts! A handful of crockpot Christmas candy bites in cellophane bags are a great party favor or gift for friends during the holiday season.
I highly recommend it! - Making in Bulk? Layer a baking sheet with multiple pieces of parchment paper. Once one sheet is full, move it to another area of your countertop and proceed placing the crockpot candy on the sheet below it.
You can work quickly and efficiently this way! You can also layer hardened candies like this in a single container, helping you store more in one container.
Storing Your Homemade Christmas Candy
Crockpot peanut clusters don’t necessarily need to be refrigerated – they’re a certified countertop candy – but they’ll last longer when chilled!
And if your kitchen is on the warm side, they might get melty and messy if not kept in the refrigerator.
Let slow cooker candy cool to room temperature first if you’re going to store in layers or in the refrigerator.
They’ll last at room temp for a couple weeks, a month in the fridge in an airtight container, and even longer in the freezer!
I toss them in a gallon freezer bag and pull them out as we want them. Thaw for 30 minutes and enjoy.
Crockpot Candy FAQ
Using a small cookie scoop, you can make 12 dozen slow cooker peanut clusters!
While I recommend using a slow cooker for ease, you can easily make this recipe on your stovetop if you’d like to.
Using your stove does, however, require maintenance. Heat the chocolate on a low, low heat while stirring constantly. Once melted, add the peanuts. Stir and transfer with a scooper the same as the original recipe.
You could also go with the double boiler method, helping to quickly melt the chocolate and lowering the risk of burning.
It’s possible that the chocolate you chose doesn’t harden adequately. This often happens if you don’t use enough almond bark, which sets the hardest.
If you don’t wish to use almond bark, then use candy coating discs instead – easily found in the baking or decorating aisle! It can’t be all chocolate chips as they just won’t harden right.
Enjoy!
With love, from our simple kitchen to yours.
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Other Crockpot Candy Recipes
Easy Crockpot Candy Recipe (Peanut Clusters) + Video
Equipment
Ingredients
- 34.5 ounces honey roasted peanuts, I use Planters
- 32 ounces almond bark, vanilla flavored
- 12 ounces semisweet chocolate chips
- 4 ounces German chocolate bar, I use Baker's
- optional garnish: sprinkles or crushed candy canes
Instructions
- Layer ingredients into a 5-quart slow cooker; cover with lid.
- Cook on Low for 1 hour. Do not stir!
- After 1 hour, stir mixture and continue to cook, stirring every 15-20 minutes for another hour (a total of 2 hours).
- Meanwhile, line countertop or table with a long piece of parchment paper.
- Turn off crockpot. Use a 1 tablespoon scooper to portion out candy from crockpot and onto parchment paper. Be sure to leave space between each peanut cluster. While the candy is still warm, garnish with sprinkles or other desired toppings.
- Allow to cool completely.
Video
Nutrition
All nutritional information is based on third party calculations and is only an estimate. Each recipe’s nutritional value will vary depending on the ingredients used, measuring methods, and portion sizes.
Originally published December 2014, updated and republished November 2024
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why bakers choc?
It is a semi sweett baking bar of chocolate. Looks like a large Candy bar. Get it at the grocery store or even Walmart. Sold in a 4oz bar.
Do you put the peanuts in with the chocolate? recipe doesn't say …thank you
It says: Layer ingredients into crockpot (I used a 5 quart), starting with the peanuts.
bakes chocolate is unsweetened, not semi sweet-you use it for brownies. otherwise, I imagine it would say to use 2 cups of semi sweet morsels
I would prefer dark chocolate I'm with the semi sweet morsels, what would I use to replace the German Choc Bar.
I use peanut butter morsal chips instead of the German chocolate. Absolutely relish. I make it every year and send to my sons school for his teachers
How many ounces of peanut butter chips did you use in lieu of the German chocolate Pamela? That sounded delicious.
What is white almond bark?
white almond bark is white chocolate (if you didn't know it is caffeine free) it comes in a block at WalMart for like $2.50… it is delicious~!
It's not actually chocolate. Is a confectionary coating
Agreed. The stuff you get at Walmart barely resembles white chocolate; most of us couldn't afford it, and it can be very tricky to use. Sam's Club used to have 2-lb. chunks of their imitation white chocolate; much higher quality. Now they carry bags of – I've lost the word for it – small circles you can melt much more easily than chopping up the blocks.
I used vanilla-flavored chips in place of the almond bark, and it worked great.
Oooh, Donna, I do hope you'll swing by to Food on Friday to add this to Christmas Favourites! Cheers from Carole from Carole's Chatter
Cool! No fuss candy. Thanks for sharing.
Linda
Can you use a oven bag in the crockpot for easier clean up with this recipe?
I do this every year. It makes cleanup a breeze
I'm allergic to tree nuts, can I substitute white chocolate for the almond bark?
Almond bark is a white confectionery coating, similar to white chocolate, but it contains vegetable fat instead of cocoa butter. There are no nuts in it, but you could absolutely substitute white chocolate.
This comment has been removed by the author.
There are no almonds in almond bark unless you add them. Ingredients: Sugar (Sugar, Cornstarch), Partially Hydrogenated Palm Kernel Oil, Whey Powder, Soy Lecithin (An Emulsifier) And Artificial Flavor. Contains Soy And Milk Products.
Almond Bark doesn't necessarily contain almonds. Check the ingredient list on the package.
White chocolate and almond bark are the same thing.double check the package for ingredients just to make sure.
We made this before with a crockpot liner…big mistake! It was like the peanuts got so hot, they burned through the liner and everything was scorched!
Thanks for the tip Brooke, we have readers asking about that.
I have made this recipe for years and ALWAYS use a crock pot liner, never had a problem. Be patient and keep on low setting. Makes cleanup SOOOOO much easier.
I just soaked the crock for a bit in hot soapy water and it cleaned up very quickly and easily.
Half the joy of making this is to be able to scrap the crock pot, when it's cooler of course. It's one step better than licking the frosting bowl! There was very little to soak off the first time I made them!!
I have made this for the past several years and have always used a liner. Never any problems.
What is vanilla almond bark and where can I get it?
Any grocery store will have it in the baking section. I get mine at Aldi during the holidays.
Some brands call the almond bark, Candy Quik. It is usually on the baking aisle and comes in a little tray. You just break it up and add to the crock pot.
we do something similar every year but never though to use the crockpot for it before. GENIUS!
Thanks! Hope it makes your candy making easier.
Thank you for all of your great recipes! I'm going to make this for Christmas! How long can I store this in a container? Does it need to be refrigerated?
Donna- email me at bellecooking at gmail dot com if you might be interested in doing link swaps each week.
I had to add milk to it as it was a hard solid mass. Also could not find almond bark so I used white chips and some almond extract – we haven't tasted yet but it smells good!
your almond extract is what made it a solid mass – it has alcohol in it – this sets chocolate.
almond bark is in the Jewel baking section…….it's a must have
Thank you! Won't do that again! 🙂 What is a jewel baking section?
p.s. I also added coconut (for hubby) and some powdery almonds along w/ dry roasted unsalted peanuts (son won't eat salt) did not have red & green jimmies so I smashed red & white mints for sprinkling. Due to my changes they would not harden as individual treats so I returned to crockpot & melted it down again, lined 2 baking sheets w/ parchment paper & spread it as a solid mass. Left out to harden overnight & cut into small squares. They are AMAZING!!!!! Son works at a 1 star Michelin restaurant & crabby Exec Chef flipped out over the deliciousness! Thank you! Now looking to play around with a peanut butter/chocolate/peanut mixture 🙂
How much almond extract
How much does this make? Thinking about packaging and gifting in the office.
Mine made about 12 dozen 1 tablespoon candies. Enjoy!
I did not have a 1 TBS. scoop so dropped from a teaspoon and got about 90 candies so were a bit larger than those from the recipe. Doesn't matter, put three dishes of them around the side tables for Christmas Day and refilled the dishes at least 3 times and still had enough to send home with guests and to freeze. I recommend at least halving the recipe unless you are making for gifts or having a really large crowd of guests. DELICIOUS!
Sounds so easy. I want to try this with pecans and caramel some how. Haven't quite figured out how yet.
I am with you on that. I am trying to figure it out myself. Let me know what you come up with and if I figure it out, I will let you share it.
try after you place spoon of mixture on paper making I well in center before it can set up, then melt your camel as normal and fill the well with the carmel and let set up before packaging
That would turn them into "turtles" Look for a recipe for them. I use to have one that used a can of condensed milk boiled in the can in a pot filled with water they were wonderful.
Use pecans and caramel baking bits. Kraft has them, and I've seen Snickers baking bits as well. I'm sure there are others. If you can't find them locally, just look online.
Maybe carmel and nuts in crockpot, then will have to deep in chocolate,
I've been making this for several years and like to vary the ingredients. I have added peanut butter morsels, caramel pieces, and chopped unsalted MIXED nuts! All turned out great, but my family's favorite is mixed nuts.
My family also, but it is always eaten no matter the ingredients. I also use butterscotch chips which makes them even richer tasting.
Can I substitute almonds for peanuts and caramel for bark?? I would like some Almond bears
Get the Kraft caramel bits (or something similar) and stir them in at the last minute?
DO you put the peanuts as the first layer or the almond bark? And do you grease the bottom of the crock pot?
The recipe says to layer the ingredients in the crock pot, starting with the peanuts. Where is the confusion?
One bag semisweet choc chips one bag butterscotch chips, can of redskin peanuts. Melt the chips in your crock pot, stir in the peanuts and Use a 1 tablespoon scooper to scoop out candy from crock pot and onto parchment paper.
One bag of semi sweet chocolate chips one bag of butterscotch chips and one can of redskin peanuts. Melt chips in the crock pot, stir in peanuts and Use a 1 tablespoon scooper to scoop out candy from crock pot and onto parchment paper.
I add chow mein noodles and marshmellows to this mixture. My kids call them spider cookies.
I was thinking by about the Clemson noodles and marshmallows, but, when I make mine i only use butterscotch chips. No chocolate chips. We call them haystacks.
Going to try this today! Sounds delicious!
In the crock pot right now. Hoping it turns out…
Tried making these with no luck. The chocolate will not harden up. What could I have done wrong?
Same thing here. Very frustrated as it was not super cheap to make. What happened?
put them in the fridge.
You need to be sure to use the chocolate or vanilla bark, that is what hardens nicely, the chips alone won't harden nearly as well without the bark, if you can't find bark use candy making chocolate.
Yes, I haven't tried the posted recipe, but if chocolate hasn't been tempered properly (or has gotten too hot after tempering), it may not harden the way you want (chocolate can cool and crystallize in any one of 6 different forms, and only one is what you actually want).
The easiest solution is to use products made for dipping and candy making, such as Wilton Melts, or items labeled as "bark" which can be bought at craft stores, such as Michael's.
These candies and chocolates are made with other fats in addition to the cocoa butter, so they set up the way you want them to without having to be as careful with the temperature.
I made this recipe but I put muffin paper liners in a muffin pan…scooped 1 1/2 tbls of mixture into each and allowed to cool! Worked out GREAT!
Just got done making these candies but put them in mini baking cups instead of parchment paper hence less handling them with my hands. it was really easy to make but I will let you know how they taste. fingers crossed
OMG these were delicious and took them to work for three days and gave them away to the neighbors
I am so happy you loved them. Happy New Year!
I have made these in the microwave. I use 1/2 block of chocolate (from Walmart) and 1 can of Spanish peanuts and it turns out great.
When I make this stovetop, I never cook my nuts first. I've used all kinds of nuts, peanuts, cashews, canned mixed nuts, raisins, even mini marshmallows! What does cooking the nuts first do?
The recipe doesn't say to cook the peanuts first. It does say to layer all the ingredients in the crockpot, starting with the peanuts.
Why not melt chocolates in the microwave then add nuts and drop by spoonfuls?
That's what I do. Takes a fraction of the time that a slow cooker does and the results are the same.
could you please tell me how to store the candy once it has cooled? thank you,
jane