Homemade Easter Candy + Video
This post may contain affiliate links. Please read my disclosure policy.
Homemade Easter Candy Clusters are a simple, impressive 3-ingredient homemade Easter dessert recipe that everyone will be raving about! An easy crockpot dessert recipe that you layer in the slow cooker, stir, and scoop. It is so easy it almost makes itself.
This white chocolate Easter candy is so easy and delicious that we have made many varieties.
Check out our St Patrick’s Day Crockpot Candy, Crockpot Turtles Candy, and our original Christmas Crockpot Candy
Homemade Easter Candy
I love quick and easy treats, and I especially love my crockpot. When they come together, it is pure magic!
This simple 3-ingredient homemade Easter candy recipe is creamy, crunchy, peanutty, and incredibly gorgeous. What treats do you make in your slow cooker?
A few years ago I created my first ever crockpot candy recipe, and it has gone wild on our site ever since. This past Christmas I decided to make a variation.
And so, Crockpot Chocolate and Caramel Pecan Clusters (AKA Turtles) were born. Truly genius and amazing, if I must say so myself!
With spring upon us, I was up for a new magnificent creation and I have to say, I have outdone myself.
Need easy meal ideas for Easter, we have an entire list of our favorites.
Tips for Making White Chocolate Easter Candy
- Choose great chocolate. There are a variety of options (found below) that will work with this recipe. Whatever you choose, make sure it’s high quality for best results.
- Adjust the size as needed. You can use two spoons to drop the candy onto your parchment paper, but using a tablespoon scooper is my preferred method.
It ensures all of the Easter candies will be the same size, and it is easier and less messy. - Use holiday candies and sprinkles. Pastel colored M&Ms and sprinkles are what make these so festive.
What you will need:
- Vanilla Candy Coating – You can use Candy Quick, Almond Bark (not actually made with almonds), vanilla candy melts, and even white chocolate in this recipe.
- 4-6 Quart Slow Cooker – This is my favorite whether I am making the best Easter candy or an easy meal!
- 1 Tablespoon Scooper – This is one of my favorite kitchen tools. It is perfect for candy making, meatballs, and so many more recipes.
- Crockpot Liners – I never use them because I wash the crock when it is still a little warm and the candy comes right out.
But, if you are worried about the clean up, these are foolproof. - Parchment Paper – Scoop your Easter candies onto parchment to set. It will keep your pans clean and the treats peel right off!
Best Easter Candy FAQs
Yes! You can make this homemade Easter candy up to 5 days in advance. Keep it stored in a cool dry place so the chocolate doesn’t melt and stays fresh.
Of course! Chop up your favorite Easter candy bars or candies and sprinkle them on top before it sets up.
You can also stir some Easter candies into the white chocolate, but sometimes it’s not as visible, so we like to sprinkle them on top.
Enjoy!
With love, from our simple kitchen to yours.
Don’t miss a thing! Follow us on
Facebook | Twitter | Pinterest | Instagram
More Amazing Candy Recipes
Homemade Easter Candy + Video
Ingredients
- 34.5 ounces honey roasted dry roasted peanuts, I used planters
- 48 ounces vanilla-flavored candy coating, Almond Bark or CandiQuik
- 11.4 ounces Holiday M&Ms, divided
- seasonal sprinkles, optional, I used jimmies and nonpareils
Instructions
- Layer peanuts and then vanilla candy coating into a 5-quart crockpot. Cover with lid and cook on Low for 1 hour without lifting the lid. After 1 hour, remove the lid and stir the mixture. Cover again and continue to cook, stirring every 15-20 minutes, for another hour (a total of 2 hours).
- Meanwhile, line 3 cookie sheets with Silpat mats or line countertop or table with a long piece of parchment paper.
- Turn off the crockpot. Reserve 1/2 cup M&M's.
- When you are ready to scoop, pour remaining M&M’s into the crockpot and fold in.
- Working quickly, use a 1 tablespoon scooper to portion out candy from crockpot and onto parchment or Silpat. Make sure candy clusters are not touching. Once the entire cookie sheet is full (before candy dries) top each candy with 1 M&M and sprinkles.
- Allow the candy 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 March 2016, updated and republished March 2023
Disclosure: Posts may contain affiliate links. If you purchase a product through an affiliate link your price will remain the same and The Slow Roasted Italian will automatically receive a small commission. Thank you for supporting us, it helps us keep creating new recipes.
Love your recipes!
This looks great and it's easy!
Can you use milk chocolate?
Yes
Use crock pot liners. They are wonderful!
In the uk what would the candy coating be i am guessing just white chocolate
How tough is the clean up?
Try lining your crock pot with a Slow Cooker bag, and then just toss the bag when it's cleanup time.
Have you ever used the liners for your crock pot? I do and will when I make this for Easter.
Use a crock pot liner, available at any grocery store….clean up is a breeze!!
I made two batches because I am taking them to the church tomorrow for Easter. I used a liner on the first batch. It is very difficult to stir the chocolate peanuts together the bag slips. The second batch I did not use a bag and it was so much easier to stir. I recommend not using the bag.Cleanup is basically soaking your crockpot in some warm soapy water and the spoon that you stirred with for 5 minutes wash it with some soap and rinse it out not hard to clean it all
Could you use regular white chocolate from the baking aisle?
I don't like white chocolate, can I use milk chocolate?
Yes
Yes
I think white and milk chocolate taste the same. And yes I will ise regular white chocolate from the baking aisle.
Could you use regular white chocolate, like you would find in the baking aisle?
I wonder if you could substitute almonds or cherrios or something other than peanuts. Can't eat them.
yes
I will use Rice Crispier instead of nuts.
Is there a nut-free replacement? Would pretzels work instead?
after it cools for a minute you can use miniature marshmallows
I used pecans, worked well and love the taste.
Can I just melt the almond bark in the microwave?
Yes you can make this in the microwave,just melt the chocolate as package says then take out ,pour peanuts in bowl mix well add 1/2 bag of m&m in ,spread or drop spoon fills on to wax paper then add the rest of m&m to mixture lightly pressing them into mixture I also do this with pretzel sticks,and peanuts and the white chocolate its Paula Deen's recipe
Can you use a rice cooker instead. I have no crock pot now.
Can you do this in a rice cooker?? i have no crock pot now
Do you have to do it in the crockpot? Can you just melt the white chocolate and mix together.
I'm in the process of making this. I would think that you would NOT have to do it in the crockpot, but it does melt the white chocolate nicely without worrying about just the right temperature. I also wondered if you really would have to cook it 2 hours. I'm using plain peanuts rather than honey roasted, because I think it's going to be plenty sweet without adding honey roasted.
Yeah, don't use honey roasted because it makes it so overpoweringly sweet your teeth ache.
What can I use to omit the peanuts?? Husband allegric to peanuts all kinds.
When do you add the M&Ms (not the ones reserved)??
The recipe says you add them right before you are ready to scoop. The reserved ones are to put one on top of each candy after you scoop them and while still warm.
After the white candy is melted with the roasted peanuts and well mixed, turn off the crock pot and mix 3/4 of bag of m&M's.
Looks like you fold them in right before you're ready to scoop! Got my crock pot on and recipe started! I'm so excited for this treat! I'm donating a lot of it for a pet store bake sale!
Where are the answers to the questions?
The directions and video show that after 2 hours of cook time (white chocolate and peanuts only) stirring after the first hour, you then fold in the M&M's at the very end. Then scoop onto slipat mat. Working quickly before the candy hardens, add the reserved M&M candy or sprinkles as a decorative garnish.
I made these yesterday. Mixture was way too hot. Some M&M's melted when folded it. But still delish. Will definitely make them again.
How long will these keep. Should I refrigerate? I made them yesterday and having them easter.
After the 1st hr I stirred well and recovered. 15MINS later I stirred again and found the white chock turning brown around the edges, so I stopped, added the M&Ms, and scooped onto wax paper. Turned out fine but not white as photo. 2nd hour seemed unnecessary.
My M&Ms melted into my white chocolate–looking a little tan rather than white! But (and of course, they haven't cooled yet) they taste great!
How did you keep your M&M's from melting? When I stirred mine in, they melted a bit and turned my white chocolate a little "muddy." I had turned the crock pot off and pulled my insert out of the heating base.
I made this! And as usual mine does not turn out like the beautiful picture on Facebook. I don't know if I cooked it too long but the brown sugar coating on the peanuts melted off so it is not white. It is super sweet. I doubt I'll make it again. I added crushed up pretzels to give it something other than sweet but it wasn't enough. One is all someone can handle eating.
Use plain roasted peanuts. Not the sweetened kind. Salted peanuts are okay too.
HUGGGGGE HIT!!!!! Thanks SO much! Can't wait to make the next batch!
Could I freeze the leftover candies without ruining the flavor or consistency when thawed?
Great! It sounds good. Thanks for sharing.. bulk candy