Peanut Clusters are one of the easiest Christmas candies to make and enjoy yourself or gift to friends, family and neighbors. This Peanut Cluster recipe is simple and sweet, using only 2 ingredients. You can whip them up in the microwave, slow cooker or stove top!
If you love all things sweet and salty, you will love Chocolate Peanut Clusters! They make a delicious snack or a beautiful gift for teachers, neighbors, friends and family!
They’re a classic Christmas candy that make a delightfully sweet treat you can enjoy year round! In fact, they’re so easy that you might just find yourself whipping up a small batch to cure a craving.
You know my saying, sometimes simple is simply the best! That’s exactly what they are! SIMPLE (and so delicious!) So easy that even kids can help make them!
These take less than 10 minutes from start to finish and just another minute or two to gift wrap.
Sometimes simple is simply the best.
Peanut Cluster Ingredients
These lightly salted Peanut Clusters require just 2 ingredients with optional sea salt! They’re gluten free, too!
- Chocolate – Chips or wafers, your choice. Milk chocolate chips, semi-sweet, or dark chocolate chips, almond bark, or melting chocolate. You can even make them with white chocolate!
- Peanuts – I love using dry roasted peanuts, but you can use any of your favorites.
- Sea Salt – Thick flakes of sea salt not only add a lot of flavor, but beautiful texture as well. Just set a grinder to the largest setting.
Variations
- Add sprinkles for a little color and extra crunch
- Substitute half of the chocolate for peanut butter chips
- Use an array of your favorite nuts
- Reader suggestion: “Super easy fan favorite. I also did these with Reeses chips.”
- Drop half of the mixture and drizzle a little caramel in the center, the top it with a little more mixture for peanut clusters with caramel.
It’s these simple things that remind us of how chocolate should taste, the crunch of the nut and the sharp of the salt. Too many ingredients and we get lost in the flavor.
This Peanut Cluster Recipe takes 5 minutes to make and only few minutes to set before their ready to box or bag and gift!
It’s no wonder why this easy recipe has become a Pinterest sensation!
How to Make Peanut Clusters in the Microwave
It’s so easy! You can get the full printable recipe below and see just how easy they are in the video!
I make to make Peanut Clusters in the microwave to keep it quick and easy, but you can do it on the stove top using a double broiler or in a slow cooker – see below for all the details.
- Melt chocolate (again, chocolate chips, almond bark or chocolate melting wafers all work well) in a microwave safe bowl in 30 second intervals. As the chocolate melts, reduce to 15 second intervals until it’s completely melted.
- Stir in peanuts.
- Drop onto parchment paper, wax paper or parchment lined baking sheets. Any will do!
- Optional: top with sea salt – or sprinkles.
- Bring to room temperature (about 30 minutes) to set.
How to Make Chocolate Peanut Clusters in a Slow Cooker
- Grease with cooking spray.
- Add chocolate and peanuts to slow cooker. Stir every 20 minutes until chocolate is melted and smooth (about 1 hour).
- Drop onto parchment lined cookie sheets to set.
How to Make Clusters on the StoveTop
- Warm chocolate over low heat, stirring continuously to avoid burning, about 7-10 minutes, until melted.
- Stir in peanuts.
- Drop onto parchment lined cookie sheets to set.
Notes and Tips
- Chocolate Peanut Clusters last for weeks when stored at room temperature or refrigerated in an airtight container. Separate layers with parchment paper to stack. Peanut Clusters can even be frozen up to 3 months in an airtight container or freezer bag!
- To gift wrap, simply box, add to a clear cellophane bag and tie with a ribbon or metal tin.
It’s one of my favorite giftable Christmas candies. I hope to master mom’s peanut brittle and grandma’s divinity this year, but these foolproof chocolate peanut clusters will always be a staple.
More Christmas Candy Recipes
Looking for more easy holiday gifts? Learn how to make hot chocolate bombs here!
Peanut Clusters
Ingredients
- 2 cups chocolate chips milk, semi-sweet or dark chocolate
- 1 cup peanuts
Optional
- 1 teaspoon sea salt
- sprinkles
Instructions
- In a large microwave safe bowl, melt chocolate in the microwave in 30 second increments, reducing as chocolate melts to 15 second intervals. Stir until melted and smooth.
- Stir in peanuts.
- Using a teaspoon, drop onto parchment paper.
- Immediately top with fresh cracks of sea salt or sprinkles and allow to set.
Julie’s Tips
Substitutions
- Chocolate – Chips or wafers, your choice. Milk chocolate chips, semi-sweet, or dark chocolate chips, almond bark, or melting chocolate. You can even make them with white chocolate!
- Peanuts – I love using dry roasted peanuts, but you can use any of your favorites, even cashews, almonds and walnuts!
Variations
- Sprinkles – Add for a little color and extra crunch
- Mix it Up – Use an array of your favorite nuts
- Make Peanut Butter Clusters – Use Reese’s Chips instead of chocolate
- Make Peanut Butter Chocolate Clusters – Substitute half of the chocolate for peanut butter chips
- Make Peanut Clusters with Caramel – Drop half of the mixture and drizzle a little caramel in the center, the top it with a little more mixture
Slow Cooker Instructions
- Grease with cooking spray.
- Add chocolate and peanuts to slow cooker. Stir every 20 minutes until chocolate is melted and smooth (about 1 hour).
- Drop onto parchment lined cookie sheets to set.
StoveTop Instructions
- Warm chocolate over low heat, stirring continuously to avoid burning, about 7-10 minutes, until melted.
- Stir in peanuts.
- Drop onto parchment lined cookie sheets to set.
Notes and Tips
To Store- Room Temperature – Store in an airtight container at room temperature up to 4 weeks. Separate layers with parchment paper to stack.
- Refrigerate – Store in an airtight container refrigerated up to 4 weeks. Separate layers with parchment paper to stack.
- Freeze – Store in an airtight container or freezer bag up to 3 months.
- Box, add to a clear cellophane bag and tie with a ribbon or metal tin.
Video
Estimated nutrition information is provided as a courtesy and is not guaranteed.
Always my favorite treat around the holidays!
Such an easy candy recipe! So tasty and perfect for hostess gifts in the off season. My friends love when I bring them a little bag!!
Made a batch of these for my Easter baskets!
I made the chocolate peanut butter version for my book club and these candies were inhaled! So easy and such a hit!
What a simple recipe! I can see myself making these all the time!