By Laura
Posted Nov 30, 2017, Updated Jan 10, 2022
5 from 1 vote
3 Comments
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These chocolate peanut clusters are easy to make with 4 ingredients. They have peanut butter added to the filling, making them perfect treat to give as a gift for the holidays.
These Chocolate Peanut Clusters with Peanut Butter a delicious & easy candy recipe made with only four ingredients.
These beauties were inspired by my favorite candy to get when we’d go to old-timey candy shops – peanuts that were dipped in peanut butter and double-dipped in chocolate.
Those peanut clusters were over $21 a pound (yikes), so I decided to recreate them in my own kitchen, but make them clusters instead of individually dipped peanuts. Because, if you’ve ever tried dipping individual peanuts in peanut butter and then in chocolate you’d know that it is not easy or fun.
So I took the idea and created thse Chocolate Peanut Clusters with Peanut Buttr, which are arguably better than the originals because there is a higher peanut butter to chocolate ratio in every bite. And you all know I am a firm believe that more peanut butter isalways a good choice.
How to make Chocolate Peanut Clusters
This chocolate peanut clusters recipe is easy to make! Here are some of my tips to ensure your success:
- Stir-ablepeanut butter.I used a variety of natural peanut butter that is very liquidy and easy to stir. This made stirring in the powdered sugar and peanuts very easy. If you only keep firmer peanut butter on hand, you will need to warm it slightly to make it stir-able! Pleasedo not overheatthe peanut butter. You want it just barely warm enough to be able to mix the other ingredients in.
- Freeze.The clusters need to be frozen before dipping them in chocolate. This ensures they hold together!
- Temper the chocolate.I included an easy way to temper the chocolate coating using the microwave. If you don’t care if your chocolate is shiny then you can simply melt the chocolate and cover your clusters with it. I, however, just discovered this technique and it has changed my candy-making life. I use a candy thermometer to read the temperature of the chocolate, making sure it stays at around 90 degrees F. The chocolate comes out glossy, shiny and pretty andstays that way!So worth it in my opinion!
- Serve at room temperature. I think these Chocolate Covered Peanut Butter Peanut Clusters taste best at room temperature!
Store/freeze
Store these chocolate peanut clusters in an airtight container at room temperature for 1 week, in the refrigerator for up to 2 weeks, or in the freezer for up to 2 months.
You can wrap them in cute boxes or bags and give as gifts for the holidays too!
Recipe FAQs
Can I double this recipe?
Yes, to make a large batch double (or triple) this recipe using the 2X or 3X buttons in the recipe card.
How long do chocolate peanut clusters last?
They last for 1 week at room temperature, 2 weeks in the refrigerator and up to 2 months in the freezer.
Will these keep at room temperature?
Yes, the chocolate is solid at room temperature so they hold up well to being given as gifts.
Chocolate Peanut Clusters with Peanut Butter: Substitutions
There are only four ingredients in this recipe, so I don’t recommend changing things up too much! But here are a few ideas!
- Powdered sugar.If you’d like to keep the filling refined sugar free, use this recipe to make your own powered sugar!
- Peanut butter/peanuts.Any nut butter/nut combination could be used if you have a peanut allergy. Cashews and cashew butter is delicious.
- Salt.I added salt to the recipe list in case you choose to use a peanut butter variety that is unsalted (like the one I chose). I recommend adding a pinch and tasting/adjusting until you get it to your liking!
- Semi-sweet chocolate. Any kind of chocolate can be used in this recipe, milk, dark even white.
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Chocolate Peanut Clusters with Peanut Butter
Laura
These chocolate peanut clusters are easy to make with 4 ingredients. There is peanut butter in the filling, making them perfect treat to give as a gift for the holidays.
5 from 1 vote
Course Dessert, Snack
Cuisine American
Servings 20 Clusters
Calories 82.1
Prep Time15 minutes minutes
Chilling time1 hour hour
Total Time1 hour hour 15 minutes minutes
Ingredients
- ¼ cup creamy peanut butter
- 1 TBS powdered sugar
- ½ cup peanuts (salted)
- pinch sea salt (optional)
- 1 cup semi-sweet chocolate (chopped)
Instructions
Line a baking sheet with wax paper. Set aside.
In a small bowl, mix together peanut butter and powdered sugar. If necessary, warm peanut butter to stirring consistency in the microwave or on the stove over low heat, being careful to keep it as cool as possible.
Add peanuts and stir until combined.
Scoop ½ TBS portions of the peanut mixture onto the prepared baking sheet, forming them into the desired shape.
Once all of the mixture has been used, place baking sheet in the freezer until hardened (about 1-2 hours).
Once peanut/peanut butter clusters are hardened, prepare chocolate.
Microwave chocolate for 1 minute in a microwave safe container.
Stir and microwave for 60 more seconds until most of the chocolate is melted (but not all of it).
Stir until all the chocolate is melted.
Let the melted chocolate cool to 90 degrees f, stirring occasionally to speed up the process.
Once the chocolate reaches 90 degrees F, begin dipping peanut clusters into the chocolate, using a fork to shake off excess chocolate. If the chocolate becomes too thick, gently warm it again until it is easy to dip the chocolate in (try not to go over 90 degrees F).
Place dipped peanut clusters on baking sheet to harden at room temperature or in the refrigerator.
Enjoy!
Video
Notes
Ingredient substitutions
- Powdered sugar.If you’d like to keep the filling refined sugar free, use this recipe to make your own powered sugar!
- Peanut butter/peanuts.Any nut butter/nut combination could be used if you have a peanut allergy. Cashews and cashew butter is delicious.
- Salt.I added salt to the recipe list in case you choose to use a peanut butter variety that is unsalted (like the one I chose). I recommend adding a pinch and tasting/adjusting until you get it to your liking!
- Semi-sweet chocolate. Any kind of chocolate can be used in this recipe, milk, dark even white.
Store/freeze
Store these chocolate peanut clusters in an airtight container at room temperature for 1 week, in the refrigerator for up to 2 weeks, or in the freezer for up to 2 months.
You can wrap them in cute boxes or bags and give as gifts for the holidays too!
Nutrition
Serving: 1Cluster | Calories: 82.1kcal | Carbohydrates: 7.2g | Protein: 2.1g | Fat: 5.9g | Saturated Fat: 1.9g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 1.2g | Monounsaturated Fat: 2.5g | Potassium: 54.7mg | Fiber: 1.1g | Sugar: 5.3g | Calcium: 5mg | Iron: 0.3mg
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
Did you enjoy this recipe? Have a question? Leave a comment below!
These Chocolate Peanut Clusters make theperfect gift to give to friends and neighbors this Christmas season. That is, if you can keep them around long enough to share! 😉
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