Learn how to make Chocolate Nut Clusters Recipe, a candy like snack featuring a combination of dark chocolate and peanuts. With just three ingredients, these chocolate peanut clusters are simple and delicious treats perfect for any occasion. You can also add a twist in making honey nut clusters or use this recipe with almonds and cashew nuts.
Are you making single peanuts covered in chocolate? Have you already filled the whole tray with single nuts? With one additional step, clusters from the same recipe can be formed.
Serve as a dessert or snack on a platter with fruits like dried cranberries and candies like fruit roll-ups. Garnish with peppermint leaves for serving in a party or family gathering.
Why You Will Love This Recipe
- Perfect For Clean Eating – these clusters are made with wholesome ingredients, so you can enjoy them guilt-free without worrying about sugar consumption.
- Customizable – you can customize these clusters to your taste by choosing your favorite nuts or adding extra dried fruit or coconut flakes. Topping those with gluten free sprinkles is every kid’s dream.
- Quick And Easy – with just a few simple steps, you can quickly whip up a batch of these delicious treats.
What Are Nut Clusters?
Nut clusters are chocolate treats made by combining nuts with melted chocolate and forming cluster candies. These treats are so good and fun to make, not only because they are easy to make but also because most of the ingredients are already in your kitchen.
I love that nut clusters do not take much time to make, and you can make them whenever you want. Making them at home is a lot better than getting store-bought ones, as you have control over the ingredients if you want your recipe to be healthy, clean, and sugar-free.
Chocolates To Use For Nut Clusters
For nut clusters, you can use any chocolate that will melt quickly. You can pick:
- Semi-sweet chocolate – has a balanced sweetness and works well for nut clusters.
- Milk Chocolate – sweeter and creamier than semi-sweet chocolate.
- White Chocolate – adds a creamy sweetness to nut clusters.
Any of those chocolates can be used for your collection of chocolate nut recipes.
Can I Pair Nut Clusters With Granola And Peanut Butter?
For a great breakfast option, yes, sure, you can have them all together. You can break and sprinkle the clusters over a bowl of granola for added crunch and flavor since the combination of nuts, seeds, oats, and dried fruit in the granola perfectly complements the nut clusters.
For the peanut butter, spread it on a slice of protein bread or rice cake and top it with broken nut clusters for a tasty and protein-packed treat. Or top this with strawberry vanilla ice cream.
How To Make Chocolate Nut Clusters Recipe
I will show you the process of making this nut cluster easy recipe. This recipe only requires three ingredients, making the process easy even if you are a beginner.
I have made a video for you if you want visual instructions with the exact details. Make sure also to check it out.
Kitchen Gadgets:
- Instant Pot: Use the instant pot as a double boiler.
- Glass Bowl: A heatproof glass bowl on top of your Instant Pot is perfect for melting the chocolate.
- Mini Cupcake Liners: Great for forming the clusters after coating the nuts with melted chocolate.
- Spoon: A tablespoon will work to form and transfer the clusters into the cupcake liners.
Ingredients:
- Peanuts: Use fresh peanuts for this recipe since they taste much better and are crunchy when fresh.
- Sugar-Free Chocolate: Look for a high-quality but sugar-free chocolate. If you have homemade chocolate, it is even better.
- Coconut Oil: This will add a subtle hint of coconut flavor and help with extra shine.
*Exact measurements are listed in the recipe card below.
FULL INSTRUCTIONS WITH STEPS FOR MAKING CHOCOLATE PEANUT CLUSTERS
First Step: Prepare The Ingredients
Prepare all your ingredients.
For the best results, pick fresh peanuts from the market. If you plan to use other types of nuts, feel free to do so.
For the chocolate, if you are using chocolate bars, chop them into little pieces to melt them faster. You can also use milk or dark chocolate chips if available.
Second Step: Melt the Chocolate
In a heatproof mixing bowl, set over the instant pot with simmering water. Melt the dark chocolate and coconut oil together, stirring with a stick until smooth and silky.
Third Step: Coat The Peanuts
Once the chocolate is melted, remove it from heat and stir in the nuts until each is fully coated with chocolate. Try using a spoon or a rubber spatula to mix them.
Fourth Step: Form Clusters
After coating all the peanuts, start forming the clusters.
Using a spoon, drop small nut clusters onto the mini cupcake liners. Just a spoon or two is enough for one cluster. Using cupcake liners makes it easy to chill the nuts and prevents them from sticking to each other.
Chill in the refrigerator and wait for them to harden before consuming. They are best to eat when chilled.
TRICKS AND TIPS:
- Melting chocolate – use a double boiler or microwave if the instant pot is unavailable. Do whatever method is available as long as they will do the same work for melting the chocolate.
- Sea salt – if you use unsalted peanuts, try sprinkling a little sea salt onto the clusters as it can enhance their flavor for a little sweet and salty combination.
- Forming – another way of forming your clusters is using a baking sheet with parchment paper. Form them with a spoon and ensure the clusters do not stick together.
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
Substitute for Peanuts
If peanuts are unavailable, you can use any nut you have. You can also experiment with a mixture of nuts using cashews, walnuts, pistachios, or pecans, as they can also provide the same crunch as peanuts can bring. Even pumpkin seeds or sunflower seeds can do.
Can I Use Almonds?
Yes, of course you can. I have made dark chocolate almond clusters, and you can do it with only three ingredients. Depending on your preference, you can use whole almonds or chop them into smaller pieces. Soaked almonds can also work for this recipe.
What to Serve With Nut Clusters Candy?
Serve it as an afternoon snack with cold fruit juice for a perfect sweet-tangy combination. Nut clusters can also make a good topping, especially in cakes and cheesecakes, as they’re always better mixed with other desserts.
You can also serve them with another version of it which is the chocolate peanuts recipe and peanuts chocolate bar with chocolate peanut butter treats like peanut butter chips, brownies, or cookies.
To keep them fresh, place your nut clusters in an airtight container in a cool, dry spot at room temperature. You can store nut clusters like this for about two weeks, but if your kitchen is warm, you can also store them in the fridge.
Can I Freeze Chocolate Nut Clusters?
You can freeze nut clusters if you want to keep them for longer. However, freezing might change their taste and texture a bit, but if you are okay with that, go ahead and freeze them in an airtight container.
And when you are ready to eat them, let them thaw at room temperature before enjoying them.
More Chocolate Recipes
We still have more recipes to explore if you are looking for similar recipes or other sugar-free chocolate desserts.
Try our dark chocolate almonds recipe or chocolate almond bark, which involves coating each almond with rich dark chocolate. If you are a fruit lover, these chocolate-covered blueberries are perfect for you. Our white chocolate-covered strawberries are also popular because they combine strawberries with sweet white chocolate. Try them all and make your sweet treats at home for a change.
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Chocolate Nut Clusters Recipe
Equipment
- 1 Spoon
Ingredients
- 1 Cup Peanuts
- 0,5 Cup Sugar Free Chocolate
- 1 Tablespoon Coconut Oil
Video
Instructions
- Prepare all your ingredients. For the best results, pick fresh peanuts from the market. If you plan to use other types of nuts, feel free to do so. For the chocolate, if you are using chocolate bars, chop them into little pieces to melt them faster. You can also use milk or dark chocolate chips if available.
- In a heatproof mixing bowl, set over the instant pot with simmering water. Melt the dark chocolate and coconut oil together, stirring with a stick until smooth and silky.
- Once the chocolate is melted, remove it from heat and stir in the nuts until each is fully coated with chocolate. Try using a spoon or a rubber spatula to mix them.
- After coating all the peanuts, start forming the clusters. Using a spoon, drop small nut clusters onto the mini cupcake liners. Just a spoon or two is enough for one cluster. Using cupcake liners makes it easy to chill the nuts and prevents them from sticking to each other. Chill in the refrigerator and wait for them to harden before consuming. They are best to eat when chilled.
Notes
- Melting chocolate – use a double boiler or microwave if the instant pot is unavailable. Do whatever method is available as long as they will do the same work for melting the chocolate.
- Sea salt – if you use unsalted peanuts, try sprinkling a little sea salt onto the clusters as it can enhance their flavor for a little sweet and salty combination.
- Forming – another way of forming your clusters is using a baking sheet with parchment paper. Form them with a spoon and ensure the clusters do not stick together.
Nutrition
Disclaimer
Please note that nutrient values are estimates only. Variations can occur due to product availability and manner of food preparation. Nutrition may vary based on methods of origin, preparation, freshness of ingredients, and other factors.
Love how super easy this was to make! I played around with using dark and white chocolate. My kids really enjoyed them!
That is a great idea. Have to mix both next time.
Great recipe and oh so easy! I made a double batch to share with a neighbor and am going to try pecans instead of peanuts next time.
Peacans are a great idea. Need to try that next time as well.
Great recipe! Will definitely make again. Thanks!
Love that crunch! Turned out great
This was a hit! We loved them!