If you’re looking for a sweet, salty, and utterly addictive treat that’s as easy as can be, you’re in the right spot. This Crockpot Chocolate Peanut Clusters Recipe is a total winner in my kitchen. Imagine melty chocolate mingling with crunchy peanuts, all made effortlessly in your slow cooker while you relax or tackle other things. Trust me, once you try this, you’ll wonder how you ever lived without it!

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Why You’ll Love This Recipe

Hands-Off Deliciousness: You just toss everything in the crockpot and let it melt away slowly — minimal effort, maximum taste.
Perfect Balance of Flavors: The combo of salted and unsalted peanuts with both semisweet and white chocolate chips gives these clusters an irresistible blend.
Great for Big Batches: Makes about 72 clusters, fantastic for parties, gifts, or just treating yourself.
Super Customizable: You can easily swap chocolates or nuts to match your cravings or dietary needs.

The image shows a pile of chunky chocolate candies stacked inside a white bowl with a green outer edge, surrounded by curly red and white paper ribbons. The candies are rough and thick, with visible nuts embedded inside both the whole and one bitten piece. The bitten piece shows layers of dark brown chocolate and light-colored nuts inside, giving a rich texture. The bowl is placed on a white marbled surface with some blurred green foliage in the background. photo taken with an iphone --ar 4:5 --v 7

Ingredients You’ll Need

These ingredients all come together beautifully to create that classic chocolate-peanut combo we all adore. A mix of dry roasted and salted peanuts keeps the flavor interesting, while using chocolate chips makes melting a breeze.

Unsalted dry roasted peanuts: These add crunch without extra saltiness, balancing the salted peanuts perfectly.
Salted cocktail peanuts: A touch of salt is key to cut the sweetness and give depth.
Semisweet chocolate chips: These provide that rich chocolate base everyone loves in clusters.
Peanut butter chips: Adds an extra peanutty creaminess that takes the clusters to the next level.
White chocolate chips: For a sweet finish and a splash of elegance in color and flavor.

Note: You’ll find the complete list of ingredients, along with their exact measurements, in the printable recipe card at the bottom of this post.

Variations

I love how forgiving and flexible this Crockpot Chocolate Peanut Clusters Recipe is—feel free to play around with your favorite nuts or chocolates. I find customizations keep this recipe exciting every time I make it.

Nut Variation: Once, I swapped half the peanuts for roasted almonds and my family went nuts over the subtle change—it gives a fantastic crunch and a slightly different flavor profile.
Chocolate Swap: If you’re not a fan of white chocolate, try milk chocolate chips instead. It makes the clusters a little sweeter and creamier.
Allergy-Friendly: For a nut-free version, replace peanuts with pumpkin seeds or sunflower seeds; just make sure to adjust the salt level accordingly.
Spiced-Up: Adding a pinch of sea salt flakes or a hint of cayenne pepper can add a surprising kick that I personally enjoy for a grown-up twist.

How to Make Crockpot Chocolate Peanut Clusters Recipe

Step 1: Layering and Melting Magic

Start by layering all your nuts and chocolate chips right into the bottom of a 6-quart crockpot. Don’t worry about fancy stirring yet—just make sure everything’s roughly mixed. Cover it, set your slow cooker to low, and let the magic happen for about 2 hours. I like to stir every 20 to 30 minutes to help the melting process without messing with the slow cooker’s gentle heat. You’ll know it’s perfect when your mixture is smooth and all chips are melted, ultra tempting and ready for the next step!

Step 2: Forming Your Clusters

Line two large baking sheets with parchment or silicone mats—this is the secret to easy cleanup and keeping clusters from sticking. Using a spoon or your favorite cookie scoop, drop mounds of that melty goodness onto your sheets. Don’t worry about perfect shapes; rustic clusters are the way to go! Let them sit at room temperature until they’re fully set, usually about 1 to 2 hours. This downtime makes sure they’re firm and ready to savor.

Step 3: Enjoy and Store

Once hardened, dig in or package them for sharing. If you’ve got leftovers (which you probably will!), store them airtight at room temperature or in the fridge for up to a month. And if you’re planning ahead, these clusters freeze beautifully for up to 3 months—just thaw to room temp before enjoying.

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Pro Tips for Making Crockpot Chocolate Peanut Clusters Recipe

Patience is Key: I learned the hard way not to rush the melting—slow and low heat keeps your chocolate glossy and smooth without burning.
Stir Gently but Often: Stirring every 20–30 minutes helps everything melt evenly and prevents thick clumps of unmelted chips at the bottom.
Cookie Scoop for Consistency: Using a #50 cookie scoop (about 1½ tablespoons) makes your clusters uniform in size, which looks nicer and helps with even setting.
Avoid Sweet Overload: Be mindful picking your peanuts—honey roasted or heavily salted can throw off the flavor balance, something I learned after my first batch tasted too sweet.

How to Serve Crockpot Chocolate Peanut Clusters Recipe

The image shows several irregular shaped dark brown chocolate clusters with a smooth and glossy surface, each studded with light tan whole peanuts inside and outside. One cluster is broken in half, showing the crunchy peanut pieces layered inside the thick chocolate coating. The clusters are arranged on a flat surface with a soft white marbled texture. In the background, there is a white bowl filled with peanuts, slightly blurred, along with a soft yellow cloth adding a warm tone to the scene. Photo taken with an iphone --ar 4:5 --v 7

Garnishes

I love dusting a few clusters with flaky sea salt right before serving—it adds that extra crunch and elevates the flavors beautifully. Sometimes I drizzle a little melted white chocolate or dark chocolate on top for a fancy touch, especially when sharing with guests.

Side Dishes

These clusters are perfect on their own, but they also pair wonderfully with a scoop of vanilla ice cream, a cup of coffee, or even a glass of cold milk. I occasionally serve them alongside fresh fruit for a little balance of freshness and indulgence.

Creative Ways to Present

For birthdays or holiday gifts, I arrange clusters in cute jars or decorative boxes with parchment liners. You can also stack them between wax paper in a tin for a classic treat box. At parties, I sometimes use mini cupcake liners for individual portions—it looks adorable and helps guests grab-and-go mess-free.

Make Ahead and Storage

Storing Leftovers

My go-to method is storing leftovers in an airtight container at room temperature, which keeps the clusters fresh and crunchy for about a month. If your kitchen’s warm, I slip them into the fridge to avoid any melty mishaps.

Freezing

Freezing is a game-changer if you want to make these in advance. I lay them flat on a baking sheet to freeze individually, then transfer them to a freezer-safe bag or container. They hold their shape and flavor for up to 3 months — perfect for holiday prepping!

Reheating

When ready to enjoy frozen clusters, I simply let them thaw at room temperature for about an hour. If you’re in a hurry, a few seconds in the microwave (10-15 seconds) works, but watch carefully to avoid melting them too much.

FAQs

Can I use different nuts instead of peanuts in the Crockpot Chocolate Peanut Clusters Recipe?

Absolutely! While peanuts are classic here, you can swap in almonds, cashews, or even mixed nuts. Just keep in mind that different nuts vary in saltiness and oil content, so adjust your salt and melting time accordingly.
Is it possible to make these clusters without a crockpot?

Yes! You can melt the chocolate chips gently in a double boiler or microwave. I recommend stirring frequently and melting in batches if needed. The crockpot method, though, helps keep things hands-off and evenly melted, especially in larger quantities.
How long do Crockpot Chocolate Peanut Clusters last?

Stored properly in an airtight container, these clusters stay fresh for up to one month at room temperature. Freezing extends their life to about three months.
Can I make a smaller batch of Crockpot Chocolate Peanut Clusters Recipe?

Definitely! If halving, I suggest melting the chocolate chips on the stovetop or microwave for better control. The slow cooker shines with larger batches, but smaller batches work nicely with alternative melting methods.

Final Thoughts

Making these Crockpot Chocolate Peanut Clusters Recipe has become such a staple for me, especially when I want a fuss-free sweet fix that always pleases a crowd. I love sharing them with friends and family because they’re simple, satisfying, and deliver that perfect sweet-salty crunch every time. Give this recipe a try—you’ll have a new favorite treat in no time, and I promise your slow cooker will thank you for the easy use!

Crockpot Chocolate Peanut Clusters Recipe

5 Stars 4 Stars 3 Stars 2 Stars 1 Star 4.5 from 143 reviews

Author: Megane
Prep Time: 5 minutes
Cook Time: 2 hours
Total Time: 4 hours 5 minutes
Yield: 72 clusters
Category: Dessert
Method: Slow Cooking
Cuisine: American

Print Recipe

Description

These Crockpot Chocolate Peanut Clusters are a delightful no-bake treat combining the perfect balance of salty roasted peanuts and rich melted chocolates. Made easily in a slow cooker, these clusters are simple to prepare and perfect for sharing or gifting, with a delicious blend of semisweet chocolate, peanut butter chips, and white chocolate chips creating layers of flavor.

Ingredients

Peanuts

16 ounces (454g) unsalted dry roasted peanuts
16 ounces (454g) salted cocktail peanuts

Chocolates

24 ounces (680g) semisweet chocolate chips
20 ounces (567g) peanut butter chips
12 ounces (340g) white chocolate chips

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Instructions

Combine Ingredients: Layer all of the peanuts and chocolate chips in the bottom of a 6-quart slow cooker, then stir gently to combine the ingredients evenly.
Melt Chocolate Mixture: Cover the slow cooker, set it to low heat, and cook for about 2 hours, stirring every 20-30 minutes. Continue until all chocolate chips have completely melted and the mixture is smooth.
Prepare Baking Sheets: While the mixture is melting, line two large baking sheets with parchment paper or silicone baking mats to prevent sticking once the clusters are formed.
Form Clusters: Using a spoon or a #50 cookie scoop, scoop out mounds of the melted mixture onto the prepared baking sheets, spacing them adequately.
Set and Harden: Allow the clusters to set up at room temperature for about 1 to 2 hours until completely hardened and firm to the touch.
Store: Store leftover clusters in an airtight container for up to 1 month or freeze them for up to 3 months. Thaw frozen clusters at room temperature before serving.

Notes

Peanuts: The combination of unsalted dry roasted and salted cocktail peanuts offers a balanced saltiness without overpowering the sweetness. Feel free to adjust peanut types as desired but avoid honey roasted peanuts to prevent the clusters from becoming overly sweet.
Chocolate: While chocolate chips are convenient and melt well in the slow cooker, chopped bar chocolate can also be used if preferred.
Melting Alternatives: If you prefer, the melting process can be done on the stovetop, microwave, or double boiler, especially for halving the recipe. However, melting this quantity of chocolate will take significantly longer and requires a very large pot to accommodate all ingredients.