Slow Cooker Chocolate Peanut Clusters are so delicious with milk chocolate, butterscotch, real peanut butter, and salted crunchy peanuts - the perfect combination of sweet and salty! Make this version with regular OR sugar-free alternatives for the perfect guilt-free sweet treat! Enjoy!
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Watch: Crockpot Chocolate Peanut Clusters Video
You'll Love Slow Cooker Chocolate Peanut Clusters!
"This peanut candy is so good that I find it very difficult to eat just one! I think it's the combination of chocolate, butterscotch, and peanut butter with the salty crunch of the nuts. Take one and freeze the rest if you need to." 🙂 -Kori
Delicious
Peanut clusters are one of my favorite candies to make during the holidays. They are a perfect blend of sweet and salty - and you will love adding peanut butter instead of peanut butter chips. These are so popular they've become a regular part of my Christmas cookie collection!
Easy To Make
For years I made these on the stovetop but realized it would be super easy to make in a crock pot. These are one of the easiest candies you can make - just add the chips and peanut butter, let them melt. Add peanuts then drop by the spoonful on a baking tray, then refrigerate.
Make Them Healthy
This year I decided to try a sugar-free version out, and they turned out perfect! Try them for yourself. (p.s. NONE of my family knew I had made them sugar free. Yay!) It's an easy swap to use sugar free chips to make these sugar free, gluten-free, low carb, and keto candy! Satisfy your sweet tooth - but with a guilt-free treat.
Crockpot Peanut Clusters Recipe Ingredients
Here's what you'll need to make these simple 4 ingredient crock pot peanut clusters sugar free. Again, use regular or sugar free candy chips - you're choice:
- Butterscotch Baking Chips (sugar free) - if you can't find butterscotch substitute salted caramel chips. White chocolate chips would work as well. (Tip: at the time of writing this note, the best pricing on Lilys chips is at Walmart )
- Milk Chocolate Baking Chips (sugar-free) - I don't recommend semi-sweet chocolate chips in this recipe as they aren't as sweet. It will throw off the balance with the saltiness from the peanut butter and peanuts.
- Creamy Peanut Butter - many recipes call for peanut butter chips, but I've found that real creamy peanut butter has the BEST flavor.
- Spanish Redskin Peanuts - use salted and roasted, with the skins on. Different salted nuts may be used, please review the substitutions section below for more suggestions.
Equipment
For exact ingredient quantities, please see the recipe card below!
Be sure to save this pin to Pinterest for later! 😉
Substitutions and Variations
- Feel free to use regular baking chips if you are not following a sugar-free, low carb, or keto diet.
- Substitute salted dry roasted peanuts instead of the Spanish style red skin version.
- Try different salted nuts like macadamia, pistachios, cashews, and almonds.
- Play with different flavors of baking chips. Salted Caramel chips make a great substitution of butterscotch chips. White chocolate chips or mint chocolate chips would delicious mixed with the chocolate.
- Add a few dried berries such as cranberries, cherries, golden raisins.
How To Make Crockpot Peanut Clusters
Here is a general overview for making crock pot peanut clusters, be sure to check out the recipe card for full instructions:
1. Add chocolate chips, butterscotch chips, and peanut butter to the crock pot. Cover with lid and heat on LOW for about 30 to 45 minutes or until the chips are completely melted. Be sure to stir periodically and check the melting process.
2. When all ingredients are melted, add peanuts and stir.
3. Drop by spoonfuls onto a wax paper or parchment lined sheet, then refrigerate.
4. Refrigerate on the baking sheet until firm, about 30 minutes.
5. Once firm, transfer to an airtight container and refrigerate to keep them cool and firm.
Top Tips For The Best Crockpot Peanut Chocolate Clusters
Helpful tips that will make this recipe turn out perfect!
- For faster melting preheat the crockpot for 10 minutes. Melting takes about 20 to 30 minutes (or less) once the crockpot is warm.
- To prevent sticking spray nonstick spray or rub butter, or other oil before adding chocolate.
- Periodically stir the mixture. Once a few chips melt, it doesn't take long for the rest to follow.
- Double or triple the recipe, if desired.
FAQs
Store the peanut clusters in an airtight container in the refrigerator.
If stored in an airtight container these will keep for several weeks - but they won't last then long because they're so good! 😉
Yes, you can freeze peanut clusters. Layer the clusters in an airtight container, using parchment paper to separate each layer. The candy can be stored in the freezer for up to 3 months.
Yes! Using a crockpot to melt chocolate is an easy way to do it. Make sure to spray your crock with nonstick spray or rub butter on the inside pot to prevent sticking. Turn on low and place your chocolate in the crock. Stir periodically until melted. Use or remove once the chocolate is melted.
Slow Cooker Peanut Clusters
Equipment
- 1.5 to 2-quart crockpot
Ingredients
- 7 to 9 ounces Sugar-Free Butterscotch Baking Chips (regular can also be used)
- 7 to 9 ounces Sugar-Free Milk Chocolate Baking Chips (regular can also be used)
- 3 tablespoons Creamy Peanut Butter
- 1½ cups Redskin Spanish Peanuts
Instructions
- Spray a small crock pot with nonstick spray and turn on LOW. Add chocolate chips, butterscotch chips, and peanut butter to the crockpot. Cover with lid and slow cook about 30 to 45 minutes. Note: stir the mixture periodically, as once a few chips start to melt, the rest will melt quickly.
- When all ingredients are melted, add peanuts and stir.
- Drop by the spoonful (approximately 1 tablespoon each, but smaller is fine too) onto parchment paper, then refrigerate until firm, about 30 minutes.
- Once firm, transfer them to an airtight container and store them in the refrigerator to keep them cool and firm.
Video
Notes
- Don't miss our helpful hints, substitution ideas, cooking tips, and delicious recipes that can be found in our post. Check it out!
- For faster melting, preheat the crock pot. Melting takes about 20 to 30 minutes (or less) once the crockpot is warm.
- To prevent sticking, spray nonstick spray or rub butter, or other oil before adding chocolate.
- Periodically stir the mixture. Once a few chips melt, it doesn't take long for the rest to follow.
- Regular chips can be substitute for sugar-free. Also, you can use a whole bag (10 to 12 ounces) if you want.
- If you are unable to find butterscotch chops, substitute salted caramel baking chips (closest in flavor), or white chocolate chips.
Nutrition
© 2023 Seeking Good Eats™
Rooni says
It doesn’t look like Amazon is selling sugar-free butterscotch baking chips any longer. Do you have another source?
seekinggoodeats says
Hello, I just did some checking, and it looks like there might be a supply shortage of butterscotch chips due to higher demand. Lilys website also says the butterscotch are now exclusively sold at Walmart. While they can't be shipped, some stores have them in stock. With that said, I would substitute either their salted caramel chips. You could also try their white chocolate chips. 🙂