A nod to the classic peanut cluster with an added crunch.
I remember enjoying peanut clusters with my great aunt, Auntee, while visiting her and my Aunt Gail in Germany one summer. My Aunt Gail was in the armed services when I was growing up and she would send for me during the summer. She has been such a blessing to me, affording me to see more of the world than I could have ever imagined at such a young age. While visiting, Auntee and I would enjoy the chocolate mounds of goodness called peanut clusters while watching Wheel of Fortune and Jeopardy, two of Auntee’s favorite game shows. {This confection wraps deliciously roasted peanuts in yummy milk chocolate – What is Brach’s Peanut Clusters?} 🙂 We had to have the clusters because the double dipped peanuts just wouldn’t do. There’s something about a cluster of nuts surrounded in chocolate. There I go drooling again!
So in honor of Peanut Cluster Day and reminiscent of those fun memories back in Nurnberg, I decided to make my own. This one adds pretzel sticks for an additional element of CRUNCH so now we have Peanut PRETZEL Clusters…YUM!! No need to babysit and fuss with them in double boiler. I made them in a slow cooker so I could set it and forget it. 🙂
Start by pouring 1 lb. of dry roasted peanuts into your slow cooker, add 2 oz. of broken german sweet chocolate, 1 cup of Ghirardelli semi-sweet chocolate chips. Yes, Ghirardelli chocolate always makes it to the party! Then add 1.25 lb of broken vanilla flavored candy coating. Set your slow cooker on warm for 3 hours and leave it be. Try to resist the urge to come to the party early as your nose will tempt you to do while your cleaning the house. 🙂 Once your timer goes off, add 1 cup of broken pretzel sticks. I snap mine in half. Now go ahead and stir the mixture to combine everything. Go ahead! It’s OK now. Drop 2 T. of the mixture into about 24 cupcake liners and wait for them to completely harden. Feel free to put them in the fridge to speed up the process. Say Grace and enjoy!
Peanut Pretzel Clusters
Ingredients
- 1 lb. 454g dry roasted peanuts
- 2 oz. 60g german sweet chocolate, broken
- 1 cup 152g Ghirardelli semi-sweet chocolate chips
- 1.25 lb 568g vanilla flavored candy coating, broken
- 1 cup pretzel sticks
Instructions
- Pour the peanuts into your slow cooker, then add the german sweet chocolate, the chocolate chips and the vanilla flavored candy coating.
- Set your slow cooker on warm for 3 hours.
- Once your timer goes off, add the pretzel sticks.
- Stir the mixture to combine everything.
- Drop 2 T. of the mixture into cupcake liners and wait for them to completely harden. Say Grace and enjoy!
Adapted from Home Cooking with Trisha Yearwood
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Kelly @ Mostly Homemade Mom says
These look like they’d be the perfect homemade treat for Easter baskets!
Felesha says
Absolutely Kelly!! Thanks for stopping by! 🙂
The Food Hunter says
I love this treat. I need an excuse to make it soon
Felesha says
Thanks Theresa!!
Emma says
My OH just leant over and asked if I needed him to add the ingredients to these to our shopping list…looks like I know what Im making this weekend 😛
Felesha says
You’ll love ’em!! Thanks for stopping by Emma!!
Mica @ Let's Taco Bout It Blog says
I can’t tell you how much I like this recipe. My nieces & nephews will go NUTS over this!
Felesha says
Thanks Mica!! My family can’t get enough either!!
Bella B (xoxoBella) says
This is my kind of treat! Yummy!!
Felesha says
Thanks Bella!