Sweet Tooth: Just 3 ingredients. I make these in big batches because they make the perfect homemade gift.
Variations & Tips
If you grew up with candy tins on the counter, you know every family had its own way of making these little clusters. You can swap some of the semi-sweet or milk chocolate for white chocolate chips to make a lighter, sweeter version—just keep the total amount of chocolate the same. For a little old-fashioned flair, stir in 1 teaspoon of vanilla extract after the chocolate has melted, before adding the peanuts.
If you like a sweet-and-salty contrast, use half salted peanuts and half unsalted, or sprinkle a few flakes of sea salt on top of each cluster while the chocolate is still soft. For a bit of crunch and color, fold in a handful of crushed pretzels or a few tablespoons of holiday sprinkles. If you’re making these for folks who can’t have peanuts, you can use roasted almonds, cashews, or mixed nuts instead—just be sure they’re roasted so the flavor stands up to the chocolate.
And if your slow cooker runs hot, prop the lid open slightly with a wooden spoon handle to keep the chocolate from scorching; low and slow is the secret, just like so many good Midwestern recipes.
