Crockpot Candy with Peanut Butter, also known as Crockpot Candy Crack or Chocolate Peanut Clusters, is a simple, four-ingredient recipe. All you have to do is combine salted peanuts, peanut butter, chocolate chips, and chocolate bars in a crockpot to melt for the perfect no-bake holiday treat.
Want to save this recipe?
Enter your email & I'll send it to your inbox. Plus, get great new recipes from me every week!
If you love easy crock pot candy, check out my Slow Cooker Baileys Fudge next!
It's that time of year, the holiday season is here and it's time to do Christmas baking! One of my new favorite recipes is this crockpot Christmas candy. Made with simple ingredients, it comes together quickly and requires very little effort. And the best part? It makes a big batch of about 70 servings!
Serve this easy candy recipe at your next holiday party; everyone will love it! If you enjoy this, you'll also like my easy Peanut Butter Blossoms!
Recipe at a Glance
- The Method: Low and slow in the Crockpot (Slow Cooker).
- Prep Time: 15 minutes to prep your muffin tins.
- Cook Time: 60 minutes on Low.
- Yield: Approximately 70 chocolate peanut clusters.
- The Goal: A massive batch of crockpot candy with peanut butter that is perfect for holiday gifting.
- Pro Tip: Use a cookie scoop for the most uniform Christmas crack in a muffin tin.
Jump to:
Why This Crockpot Christmas Crack Works
- Easiest Candy Ever: This is the simplest Christmas candy you will make this year.
- Perfect for Gifting: This recipe makes a HUGE batch, perfect for holiday cookie trays or Christmas gifts.
- Make Ahead: It can be made in advance and keeps perfectly in the freezer.
Ingredients and Substitutions
To make these crockpot crack candy peanut clusters, you only need a handful of items:
- Salted peanuts. One bag of salted peanuts is all you need.
- Peanut butter. 2 cups of smooth peanut butter (I find smooth works best for that creamy melt).
- Chocolate chips. I used semi-sweet chocolate chips. You could also use dark chocolate chips, milk chocolate chips, white chocolate chips, butterscotch chips, or peanut butter chips. You could even use white almond bark.
- Chocolate bars. I used Lindt Swiss Chocolate Hazelnut Chocolate Bars for the best flavor, but you can experiment with your favorites!
(See the printable recipe card below for the full list of quantities and detailed instructions!)
How to Make Crockpot Candy Crack
The Melt: Add the peanut butter, chocolate chips, and broken-up chocolate bars to your crockpot. Turn the heat to low and set the timer for one hour.
Stir: Stir halfway through, then again at the one-hour mark, until the chocolate and peanut butter are melted together.
The Muffin Tin Method: Place mini cupcake liners in small muffin tins (this is my favorite way to make Christmas crack in a muffin tin). Spoon the mixture into the liners. I prefer using a cookie scoop to make this easier. TIP: You can also place parchment paper or wax paper on a large cookie sheet and drop spoonful of candy clusters onto it.
Decorate: Before they set, add Christmas sprinkles, toffee bits, or coarse sea salt. Pro Tip: If decorating with more chocolate chips, let the candy come to room temperature first so they don't melt.
Set: Place in the refrigerator or freezer until firm. And that's it! Store this delicious candy in the refrigerator in an airtight container for up to 2 weeks or in the freezer for up to 2 months.
Variations
- Stove Top: Melt the mixture in a microwave-safe bowl, a saucepan over low heat, or a double boiler.
- Add-ins: Stir in different nuts or Rice Krispies cereal for extra crunch.
- Toppings: Garnish with mini M&Ms (perfect for crockpot Christmas crack with M&Ms), crushed candy canes, chopped pecans, walnuts, cashews, or chopped mini marshmallows.
Recipe FAQs
While not strictly necessary, liners keep the candies together and give them a finished, professional look for gifting.
It takes about 2 hours in the refrigerator. To speed it up, place them in the freezer for 30-45 minutes.
If you like this Crockpot Christmas Crack recipe, please take a moment to rate the recipe 🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟 and leave a comment below with your thoughts!
Printable Recipe
Crockpot Candy with Peanut Butter (Chocolate Peanut Clusters)
Equipment
- Crockpot (Slow Cooker)
- Mini Muffin Tins (and mini liners)
- Cookie Scoop (1-tablespoon size)
Ingredients
- 1 bag (16 oz) salted peanuts (600g or 1 pound)
- 2 cups smooth peanut butter
- 1 cup semi-sweet chocolate chips
- 4 (4.4 oz) Lindt Swiss Classic Hazelnut Chocolate Bars (100g or 125g size, broken into pieces)
- optional toppings: mini white chocolate chips, mini M&Ms, crushed pecans, toffee bits, caramel bits, holiday sprinkles, or coarse sea salt
Instructions
- Combine: Add 2 cups of peanut butter, 1 cup of chocolate chips, 4 broken-up chocolate bars, and 1 bag of salted peanuts into the crockpot.
- Slow Melt: Set your crockpot to LOW heat for 1 hour.
- Stir: Give the mixture a thorough stir at the 30-minute mark and again at the end of the hour to ensure everything is silky smooth and well-combined.
- Prep Tins: While the chocolate melts, arrange mini cupcake liners in small muffin tins or on a large baking sheet.
- Scoop: Use a cookie scoop to transfer the melted candy mixture into the liners. You can also line a large cookie sheet with parchment paper and drop it on in spoonfuls. (Pro Tip: Keep the crockpot on the 'Warm' setting during this step so the chocolate doesn't harden!)
- Decorate: Before the candies set, top with your favorite festive sprinkles, toffee bits, or mini M&Ms.
- Set: Chill in the refrigerator for 2 hours or the freezer for 30 minutes until firm.
- Store: Keep in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 2 weeks or in the freezer for up to 2 months.
Save This Recipe 💌
Enter your email below and I'll send the recipe straight to your inbox! Plus, you'll get new recipes from me each week!
Notes
- Setting Speed: If you are in a rush, the freezer is your best friend. They'll be ready to eat in about 30 minutes.
- Muffin Tin Benefit: Using a muffin tin gives the candy a more finished, professional look for holiday cookie trays.
- Peanut Butter Tip: I recommend a standard creamy peanut butter (like Jif or Skippy) rather than natural varieties for the best melting consistency.
Nutrition
The provided nutrition information is automatically calculated. Accuracy is not guaranteed.
Did you love this recipe?
Then please leave a 5-star rating and/or review below! You can also save it! Just tap the heart symbol ❤️ in the lower right corner of your screen, and the recipe will be stored in your own recipe box!📥
Comments
No Comments