Crockpot Candy with Peanut Butter, often called Crockpot Candy Crack or Chocolate Peanut Clusters, is a no-fuss, four-ingredient treat. Simply combine salted peanuts, smooth peanut butter, chocolate chips, and chopped chocolate bars in a crockpot, melt on low, then portion into liners for an easy, crowd-pleasing holiday confection.
If you enjoy simple slow-cooker sweets, try a slow cooker fudge recipe next time to expand your holiday candy lineup.
The holidays are the perfect time for easy baking and gifting. This crockpot Christmas candy is quick to prepare, requires minimal effort, and produces a very large batch—about 70 bite-sized clusters—so it’s ideal for parties, cookie trays, and gift boxes.
Recipe at a Glance
- Method: Melt in a crockpot (slow cooker) on low.
- Prep Time: About 15 minutes to prepare liners or a sheet pan.
- Cook Time: 60 minutes on low.
- Yield: Roughly 70 clusters.
- Goal: Make a large batch of easy peanut butter chocolate clusters for gifting or serving.
- Pro Tip: Use a cookie scoop for uniform portions when filling muffin liners.
Why This Crockpot Christmas Crack Works
- Super simple: Only four main ingredients and minimal hands-on time.
- Great for gifting: Produces a large quantity that stores well for holiday trays and packages.
- Make ahead: These freeze and chill well, so you can prepare them in advance.
Ingredients and Substitutions
You only need a few pantry staples to make these peanut clusters:
- Salted peanuts — one 16 oz bag.
- Smooth peanut butter — 2 cups for a creamy melt.
- Chocolate chips — 1 cup semi-sweet recommended; swap with dark, milk, white, or flavored chips as desired.
- Chocolate bars — four standard bars chopped; choose your favorite brand or flavor to adjust richness.
Optional toppings include mini chocolate chips, mini M&Ms, crushed nuts, toffee bits, crushed candy canes, or a sprinkle of coarse sea salt.
How to Make Crockpot Candy Crack
The Melt: Place the peanut butter, chocolate chips, and broken chocolate bars in the crockpot. Set to LOW for one hour.
Stir: Stir the mixture at about 30 minutes and again when the hour is up so everything becomes smooth and fully combined.
The Muffin Tin Method: Line mini muffin tins with paper liners and use a cookie scoop or spoon to drop the melted mixture into each cup. Alternatively, drop spoonfuls onto parchment-lined baking sheets to form clusters.
Decorate: While still soft, top each cluster with sprinkles, toffee, nuts, or a pinch of sea salt. For additional chocolate decorations, wait until the clusters reach room temperature so the toppings don’t fully melt.
Set: Chill the filled liners in the refrigerator for about 2 hours, or speed things up in the freezer for 30–45 minutes, until firm. Store finished clusters in an airtight container in the fridge for up to two weeks, or freeze for up to two months.
Variations
- Stovetop or Microwave: Melt the mixture in a saucepan over low heat, a double boiler, or in short bursts in the microwave instead of a crockpot.
- Add-ins: Fold in chopped nuts, Rice Krispies, or dried fruit for texture and flavor twists.
- Toppings: Try mini M&Ms, crushed candy canes, chopped pecans, cashews, or mini marshmallows to customize each batch.
Recipe FAQs
Liners make removal easier and give the clusters a neat, gift-ready presentation, though they aren’t strictly required.
Chill in the refrigerator for about 2 hours, or place in the freezer for 30–45 minutes to set more quickly.
More Homemade Candy Recipes
-
Christmas Crack with Graham Crackers (Easy 5-Ingredient Toffee)
-
Easy Soft Peanut Brittle Recipe
-
2 Ingredient Peanut Butter Fudge
-
Chocolate Christmas Fudge
If you try this Crockpot Christmas Crack, consider rating the recipe and leaving a short note about what toppings or variations you liked best.
Printable Recipe
Equipment
- Crockpot (Slow Cooker)
- Mini muffin tins and liners
- Cookie scoop (1 tablespoon)
Ingredients
- 1 bag (16 oz) salted peanuts (about 600 g)
- 2 cups smooth peanut butter
- 1 cup semi-sweet chocolate chips
- 4 chocolate bars, chopped (about 4.4 oz each)
- Optional toppings: mini white chocolate chips, mini M&Ms, crushed pecans, toffee bits, sprinkles, or coarse sea salt
Instructions
- Combine: Add the peanut butter, chocolate chips, chopped chocolate bars, and salted peanuts to the crockpot.
- Slow melt: Cook on LOW for 1 hour.
- Stir: Stir at 30 minutes and again at the end of the hour until smooth.
- Prepare liners: While the mixture melts, place mini liners in muffin tins or line a baking sheet with parchment.
- Scoop: Use a cookie scoop or spoon to portion the mixture into liners or onto the sheet. Keep the crockpot on Warm to prevent hardening during scooping.
- Decorate: Add toppings before the clusters set.
- Set: Chill in the refrigerator for 2 hours or the freezer for 30–45 minutes until firm.
- Store: Keep in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 2 weeks or in the freezer up to 2 months.
Notes
- Speed setting: Freeze to speed up setting if you’re short on time.
- Muffin tin benefit: Using liners gives clusters a neat, gift-ready look.
- Peanut butter: Regular creamy peanut butter melts more consistently than many natural varieties.
Nutrition
Nutrition info is an estimate and not guaranteed.
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