Crockpot Candy is the ultimate homemade candy

• It only requires 5 simple ingredients. And my recipe for Crockpot Candy does not use Almond Bark. Meaning that it tastes richer!
• No baking is required. Perfect to make when it is too hot to bake or you simply want an easy treat to enjoy.
• Minimal hands-on work. The only hands-on time for this recipe is scooping out the nut clusters–super simple!
• Everyone LOVES this recipe for Crockpot Candy. Who doesn’t love peanuts combined with sweet chocolate?!

NOTES ON INGREDIENTS

• Chocolate Chips: I use both dark and semi-sweet chocolate chips for the best of both worlds. The dark chocolate adds a rich chocolate flavor and bitter note to help balance out the sweetness of the white chocolate chips. The semi-sweet chocolate adds a classic chocolate taste.
• White Chocolate Chips: The white chocolate adds a sweet undertone to the candy clusters.
• Peanut Butter Chips: Peanut butter and chocolate are a natural combo and the peanut butter in this candy adds a creamy, rich, nutty undertone. Delish!
• Peanuts: It is best to use dry-roasted salted nuts for this recipe, as the salt will help to balance out the sweetness of the candy. If you happen to have unsalted nuts, simply add ½ teaspoon of kosher salt to the mixture.

EQUIPMENT NEEDED

• Slow Cooker: This recipe is designed for a standard, 6-8 quart, slow cooker. The low heat of the slow cooker will melt the chocolate evenly and beautifully–it is really quite something!
• Cookie Scoop: To scoop out the nut clusters, I use a medium or small cookie scoop. If you don’t have a cookie scoop, using spoons will work just as well. 
• Parchment Paper: You will need parchment paper or a silicone mat to place the candy on. This will prevent the chocolate from sticking to the surface as it cools.
• Kitchen Towel: You will need a clean kitchen towel to place between the lid and base of the crockpot to absorb condensation.

HOW TO MAKE CROCKPOT CANDY

• Lightly grease the liner of your slow cooker with coconut oil or nonstick cooking spray. This will make clean-up MUCH easier!
• Spread the peanuts out on the bottom of the slow cooker. If your nuts are not salted, sprinkle with ½ teaspoon of salt. The salt will help to balance out the sweetness of the candy.
• Add the 4 different kinds of chocolate chips over the peanuts.

• Place a clean kitchen towel over the liner of the slow cooker and then place the lid on the slow cooker. This is REALLY important as the towel will absorb any condensation, preventing moisture from dripping into the chocolate–that would cause the chocolate to potentially seize up.
• Turn the slow cooker to LOW heat. Cook on low heat for 1 hour.
• Remove the lid and towel and give the mixture a stir. If needed, recover and continue to cook for 15-30 minutes until the chocolate is fully melted. I find that 1 hour is typically sufficient to melt the chocolate.

• Once the chocolate has fully melted, be sure to mix well to fully coat the nuts in the chocolate.

• Line two large baking sheets with parchment paper or silicone mats.
• Use a small cookie scoop or 2 small spoons to scoop 1-2 tablespoons of the crockpot candy into small mounds onto the prepared baking sheet.

• Allow the chocolate to sit in a cool space to fully harden. You can speed up the process by placing the baking sheets into the refrigerator.
• Once the chocolate has fully hardened, remove the nut clusters from the parchment paper or silicone mats and place them in an airtight container.

STORAGE

Crockpot candy needs to be stored in an airtight container in a cool, dry spot. If your house is on the warmer side, it is best to store the candies in the refrigerator, rather than at room temperature, to prevent the chocolate from melting.

Crockpot Candy will keep for up to 14 days. While you can freeze the nut clusters in an airtight freezer-safe container or bag for up to 3 months, keep in mind that freezing chocolate can cause the chocolate to change color and the flavor will be slightly impacted.