Crockpot Candy is a beloved, effortless treat that simplifies homemade candy making. Imagine rich, smooth chocolate enveloping crunchy peanut clusters, all achieved with minimal effort. This recipe transforms four simple ingredients into a magical confection right in your slow cooker, delivering irresistible results every time.

Crockpot Candy: The Easiest Path to Delicious Homemade Treats

When the holidays roll around, or any time you need a quick, impressive dessert, Crockpot Candy is your secret weapon. This isn’t just another candy recipe; it’s a testament to the power of simplicity, delivering a huge batch of delightful chocolate peanut clusters with almost no fuss. Forget the stovetop thermometers and delicate tempering; your slow cooker handles the hard work, melting the ingredients into a perfectly smooth, ready-to-scoop mixture.

I’m always on the hunt for easy-to-make holiday treats that deliver maximum flavor with minimal effort. Recipes like Christmas Crack, a festive Christmas Snack Mix, and these delightful 3-ingredient Peppermint Cookies are among my favorites. It was only natural to add an equally simple candy recipe to the collection. This Crockpot Candy fits the bill perfectly, offering a wonderfully crunchy, creamy, and utterly satisfying treat that everyone will adore.

The beauty of this recipe lies in its set-it-and-forget-it nature. You simply combine peanuts, almond bark, and two types of chocolate in your slow cooker, and let the gentle heat transform them into a luscious, cohesive mixture. In just a few hours, you’ll have a generous quantity of these irresistible clusters, making them ideal for holiday gifting, party platters, or simply enjoying with family and friends. The sheer volume makes it an excellent choice for potlucks, bake sales, or spreading cheer throughout your neighborhood.

Key Ingredients for Perfect Crockpot Candy

Creating this delectable Crockpot Candy requires just a handful of ingredients, each playing a crucial role in achieving that perfect balance of sweetness, crunch, and creamy chocolate goodness. Here’s a closer look at what you’ll need:

• Honey-Roasted Peanuts: These are the star of the show, providing a delightful sweetness and a satisfying crunch that elevates the candy beyond plain peanut clusters. The honey coating adds an extra layer of flavor that beautifully complements the chocolate. While you can use plain peanuts, the honey-roasted variety truly makes a difference.
• Vanilla Almond Bark: Essential for its excellent melting properties and ability to create a smooth, stable chocolate coating. Almond bark, despite its name, typically contains no almonds but is a confectionery coating made with vegetable fats. It melts easily and sets quickly, making it ideal for candy making as it helps the clusters hold their shape and provides a lovely gloss.
• Semi-Sweet Chocolate Chips: These chips contribute a rich, classic chocolate flavor that balances the sweetness of the honey-roasted peanuts and German chocolate. They provide depth and a familiar taste that is universally loved. High-quality chocolate chips will yield the best flavor.
• German Chocolate Bar: This ingredient is a game-changer, adding a creamy texture and a deeper, more complex chocolate flavor to the mix. German chocolate is a type of dark baking chocolate that typically contains a blend of chocolate liquor, sugar, and cocoa butter, resulting in a rich, slightly less sweet profile than milk chocolate, enhancing the overall taste and creaminess of the candy.
• Optional Toppings: While delicious on their own, a sprinkle of toppings can add an extra layer of flavor and visual appeal. Consider flaky sea salt for a sweet and salty contrast, crushed Heath toffee bits for an added buttery crunch, colorful sprinkles for a festive touch, or even mini chocolate chips for double the chocolate fun.

Step-by-Step Guide to Making Crockpot Candy

Making Crockpot Candy is incredibly straightforward, perfect for beginner candy makers and seasoned bakers alike. Follow these simple steps for perfectly melted, delicious peanut clusters:

1. Add Ingredients to Slow Cooker: Begin by adding all your core ingredients—the honey-roasted peanuts, vanilla almond bark (broken into pieces for easier melting), semi-sweet chocolate chips, and German chocolate bar (also broken up)—into a 6-quart slow cooker. It’s important to layer the peanuts at the bottom first, as this helps protect the chocolate from direct heat and prevents scorching. Do not stir at this stage. Cover the slow cooker with its lid.
2. Initial Melting Phase: Cook the mixture on the LOW setting for 1 hour. This initial period allows the ingredients to gently warm and begin to melt without burning. Avoid lifting the lid during this hour, as it releases heat and extends the cooking time.
3. Stir and Continue Melting: After the first hour, carefully remove the lid and give the mixture a good stir. You’ll notice some of the chocolate and almond bark will have started to soften and melt. Replace the lid and continue cooking on LOW, stirring every 15 minutes. This consistent stirring ensures even melting and prevents any part of the mixture from sticking to the bottom or sides of the pot. Continue this process until the entire mixture is fully melted and wonderfully smooth. This typically takes an additional 30 minutes to 1 hour, depending on your slow cooker.
4. Prepare for Portioning: While your chocolate is melting, prepare your workstation. Line a large sheet pan (or multiple pans, if needed) with mini muffin liners. These liners are crucial for easy handling and uniform presentation of your candy clusters.
5. Portion and Top Your Candy: Once the chocolate mixture is perfectly smooth and glossy, turn off the CrockPot. Use a small cookie scoop or two spoons to portion out the warm candy into each mini muffin liner. Work relatively quickly, as the chocolate will start to set as it cools. Immediately after scooping, sprinkle any desired optional toppings onto the still-wet chocolate. This ensures they adhere beautifully to the candy.
6. Cool and Enjoy: Allow the Crockpot Candy to cool completely at room temperature until the chocolate has fully set and hardened. This can take a few hours. For quicker setting, you can place the sheet pans in the refrigerator for about 30-60 minutes. Once firm, peel off the muffin liners, serve, and enjoy your delightful homemade treats!

Expert Recipe Tips for Perfect Crockpot Candy Every Time

Achieving perfect Crockpot Candy is simple, especially when you keep a few key tips in mind. These small details can make a big difference in the final taste and texture of your homemade chocolate peanut clusters:

• Layer Peanuts First: Always place the peanuts at the bottom of your slow cooker before adding the chocolate and almond bark. This crucial step acts as a protective layer, preventing the chocolate from coming into direct contact with the heating element and reducing the risk of scorching or seizing.
• Stir Gently: Once the melting process begins, stir the mixture slowly and carefully. Vigorous stirring can sometimes cause the chocolate to seize or can break up the peanuts too much, affecting the texture of your clusters. A gentle folding motion is ideal to incorporate everything evenly.
• Use a Cookie Scoop for Uniformity: To ensure all your Crockpot Candy clusters are consistently sized and look professional, use a cookie scoop (about 1-1.5 tablespoons) to portion the candy into the muffin liners. This not only makes for a prettier presentation but also helps with even setting times.
• Cool Fully Before Handling: Patience is key! Allow your candy to cool completely and set firm before attempting to store, stack, or serve them. If you handle them too soon, they might be soft and lose their shape. Chilling them in the refrigerator can speed up this process.
• Add Toppings Immediately: If you plan to add toppings, sprinkle them onto the candy clusters right after you scoop them into the liners, while the chocolate is still warm and wet. This ensures the toppings stick firmly and don’t fall off once the candy sets.
• Avoid Water: Be mindful of any water or moisture getting into your slow cooker. Even a tiny drop can cause chocolate to seize and become grainy. Ensure your slow cooker lid is dry and no condensation drips into the chocolate.

More Irresistible Candy Recipes to Try

If you’ve fallen in love with the simplicity and deliciousness of Crockpot Candy, you’re in for a treat! Here are more fantastic candy recipes that are easy to make and perfect for satisfying your sweet tooth:

• Buttercrunch Candy with peanut butter: A delightful, crispy toffee-like candy with a rich peanut butter twist.
• Honeycomb Candy with a chocolate topping: Light, airy, and crunchy, this candy is a textural dream, made even better with a layer of chocolate.
• Avalanche Cookies no baking required!: A no-bake wonder featuring creamy white chocolate, peanut butter, and crunchy rice cereal.
• Ritz Cracker Peanut Butter Cups coated in chocolate: The perfect blend of salty and sweet, with creamy peanut butter sandwiched between crispy Ritz crackers and coated in chocolate.
• Popcorn Puppy Chow no baking required!: A fun and addictive snack mix, where popcorn takes the place of traditional cereal in this classic treat.

Pin
Print

5 from 1 vote

Crockpot Candy

By

Chelsea Lords

Who knew making candy could be this simple? Add 4 ingredients to your CrockPot, and in no time, you’ll have crunchy peanut clusters coated in smooth chocolate.

Prep Time:

15 minutes
minutes

Cook Time:

1 hour
hour
30 minutes
minutes

Setting Time:

1 hour
hour

Total Time:

2 hours
hours
45 minutes
minutes

Servings:

120
clusters

Equipment

• 6-quart Crock-Pot
  6-quart
• Mini cupcake liners

Ingredients

• ▢
  
  34.5
  ounces
  
  honey roasted peanuts
  

• ▢
  
  32
  ounces
  
  vanilla almond bark
  
  see note 1

• ▢
  
  12
  ounces
  
  semi-sweet chocolate chips
  

• ▢
  
  4
  ounces
  
  German chocolate bar
  

• ▢
  
  Optional toppings
  see note 2

Instructions 

• Add all the ingredients except the optional toppings to the CrockPot. Do not stir. Cover with a lid and cook on low for 1 hour.
• After 1 hour, remove the lid and stir the mixture. Replace the lid and continue cooking on low, stirring every 15 minutes, until the mixture is fully melted. This will take 30 minutes to 1 hour.
• Line a large sheet pan with mini muffin liners.
• Turn off the CrockPot. Use a cookie scoop to portion out the candy into the muffin liners. Immediately add any desired toppings.
• Allow the candy to cool completely at room temperature. Serve and enjoy!

Recipe Notes

Note 1: You’ll need 1 full 24-ounce package plus about half of another to make 32 ounces.

Note 2: Add toppings like sea salt, crushed toffee, mini chocolate chips, or sprinkles—whatever you like!

Nutrition

Serving:
1
serving

|

Calories:
108
kcal

|

Carbohydrates:
8.4
g

|

Protein:
2.8
g

|

Fat:
7.6
g

|

Cholesterol:
1.6
mg

|

Sodium:
7.7
mg

|

Fiber:
1
g

|

Sugar:
7
g

Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.

Like this? Leave a comment below!