This Homemade Caramel Peanut Cluster Recipe is an irresistible tasty treat that will leave people begging for more!! Caramel peanut clusters are an easy gourmet confectionary that will step up your holiday candy tray.
Professional looking turtle chocolate candies are a must have for the holiday season. My daughters have made this homemade chocolate caramel peanut turtles, I have made them as well as my mom, dad, and my dad’s mother.
That’s four generations making the same recipe year after year!! Family traditions run strong in my household.
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Traditions of My Family
For as long as I can remember my grandmother, Millie Bahr, had a “candy room” at Christmas time. It was an unused bedroom that had the heat shut off, so the room was cold.
The whole bed and dresser tops were covered with trays and trays of assorted chocolates, cookies, and candies. When you would visit her at Christmas, she would hand you a plate and you were allowed to pick which ever treats that you wanted to take home with you.
A homemade cookies and candy tray are something that my loved ones look forward to and make a great gift. Chocolate Peanut Clusters are requested by my brother Joel and Nephew Alex because they do not like the pecan turtles that we traditionally make.
How to Make Homemade Caramel for Peanut Cluster Recipe
First Step to Making Homemade Caramel: Gather the ingredients to make the caramel. Combine the heavy whipping cream and milk in a container. In a large saucepan, add 1 1/2 cups of the milk mixture, sugars (granulated and brown sugar), corn syrup and salt. Stir to combine.
Cook to 234°F: Bring to a boil over medium to medium/high heat. Continue stirring to dissolve sugars. Using a candy thermometer to keep track of the temperature, cook till 234°F. I highly recommend a Taylor digital thermometer.
Add Milk and Continue Cooking: With the large saucepan still on medium heat, very slowly pour in the remaining 1 1/2 cups of milk mixture stirring constantly. Making sure the saucepan mixture continues to boil as you pour in the milk mixture. Continue stirring and cook caramel mixture to 244°F. Remove from heat, stir in butter and vanilla.
Be Patient When Making Homemade Caramel: This process takes me at least 1 hour. Do not rush this process otherwise your caramel will not set properly. Cooking time will vary. Let caramel cool for about 10 – 20 minutes before spooning onto the nuts.
How to Make Caramel Peanut Cluster Recipe
Prepare the Nuts: On a large work surface, cover with a piece of foil, plastic wrap, or non-stick silicone mat. Coat the covered surface with non-stick cooking spray. Arrange all the peanuts in small clusters on the sprayed surface. You will have about 30 to 36 piles of peanuts spread on the greased surface.
Spoon Caramel Over Nuts: Once the homemade caramel has come to the right temperature (not to hot and not to cold), spoon about 1 tablespoon on top of the peanut cluster. Be careful to keep the peanuts together and not spread out when the caramel is poured on top. Cover all the peanut piles with caramel. Let the caramel set.
Top Peanut Clusters with Chocolate
Melt the Milk Chocolate: Place the milk chocolate wafers (can also use milk chocolate chips) in a microwaveable bowl. Keep a few pieces of the chocolate out and set aside. Add the shortening or paramount crystals on top of the chocolate pieces to help with the melting process. Microwave in 30 second intervals, making sure to stir the chocolate between intervals.
Do not overheat the Chocolate. It is super important to not overheat your chocolate because it will burn quickly. When the chocolate is melted, add the few pieces of the chocolate that was set aside.
Stir until all Chocolate is Melted: Stir until melted. Do not microwave, just stir to melt. This is called “tempering the chocolate” and will help prevent the white streaks in your finished chocolates.
Top the Caramel and Peanuts with Chocolate: With a spoon, top the caramel turtles with a little bit of melted chocolate. Let the caramel peanut clusters set up before you try to move them.
Tips for Making Homemade Chocolate Caramel Peanut Clusters
- If you do not want to make homemade caramel, then buy the square Kraft caramels. Melt down with a little cream and pour over the nut clusters.
- Store any unused caramel in a pan or container in the refrigerator for later use.
- Use fresh chocolate for best results. If your chocolate is white in color, that is old or not properly stored chocolate.
- If using older chocolate, add some shortening or paramount crystals to the chocolate while melting.
- To remove the cluster easily from the foil or plastic wrap, get them cold and then pop the clusters off.
How to Store Caramel Peanut Clusters
Store in a sealed container. Leave the caramel peanut clusters on the foil or plastic wrap.
With a pair of scissors, cut the foil or plastic wrap to the size of your storage container. Lay the foil/plastic wrap in layers in your storage container.
Keep in the refrigerator for up to 4 weeks or store in the freezer for 2 months. When ready to serve leave the clusters on the foil/plastic wrap or remove when they are cold and place on a flattened cupcake wrapper.
More Candy Recipes
- Boozy Hot Chocolate Bombs
- Wedding Hot Chocolate Bombs
- Homemade Turtle Candy
- Dessert Charcuterie Board
- Homemade Chocolate Sea Salt Caramels
- White Chocolate Fudge
- Chocolate Fudge with Kahlua
Peanut Cluster Recipe – FAQ
Yes, you can use store bought caramels instead of homemade caramel. Buy a 12 oz bag of Kraft caramel squares. Unwrap and place in a large microwavable bowl. Add 4 tablespoons of heavy cream and microwave in 20 second intervals. Stir in between intervals until all the caramel is smooth.
It is best to use candy melts or wafer chocolate for your turtle’s chocolate. Chocolate chips have a protective coating on them to keep them from melting but can also be used in a pinch.
If your chocolate is seizing up or not melting properly then it could be a couple different problems. Old chocolate will not want to melt but you can add a tablespoon of shortening or paramount crystals to help with the melting process. Seized chocolate can also happen if you get it to hot and don’t stir it properly. Chocolate will burn quickly!! Remember to stir often, especially in the beginning stages of melting chocolate. Low temperature and when microwaving, do no more than 30 second intervals and stir in-between intervals. If water encounters your chocolate, it will seize and can not be recovered. So, keep the water away from your chocolate.
Homemade Caramel Peanut Cluster Recipe
Recipe for Peanut Clusters
This Homemade Caramel Peanut Cluster Recipe is an irresistible tasty treat that will leave people begging for more!! Caramel peanut clusters are an easy gourmet confectionary that will step up your holiday candy tray.
Ingredients
- Heavy Cream, Divided 1 cup
- Milk, Divided 1/2 cup
- Sugar, Granulated 1/2 cup
- Brown Sugar, Packed 1/2 cup
- Corn Syrup, Light 3/4 cup
- Salt 1/8 teaspoon
- Vanilla 1/2 teaspoon
- Butter, Salted 2 tablespoons
- Peanuts 3 cups
- Milk Chocolate, wafers. 2 cups
Instructions
- Gather the ingredients to make your homemade caramel recipe.
- In a container, combine the heavy whipping cream and milk. This milk is going to be divided into 2 parts. One part at the beginning of the recipe and the second part for the end of the recipe.
- In a large saucepan, add 3/4 cup of the milk mixture, granulated sugar and the brown sugar, corn syrup and salt. Stir to combine all ingredients.
- Bring to a low boil over medium to medium/high heat. Continue stirring to dissolve all the sugars.
- Make sure to use a candy thermometer to keep track of the temperature, cook till 234°F.
- With the caramel mixture still on medium heat, very slowly pour in the remaining 3/4 cup of milk mixture stirring constantly. Making sure the caramel mixture continues to boil as you pour in the milk mixture.
- Continue stirring and cook caramel mixture to 244°F.
- Remove from heat, stir in butter and vanilla.
- This process takes me at least 1 hour. Do not rush this process otherwise your caramel will not set properly. Cooking time will vary.
- Let the homemade caramel cool for about 10 – 20 minutes before spooning onto the nuts.
- On a large surface, cover with a piece of foil or plastic wrap. Coat the covered surface with non-stick cooking spray.
- Arrange all the peanuts in small clusters on the sprayed surface. You will have about 30 to 36 piles of peanuts spread on the greased surface.
- Once the homemade caramel has come to the right temperature (not to hot and not to cold), spoon about 1 tablespoon on top of the peanut cluster. Be careful to keep the peanuts together and not spread out when the caramel is poured on top.
- Cover all the peanut piles with the hot caramel. Let the caramel set.
- Place the milk chocolate wafers in a microwaveable bowl. Keep a few pieces of the chocolate out and set aside.
- If desired, add the shortening on top of the chocolate.
- Microwave in 30 second intervals, making sure to stir the chocolate between intervals.
- Do not overheat the Chocolate. When the chocolate is melted, add the few pieces of the chocolate that was set aside. Stir until melted.
- Do not microwave, just stir to melt. This is called “tempering the chocolate” and will help prevent the white streaks in your finished chocolates.
- Once the chocolate is melted properly, add a spoonful on top of the cooled caramel clusters.
- Let the caramel peanut turtles set before trying to move.
Notes
Caramel Peanut Clusters Tips
Use melted down Kraft square caramels instead of making homemade caramel.
If you are having trouble melting your chocolate, use 1 tablespoon of shortening or paramount crystals to help with the melting process.
Store unused caramel peanut clusters in an airtight container for up to 4 weeks in the refrigerator or 2 months in the freezer.
Use milk chocolate wafers instead of milk chocolate chips for best results.
Store any unused caramel in an airtight container in the refrigerator.
Recommended Products
As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases. This page contains affiliate links. Click on the highlighted text in a post to explore a product. If you purchase through one of them, I will receive a commission (at no additional cost to you). I ONLY EVER ENDORSE PRODUCTS THAT I TRULY LOVE. Thank you for your support!
Nutrition Information
Yield
36Serving Size
1Amount Per Serving Calories 166Total Fat 10gSaturated Fat 3gTrans Fat 0gUnsaturated Fat 6gCholesterol 9mgSodium 104mgCarbohydrates 18gNet Carbohydrates 0gFiber 1gSugar 14gSugar Alcohols 0gProtein 4g
Note: For exact nutritional information, consult your dietitian. All nutritional information is simply a guideline.
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If you enjoy this recipe, you may enjoy the following: Boozy Hot Chocolate Bombs
These were delicious! A new family favorite!
I love the smiles that these caramel peanut clusters bring to my loved ones!
Easy to make and so delicious – what more could you want?
These are delicious! My whole family loved them!
I am thrilled that your family loved them!!