Whip up these Chocolate Clusters in just a few minutes and enjoy the sweet, salty, crunchy blend anytime! You only need two ingredients for these nutty clusters making this an easy-to-make sweet treat that everyone loves especially during the holiday season.
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If you need something super simple to bring with you to a party, this is it! These bite-sized chocolate nut clusters whip up in a pinch and are always a tasty treat to munch on.
Jump to:
- Why You Will Love This Recipe
- Ingredients
- Additions and Substitutions
- How To Make Chocolate Clusters: Step-By-Step
- Recipe Tips
- Confidence Tip
- Ideas For Creating Your Own Variation On This Candy
- Making The Chocolate Clusters into Gifts
- Storage
- Frequently Asked Questions
- Other Chocolate Desserts
- Chocolate Clusters
They work with any blend of your favorite nuts and are coated in rich, smooth chocolate. The perfect blend of sweet and crunchy.
Not only are they great for parties but they’re also the perfect item to gift to friends and neighbors around the holidays. Package them up in baggies and you’re done!
If you are looking for another easy chocolatey treat, look no further than these Chocolate Covered Cherries, Peanut Butter Chocolate Rice Krispie Treats, or these Chocolate Chunk Brownies With Pecans!
Why You Will Love This Recipe
- Two ingredients - you heard me! Two simple ingredients that you probably already have on hand.
- Easy to vary - there are a lot of combinations using this method. I list some below like dark chocolate cherry almond clusters.
Ingredients
You will need the following ingredients to make these homemade chocolate nut clusters:
Ingredient Notes:
- Use the highest quality chocolate you can find. I like Valhrona, Ghirardelli, or Callebaut chocolate.
- You can use dark chocolate chips if you prefer; however, I like using a good-quality chocolate bar, chocolate bark, or wafers.
See the recipe card for quantities.
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Additions and Substitutions
Though these chocolate clusters are simple, they’re also easy to vary if you want to switch them up.
Additions
- Dried fruit - stick to just one kind depending on what you have on hand. Cherries and chocolate tend to be a very rich and indulgent taste while something like dried apricots or strawberries are more refreshing and uplifting.
- Nuts - use any nut mixture you want or stick to just one kind of nut depending on what you have on hand. Nuts like hazelnuts, macadamia nuts, and pistachios give them a much more indulgent feel.
- Seeds - you can even make these clusters nut-free and use pumpkin seeds, sunflower seeds, and hemp seeds in place of nuts. Thickly shaved, toasted coconut would be wonderful too.
- Sprinkles - make the chocolate nut clusters more festive by topping the chocolate with red and green sprinkles, shredded or ground coconut, or some edible glitter before they set.
- Extracts - Add a bit of peppermint extract to the chocolate once melted to make it have the coveted chocolate peppermint flavor.
- White chocolate - for an aesthetic twist you can use white chocolate either as a topper or as a decoration.
- Spice - spice up the cluster by adding a touch of ground red pepper to the melted chocolate.
Substitutions
- Dairy-free - the clusters can easily be made dairy-free and vegan by simply using dairy-free chocolate to melt down in place of the chocolate.
- Chocolate chips - if you aren't a fan of dark chocolate you can use milk chocolate chips, semi-sweet chocolate chips, or even peanut butter chips.
How To Make Chocolate Clusters: Step-By-Step
Step 1: Place the chocolate in a microwave-safe bowl and microwave it in 30-second intervals stirring occasionally until melted. If you prefer, melt the chocolate on top of the stove using a double boiler.
Step 2: Set aside 1 tablespoon of the nuts and combine the rest of them into the chocolate until coated.
Step 3: Use a small spoon or cookie scoop to scoop some of the mixture into mini cupcake liners.
Step 4: Tap each cluster down lightly and then sprinkle the remaining nuts on top.
Place the pan into the refrigerator for 1-2 hours for the clusters to set and solidify. Then store either on the counter or in the refrigerator.
Recipe Tips
- Chocolate - make sure to heat the chocolate in increments, stirring every 30 seconds. Stop once the chocolate has just melted. If it burns it will become too sticky to mix.
- Nuts - I use whole, already roasted mixed nuts. You can use any nut of choice or a combination of nuts. Roasting the nuts brings out more of a nutty flavor.
Confidence Tip
These chocolate nut clusters are best served in the mini muffin cup liners as individual, bite-sized servings.
My other favorite dessert with chocolate that only has a couple of ingredients is the Chocolate Chow Mein Noodle Cookies Recipe.
Ideas For Creating Your Own Variation On This Candy
- Chocolate peanut caramel clusters
- Caramel chocolate peanut clusters
- Chocolate strawberry clusters
- White chocolate pecan clusters
- Milk chocolate coconut clusters
- Dark chocolate pecan clusters
- Dark chocolate almond clusters
Making The Chocolate Clusters into Gifts
These nutty clusters make thoughtful but really easy gifts for friends and neighbors! Since they’re already in mini muffin cups you can either add them to a candy tin or stack the muffin cups together for last minute gifts any time of year.
If you’re stacking the clusters, wrap the stack in cellophane and tie it with a bow.
Add a homemade label with the ingredients and you’re done.
Keep in mind you could also use these nutty clusters as part of a larger food basket with homemade cookies, caramels, and even chocolate cherry clusters.
Storage
- Store - Store the chocolate nut clusters in an airtight container on the counter at room temperature or in the refrigerator. In the refrigerator, they will last up to 3 weeks.
- Freeze - You can also make these chocolate candies well in advance and freeze them! Make sure that you’re stacking them with the muffin liners and separating them between sheets of parchment paper so that they do not stick together.
- Thaw - Let them thaw in the refrigerator overnight when you’re ready for them.
Frequently Asked Questions
You can use any nut you like to make chocolate nut clusters. Roasted nuts, raw nuts, or salted nuts all work in the recipe; however, roasted nuts will give the best flavor.
Hazelnuts, almonds, and peanuts pair well with dark chocolate, resulting in a rich, indulgent flavor.
Other Chocolate Desserts
Did you try this recipe? I would love to hear about it! Scroll down to the comment section and leave a ⭐️ rating and review. Share it on Facebook, Instagram, or Pinterest!
xoxoxo
Gwen
Chocolate Clusters
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Ingredients
- 1 ½ cups dark chocolate chips or chopped up bars
- 1 cup mixed nuts chopped, roasted, divided
Instructions
- Line a mini cupcake pan with liners. Set aside.
- Add the chopped chocolate to a microwave-safe bowl. Microwave in 30-second intervals. Stir in-between untiil melted.
- Add all but 1 tablespoon of the mixed nuts to the chocolate. Combine.
- Spoon the chocolate nut mixture into the liners filling ¾ of the way to the top.
- Tap down the chocolate to release any bubbles.
- Sprinkle the remainder of the nuts on top.
- Let sit in the refrigerator for 1-2 hours or until set. Store in an airtight container either on the countertop or in the refrigerator.
Anonymous says
Yum