You only need 4 ingredients to make amazing crock pot patriotic clusters. The slow cooker does all of the work and you get to enjoy the best treat. It is perfect for July 4th or Memorial Day!
Crock pot patriotic clusters
You know I love my crock pot and I was so excited to make this easy candy recipe using the slow cooker. It is a game changer! I started out by making Crock Pot Easter Candy Clusters.
Everyone loved them and the entire recipe was super easy. I started to think about how I could make this year round. It is super easy by changing the color of M&M’s candy and sprinkles.
You can easily adapt this recipe to make it work for any occasion, event, birthday or holiday. We look for any excuse to make these!
They are so easy but taste really decadent and delicious.
Ingredients
- lightly salted peanuts
- white almond bark – broke into squares
- Red white and blue M&M
- Sprinkles for decorating
How to make crock pot patriotic clusters
- First, add the peanuts and almond bark to a 5 quart crock pot. That is it!
- Second, set the crock pot to low and let it cook for 1 hour.
- It is important that you stir the chocolate peanut mixture every 15 to 20 minutes to make sure that the chocolate doesn’t burn on the bottom.
- Finally, once the cooking time is up and the chocolate is melted, add about half of the M&M’s. Stir to make sure everything is combined.
- Use a spoon or a cookie scoop to scoop clusters onto a cookie sheet. I recommend lining the baking sheet with wax paper or parchment paper first. This will help with cleanup and make it easier to remove the clusters.
- The last step is to garnish each cluster with the remaining sprinkles and M&M candy. You need to do this before they dry so they will stick to the clusters.
- You can put in the refrigerator or let them sit at room temperature until the chocolate has set. If you are in a rush, just put them in the fridge and that will speed the process along.
How to store chocolate peanut clusters:
The clusters can be stored in an airtight container or ziplock bag in the fridge. My kids love these so they don’t last long around here!
Tips for Crock Pot 4th of July Clusters:
- I like to use crock pot liners to make clean up easy. This is optional but it is so nice to just toss that liner.
- You can certainly use a spoon to scoop the candy but I prefer a cookie scoop to easily and quickly scoop the clusters on the baking sheet. It makes it so fast and easy. Plus, everything is the same size and uniform.
- Silicone mats- I like to line the baking sheets with these silicone mats. You can also use parchment paper but I love being able to reuse the silicone mats. I feel like it saves money over time and I just really like the silicone mats.
Variations to Crock pot Patriotic Peanut Clusters:
- Milk chocolate – Substitute milk chocolate for the white chocolate. It will still be delicious and makes for a nice change. Dark chocolate and even chocolate bars work! You can also add a handful of peanut butter morsels. The chocolate and peanut butter combination is amazing!
- Sprinkles- You can use anything you prefer. Change the sprinkles and colors to make these clusters work for any occasion, holiday or even birthday! You could even coordinate these for Game Day. So fun!
- M&M Candy – Swap out the patriotic M&M’s for regular M&M’s or other seasonal M&M’s to enjoy for lots of occasions. We love to make these for Christmas, Halloween, July 4th and more.
- Crockpot- Make sure you have a good slow cooker. I spotted several on sale!
Print the recipe for crock pot patriotic peanut clusters below:
Crock pot Patriotic Clusters
You only need 4 ingredients to make amazing crock pot patriotic clusters. The slow cooker does all of the work. Try it for July 4th.
Ingredients
- (2) 16 oz. containers of lightly salted peanuts
- 48 oz white almond bark – broke into squares
- 12 oz Red white and blue M&M
- Sprinkles for decorating
Instructions
- Layer the peanuts and almond bark in a 5 quart crock pot.
- Cook on low for 1 hour.
- Stir every 15-20 minutes to ensure that chocolate does not burn on the bottom of the crock pot.
- Once all ingredients are melted, stir thoroughly to combine and stir in approximately ½ of the M&Ms.
- Then use a spoon or a cookie scoop to scoop clusters onto a cookie sheet lined with wax paper or parchment paper. Then decorate each cluster with the sprinkles and leftover m&ms before they dry.
- Put in the refrigerator or allow them to sit at room temperature until the chocolate has completely set (usually 1-2 hours).
- Store the clusters in an airtight container or ziplock bag in the refrigerator. Enjoy!
Nutrition Facts
Calories 409kcal, Carbohydrates 38g, Protein 8g, Fat 25g, Saturated Fat 14g, Trans Fat 1g, Cholesterol 1mg, Sodium 127mg, Potassium 196mg, Fiber 2g, Sugar 33g, Vitamin A 21IU, Vitamin C 1mg, Calcium 36mg, Iron 1mg
More easy 4th of July desserts:
- Red White and Blue Icebox Cake
- 4th of July Ice Cream Sandwich recipe
- Patriotic Star Rice Krispie Treats
- Easy Bomb Brownie Bites
- Patriotic Crack Recipe
- 4th of July Chocolate Covered Oreos
- 4th of July Fruit Kabobs
- Red White and Blue Crinkle Cake Mix Cookies
- American Flag Cookie Cake Recipe
