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Let me tell you how this simple Christmas Crack totally saved my holiday chaos! Three Decembers ago, in between frantic shopping and constant baking, I lucked into this easy fix that kept me sane. Just throw the ingredients into your slow cooker and, like magic, these chocolate peanut bites appear—with folks raving about them every year! My friends bug me for the details as soon as December rolls in.
Top Reasons To Try
Your slow cooker does all the heavy lifting, so you can dash through your holiday errands. The mix of peanuts and chocolate is legendary—no one can eat just one. I always whip up a monster batch since they stay yummy for ages (not that they survive that long!). They're awesome for those "oops, I forgot a gift" moments. You can even swap in fun extras to make every batch unique.
Ingredients
- Main Stuff:
- 2 large jars salted peanuts
- 12 oz bag white chocolate melting wafers
- 4 oz Baker’s baking chocolate, chopped
- 10 oz bag Reese’s peanut butter chips
- 12 oz bag semi-sweet chocolate chips
- Extras:
- Caramel drizzle
- Holiday sprinkles
- Red Hots (cinnamon candies)
- Gear:
- Big slow cooker (6-quart works great)
- Cookie scoop
- Parchment paper
Super Easy Method
- Get Stuff Ready
- Put a layer of peanuts on the bottom of your slow cooker, spread them around. Toss your peanut butter chips on next, followed by semi-sweet chocolate chips and chopped Baker’s chocolate. Finish off with white wafers right on top. It sounds wild, but this order just works best.
- Time To Melt
- Keep your slow cooker on low. Never use high, or your chocolate could scorch—I learned that the hard way. Let everything sit and melt for the first hour without peeking or stirring.
- Blend Everything Together
- After an hour, take a spoon and mix it all up. Layers should start blending nicely. Keep an eye on it now—give it a stir every 30 minutes until the mix is smooth and glossy. That’s about 2 hours from the start.
- Cluster Time
- Grab your parchment paper and lay it out. Use the cookie scoop or a spoon to drop small clusters onto the paper. Move quickly, but don’t rush—steady hands make rounder treats.
- Make ‘Em Fancy
- Sprinkle your favorite toppings on while the chocolate’s still soft. I do a few at a time so I can add sprinkles before anything hardens.
Kitchen Secrets
Always leave your cooker on low. If you spot any hot spots, just give things a gentle stir. Cookie scoops are awesome—much easier (and neater) than using a spoon. If your chocolate thickens up while you’re working, just turn low back on briefly. My secret move? Sprinkle each cluster with a pinch of sea salt for that epic sweet and salty combo.
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Fun Variations
Once you’ve got the basics down, go wild! I swap in cashews sometimes, or throw in dried cranberries so it feels super festive. For movie nights, a handful of mini pretzels is a hit. My kids cheer when I crush candy canes on top. Remember—add crunchy things while scooping, don’t mix them in while melting.
Keep Them Fresh
These treats will keep for well over seven days in a tight container, but honestly—they’re always gone way sooner! Use parchment paper to keep layers from sticking. Gifting? I love using festive mason jars or cute tins with ribbons. If you’re mailing goodies, chill them first so they’re extra firm, then wrap with bubble wrap and send them off—they’ll be perfect when they get there!
Frequently Asked Questions
- → Why layer in that order?
White chocolate melts first when you put it on top. That way, the rest can melt slowly underneath instead of burning.
- → My chocolate's lumpy?
Try pricier white chocolate and melt a baking bar with your chips. Cheap white ones can clump up.
- → Can I freeze these?
Freeze if you want to eat them straight from the freezer. If you thaw, they'll get sticky and weird.
- → Why semi-sweet chocolate?
Semi-sweet keeps the candy from being too sugary next to the white chocolate and peanut butter. Still comes out kinda like milk chocolate overall.
- → When do I add sprinkles?
Sprinkle them right after scooping onto paper. They won't stick later.
Conclusion
Easy and fun: toss everything in your slow cooker and out comes a sweet pile of chocolate and nuts. Makes loads to pass around during the holidays.