Everyone loves Chocolate Nut Clusters, but unlike the store-bought kind, these have more than just peanuts – this one is loaded with lots of mixed nuts!
Now that Halloween is out of the way, it’s time to start planning for Christmas! I know some of you will not start planning until days before, and there’s some of you who refuse to even think about it until December.
Well, yours truly has been thinking about it since December 26th last year! It’s no secret that I absolutely love Christmas and everything about it. I love the rush, but I love to slow down on Christmas Eve and soak it all in.
To be perfectly honest, Christmas Eve is my favourite day of the year. It isn’t Christmas Day like most of you might think. Christmas Eve is the day that you’ve done pretty much all you can do. All of the prep is done and it’s time to relax with your family and enjoy the evening. We are big on Christmas Eve tradition. How about you?
Christmas Eve Traditions!
Mixed Nut Chocolate Clusters is a perfect confection to prepare on Christmas Eve. In our home, we look forward to having a lot of indulgent snack foods on Christmas Eve night. We change into our matching pajamas, turn off the lights, light up the trees, and watch movies.
Some years I prepare both versions and other years it’s just the one, but every Christmas Eve movie night will have either a Savoury Snack Mix or a Sweet Snack Mix. Are there any Christmas Eve food or snack traditions in your home?
We have a few traditions that I cherish and they’re a must every single year. I love hearing about the traditions in other families, because they’re always so different.
You might be aware of this already, but there’s an Annual Christmas Posts section here at Lord Byron’s Kitchen. For the past five years, I have documented our Christmas traditions and decorations. If you want to read through them, you can find them here: Christmas Posts
What constitutes a ‘deluxe’ nut?
What I consider to be a deluxe nut may be completely different from what you might. To me, a deluxe nut is just about anything that isn’t a peanut. I have no issues with peanuts; I love them, but when I think about deluxe nuts, peanuts do not fall into that category.
I think of Brazil nuts – I love them! – and I also think of macadamia, cashews, pecans, and of course hazelnuts (filberts).
You can certainly buy nuts separately and choose only nuts you like, or you can buy cans of Planters Deluxe Mixed Nuts. I used Roasted and Salted Fancy Mixed Nuts from Trader Joe’s, because I like the addition of Brazil nuts.
Tricks and Tips:
Prepare these Mixed Nut Chocolate Clusters early in the day if you want them tonight! I would suggest that you leave these candy to harden at room temperature. That could take up to three or four hours depending on how cool your kitchen might be.
If you refrigerate melted chocolate, you run the risk of having the milk solids separate, which is what has happened whenever you see that unsightly white, chalky residue on some chocolate. Don’t risk it; plan ahead and let these harden at room temperature.
Use the nuts you love the most. If that happens to be good old trusty and faithful peanuts, go for it! This recipe is completely adaptable.
Always use salted nuts for this recipe! You’ll need to salt to offset the sweetness of the chocolate!
Mixed Nut Chocolate Clusters
Ingredients
- 4 cups semi sweet chocolate chips
- 6 cups salted mixed nuts, see notes
- 1 teaspoon coconut oil, optional
- 1/2 cup candy sprinkles
Instructions
- Line two large baking sheets with parchment paper. Set aside.
- Add the chocolate chips and coconut oil to a large sauce pan. Over very low heat, melt the chocolate until smooth.
- Remove from heat and add all of the nuts. Stir until well coated.
- Drop spoonfuls of the nut and chocolate mixture onto prepared baking sheets. Top each with pinch of sprinkles.
- Place the baking sheets aside to cool at room temperature for 3 hours.
- Once set and fully cooled, transfer to a food safe container or package in cellophane for gift giving.
Notes
Nutrition
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