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Walnut Chocolate Clusters Recipe

These quick Walnut Chocolate Clusters are made with 3 ingredients and are delicious nut clusters perfect for a snack or as edible candy gifts for the holidays! 

The clusters set and on display next to uncoated individual walnuts.

🍫 Why You Will Love This Recipe

  • Only 3 ingredients.
  • Made in one bowl. 
  • Perfect edible candy gifts. 
  • Easy to substitute with a variety of nuts.
  • Use a different flavor of chocolate.

Tasty morsels of walnuts, peanut butter, and melted dark chocolate. These quick and easy chocolate nut clusters make the best chocolate treats to enjoy as a quick snack or after dinner.

Just like my Chocolate Covered Almonds!

Chocolate covered nuts can make wonderful and festive edible gifts to share with family and friends during the holiday season. 

To make these dark chocolate walnut clusters as gifts, wrap them up in a cellophane bag, with a bow, and you have delicious nuts in chocolate as a special homemade gift for the holidays or another special occasion. 

Close up view of one of the clusters with a bite taken out.

Don’t want to use walnuts? No problem! Substitute the walnuts for peanuts, cashews, almonds, pistachios, or pecans! Try using just one variety of nuts or add some excitement with a combination of nuts of your choosing. 

If you choose to use peanuts instead of walnuts, you can decide whether you would like to add the peanut butter or leave it out. 

Using melted dark chocolate/semi-sweet chocolate to coat the walnuts is rich and indulgent. If you don’t want to use dark chocolate or if you don’t have any on hand, try swapping it with either milk chocolate or white chocolate.

Enjoy these walnut chocolate clusters as an after-dinner treat. I love them after a Vegetable White Sauce Lasagna or a Vegetarian Shepherds Pie. 

A bite taken out of one cluster to show the inside texture.

Another way to serve these scrumptious chocolate clusters is on a platter for morning or afternoon tea paired with a Homemade Hot Chocolate, Gingerbread Latte, Peppermint Cinnamon Hot Cocoa, or a homemade Milo

If you’re interested in more holiday and Christmas treats, try these: 

📋 Ingredient Notes & Substitutions

Here is what you need to make these tasty Walnut Chocolate Clusters: 

  • Dark chocolate – is also known as semi-sweet chocolate in the US. To substitute, try using either milk or white chocolate. 
  • Peanut butter – this is optional to add and you can use either smooth or crunchy peanut butter. You’ll love the addition of PB paired with the chocolate! 
  • Walnuts – whole raw walnuts work best. Also, try using toasted walnuts to add dimension to these delicious nut clusters. Substitute the walnuts for peanuts, almonds, pecans, cashews, or pistachios. 

🥣 Step By Step Instructions (with photos)

How to make these chocolate covered walnuts in 3 easy steps!

A full and detailed recipe card is at the bottom of this post.

1) Melt the chocolate in a heat-proof mixing bowl over simmering water, stirring occasionally. Turn off the heat once melted and smooth.

Melting the chocolate in a bowl over simmering water.

2) Stir through the peanut butter if using. Pour in the walnuts and mix until coated well in the chocolate. 

Stirring the peanut butter through the melted chocolate.

3) Spoon out a small bundle of walnuts, placing the clusters on the lined tray. Transfer the tray with the clusters to the refrigerator for 1-2 hours or until they’re set. Serve and Enjoy!

The clusters next to raw walnuts.

💭 Tips For Recipe Success

  • Use chocolate chips or a block of chocolate. When the chips melt, the consistency is thicker compared to that of a melted block of chocolate, however, both the chips and block work well for these nut clusters.
  • Substitute the walnuts for peanuts, almonds, pecans, cashews, or pistachios. Or a mixture of nuts. 
  • Use either smooth or crunchy peanut butter. The peanut butter is optional but it does add a delicious flavor paired with the dark chocolate. 

⏲️ Storage Instructions

Store chocolate nut clusters in an airtight container, refrigerated, for 1 week – 10 days.

Freeze chocolate nut clusters in a freezer-friendly container or freezer zip-lock bags and freeze for 2-3 months. Thaw in the refrigerator.

Clusters ready to be eaten.

💬 Recipe FAQ’s

Can I use a different nut?

Yes. Swap the walnuts for peanuts, almonds, cashews, pecans, or pistachios. Use just one variety of nuts or use a mixture if you’re feeling fancy. 

Can I use milk chocolate or white chocolate instead?

Absolutely. Try using either milk chocolate or white chocolate for your chocolate clusters. 

Do chocolate clusters need to be refrigerated?

Yes. Please refrigerate your chocolate walnut clusters as the chocolate can soften and begin to melt at room temperature and in warmer, more humid storage conditions. 

Can I freeze chocolate nut clusters?

Yes. Once your chocolate nut clusters have been set, transfer them to a freezer-friendly container or freezer zip-lock bags and freeze for 2-3 months. Thaw in the refrigerator. The chocolate can develop what is called fat bloom where the chocolate loses its shine and has a whiteish coating on the surface due to drastic temperature changes. If this happens, the chocolate is still edible, the appearance has just changed. 

🥄 Related Recipes

If you enjoy this recipe, please consider leaving a ⭐️ star rating and a comment review below. I love to hear what you think and it’s much appreciated. Thank you! Your email address will not be published. Sam x

A bite taken out of one chocolate cluster.

Walnut Chocolate Clusters Recipe

Samantha Pickthall
These quick Walnut Chocolate Clusters are made with 3 ingredients and are delicious nut clusters perfect for a snack or as edible gifts for the holidays! 
4.35 from 32 votes
Prep Time 20 minutes
Chill Time 1 hour
Total Time 1 hour 20 minutes
Course Dessert, Snack
Servings 25 clusters
Calories 114 kcal

Ingredients
 
 

  • 1 1/4 cups (220g) dark chocolate/semi-sweet chocolate chips or block
  • 1 Tbsp smooth or crunchy peanut butter, optional
  • 2 cups raw whole walnuts

Instructions
 

  • Line a flat baking tray with parchment paper and set aside.
  • Prepare a double boiler with a heat-proof mixing bowl over simmering water.
  • Add the chocolate to the bowl and gently melt over the simmering water, stirring occasionally.
  • Once the chocolate has completely melted, turn off the heat.
  • Stir through the peanut butter if using.
  • Pour in the walnuts and mix until coated well in the chocolate.
  • Using a teaspoon or fork, spoon out a small bundle of walnuts, allowing the excess chocolate to drip back into the bowl. Place it on the lined tray, ensuring they stay together in a cluster.
  • Repeat the above method with the remaining mixture. TIP: If there is still some chocolate left over and no walnuts, add extra walnuts to use up the chocolate and create even more clusters!
  • Transfer the tray with the clusters to the refrigerator for 1-2 hours or until they’re set.
  • Serve and Enjoy!
  • Store clusters in an airtight container, refrigerated, for 1 week – 10 days.

Notes

Use chocolate chips or a block of chocolate. When the chips melt, the consistency is thicker compared to that of a melted block of chocolate, however, both the chips and block work well for these nut clusters.
Substitute the walnuts for peanuts, almonds, pecans, cashews, or pistachios. Or a mixture of nuts. 
Use either smooth or crunchy peanut butter. The peanut butter is optional but it does add a delicious flavor paired with the dark chocolate. 
Store chocolate nut clusters in an airtight container, refrigerated, for 1 week – 10 days.
Freeze chocolate nut clusters in a freezer-friendly container or freezer zip-lock bags and freeze for 2-3 months. Thaw in the refrigerator.

Nutrition

Calories: 114kcalCarbohydrates: 6gProtein: 2gFat: 9gSaturated Fat: 3gPolyunsaturated Fat: 5gMonounsaturated Fat: 1gCholesterol: 0.1mgSodium: 13mgPotassium: 102mgFiber: 1gSugar: 3gVitamin A: 3IUVitamin C: 0.2mgCalcium: 37mgIron: 0.4mg
Keyword chocolate clusters, nuts
Tried this recipe? Let us know how it was!

If you enjoy this recipe, please consider leaving a ⭐️ star rating and a comment review below. I love to hear what you think and it’s much appreciated. Thank you! Your email address will not be published. Sam x

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