Chocolate Nut Clusters Recipes

Steps:

• Line a baking sheet with parchment paper. Combine the chocolate chips, peanut butter chips and shortening in a large heatproof bowl set over a saucepan of simmering water (do not let the bowl touch the water). Stir until melted and smooth, 2 to 4 minutes. Remove the bowl from the pan and add the cereal and peanuts. Stir with a rubber spatula until evenly coated.
• Spoon the cereal mixture into clusters (about 2 tablespoons each) onto the prepared baking sheet; sprinkle with nonpareils. Refrigerate until firm, about 30 minutes.

Steps:

• Prepare the caramel mou: Place the corn syrup, sugar and just enough water to melt the sugar into a saucepan and place on high heat. Cook until the sugar is very dark brown and begins to burn. You will see white smoke. Remove from the heat and add the 1-ounce of water. Allow this to cool slightly.
• Place the roasted nuts on a silpat baking mat lined baking sheet.
• Place the butter and cocoa butter in a large heat-proof mixing bowl.
• Prepare the caramel: Place the sugar, corn syrup, Caramel Mou, cream, vanilla bean, butter, salt, and lemon juice in a saucepan placed over high heat. Insert a candy thermometer and cook to 250 degrees F (121 degrees C). Remove from the heat and pour over the butter and cocoa butter. Let cool for 5 minutes. Spoon the caramel over the nuts to make the clusters.
• Place the bittersweet chocolate in a paper cornet or small piping bag and drizzle chocolate over the nut cluster. Serve.
• Jacques' tip: To make a more kid friendly recipe, use store bought caramel squares. Unwrap them and place them on top of the nuts. Put in a warm oven until the caramel melts.

Steps:

• In a heavy saucepan over low heat, cook and stir candy coating and chips until melted and smooth. Cool for 10 minutes; stir in peanuts., Drop by rounded tablespoonfuls onto waxed paper-lined baking sheets. Refrigerate until firm, about 45 minutes.

Steps:

• Dip marshmallows, one at a time, halfway into chocolate. Place, in clusters of five, on large sheets of wax paper.
• Dip pecans halfway into chocolate; place one pecan half on each marshmallow cluster.
• Let stand at room temperature until firm. Store in airtight container in cool dry place.

Steps:

• Place both chips and shortening in small microwave-safe bowl. Microwave at High 1 to 1 1/2 minutes or until chips are melted and mixture is smooth when stirred.
• Stir in peanuts.
• Drop by teaspoons into 1-inch diameter candy or petit four papers. Refrigerate until firm, about 30 minutes. Store tightly covered in refrigerator.

Steps:

• Line a baking sheet with a nonstick baking mat. Place a teaspoon melted chocolate on baking mat; top with a small handful of almonds. Drizzle almonds with 1 tablespoon melted chocolate. Repeat process with remaining almonds and chocolate. Transfer to refrigerator and chill until firm.

Steps:

• Line 4 miniature muffin pans with candy cups; set them aside. (Or you can skip the paper candy cups and just drop these by the spoonful onto wax paper lined cookie sheets.).
• Heat the oven to 350 degrees. Spread the coconut and nuts on separate cookie sheets.
• Bake each until golden brown, about 9 minutes for the nuts and 10 for the coconut, stirring every few minutes to keep them from burning. Let them cool.
• Combine the toasted coconut and nuts in a medium-size bowl. Melt the chocolate chips in the microwave according to the package directions.
• Add the melted chocolate to the coconut mixture; stir well. Drop the mixture by heaping teaspoonfuls into the candy cups (or directly onto lined cookie sheets). Chill until set, about 45 minutes.
• If desired, melt additional chocolate according to the package directions.
• Pour the contents into a zipper bag. Snip off a small corner of the bag, then drizzle the chocolate over the clusters.
• Chill until drizzle is set, about 15 minutes.
• Store in an airtight container in the refrigerator.

Steps:

• Microwave chocolate in medium microwaveable bowl on HIGH 2 min. or until chocolate is almost melted; stir until completely melted.
• Stir in remaining ingredients.
• Spoon 1 tsp. chocolate mixture into each of 48 mini paper muffin cup liners. Refrigerate 10 min. or until firm.

Steps:

• In a large heavy saucepan, melt chocolate chips, milk and honey over low heat; stir until blended. Remove from heat. Stir in vanilla; add nuts., Drop by rounded tablespoonfuls onto waxed paper-lined baking sheets. Refrigerate until firm. Store in refrigerator.