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Caramel Cashew Clusters are the perfect easy treat! A no-bake candy that's only 3-ingredients.
My Grandma lived close to us when I was little so we'd visit her often, usually on Sunday afternoons. She'd always have a small candy tray on her counter and one treat that was always included were Caramel Cashew Clusters. They were always the first treat gone; everyone loved them!
Soft caramel, crunchy cashews and delicious milk chocolate all in one bite.
Every year around the holidays my sister and I would help my mom make homemade caramels for the neighbors, and whenever we had some leftover we made Caramel Cashew Clusters as well. They couldn't be easier to make from scratch–only 3 ingredients! They are delicious!
The most crucial part of making yummy treats like these is high quality ingredients. Soft caramels work the best. If you buy the harder caramels from the store you may want to add 1 tbsp of milk to the bowl as you melt them.
Good quality chocolate is also important. It melts the easiest and makes a big difference in taste.
And the most important ingredient of all is high quality cashews! I always rely on Planters when purchasing nuts for a recipe (or even just as a great snack for my family). The cashews are the star of this recipe, so high quality is a must, and Planters cashews have a unique combination of good fats, dietary fiber, and vitamins and minerals.
Caramel Cashew Clusters are a delicious treat for your family, and a great one to involve your kids with making. They make great neighbor and friend gifts and are perfect for holiday parties too! A fun, special treat that's super easy to make from scratch!
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Caramel Cashew Clusters
Ingredients
- 1 heaping cup Planter's cashews
- 2 cups soft caramels, , unwrapped (I used my homemade caramels)
- 14 ounces Hershey's chocolate bars
Instructions
- Line a large baking sheet with parchment or wax paper. Place piles of about 6-7 cashews all around the pan.
- Place unwrapped caramels in a microwave safe bowl and microwave for about 2 minutes, stirring every 30 seconds, until caramel is melted.
- Pour a small spoonful of caramel over each cashew pile, making sure some of the caramel touches all of the cashews so they will stick together.
- Place the pan in the fridge or freezer for a few minutes to harden the caramel.
- Meanwhile, break the chocolate bars into pieces and add to a microwave safe bowl. Microwave for about 2 minutes, stirring every 30 seconds, until chocolate is melted and smooth.
- Remove the baking sheet from the fridge and use a spoon to coat each cluster in chocolate. Allow excess chocolate to drip off and place back on the baking sheet.
- Refrigerate for a few more minutes for the chocolate to set. Store in an airtight container at room temperature or in the fridge.
- You might also like Graham Cracker Toffee Bars!
Notes
Nutrition
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
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Have you tried this recipe?!
RATE and COMMENT below! I would love to hear your experience.
Can caramel syrup (like ice cream topping) be used in this recipe? will it set up properly?
It won’t set up right for this recipe.
Great recipe, easy and such a hit with the hubby and the family. I made edibles this year more edibles than any other year. I wanted candy beside cookies and new recipes. I chose this one as one of my gifts and it was a great choice. Thank you it will now become a yearly gift.
I have made these for 30+ years. I call them nut clusters. I used salted nuts (any nut except peanuts & pistachios). The little bit of salt balances out the sweetness from the caramel & chocolate. I’ve always combined the melted caramel &nuts then used a butter dipped spoon to dip each one out. A second spoon helps to shape each. I also add a teaspoon of coconut oil to the chocolate for easier dipping &covering the clusters.
You can spray your paper with butter. Let them come slightly to room temperature and they peel off better. By this I mean let them sit out after you take them out of the fridge for a few minutes. I use the Kraft caramels and mix with eagle brand milk , melt together , mix in nuts. I use mixed nuts also it’s good with those. Spoon out on waxed buttered paper and refrigerate or freeze for a few hours.. It’s also called Millionairs candy.. You could probably find this recipe under that title..
Am I the only one having problems getting the nuts and Carmel off the parchment paper before you dip in chocolate??? What am I doing wrong?
I tried this recipe tonight, but my caramel wasn’t as spoonable as yours. I used the Kraft package of caramel balls. Do you have suggestions to make it softer? I ended up pinching a piece of caramel and wrapping it around the cashews making little balls or “freeform” candies and then dipped them in chocolate. I didn’t have to refrigerate them before dipping. Oh, and I couldn’t taste them because of food allergies, but I REALLY wanted to have some! I was making them for a bake sale.
Hi Gim, I’ve used the Kraft caramel “bits” before–I add 2 Tbsp of water and microwave them for about 1 1/2 minutes (according to the package). The melted caramel should be almost “runny” as you spoon it on. You could also try a bag of the square caramels that are individually wrapped.
Trying this again today for the annual bake sale and didn’t see your reply until after I tried spooning the caramel on. I didn’t think it was supposed to be runny. I will try it on my last tray after I soften it up a bit. This yummy morsel was requested again for the bake sale. 🙂
Thank you E C James for the tip on mixing the nuts with the caramel. I sometimes have trouble with the cashews and Cherry Craisins to be covered with the caramel. The Cherry Craisins are an addition that I tried and people love it.
Mix water with Kraft caramel balls to melt 2 tblspns per each bag
What is your home made caramel recipe?
I’ve linked to them in the ingredients ( https://tastesbetterfromscratch.com/homemade-caramels/ )
These clusters look so so yummy. I will make them today. Thanks for sharing.
I never thought of making these with cashews. I have always made them with pecans. I bet you could use almost any kind of nut. I am thinking of trying almonds too.
These would make amazing neighbor gifts! I might have to do this this year!! Thanks – they look amazing!