Homemade Chocolate Cashew Clusters are the easiest edible gifts or sweet and salty snacks to make using only 5 simple ingredients. These crunchy cashew and toffee bits candies are coated in melted chocolate and are a perfect no-bake confection that can be prepared in 5 minutes. 

Chocolate Cashew Clusters hero image
Want to save this recipe?
Enter your email below and weโ€™ll send the recipe straight to your inbox (and more recipes sent daily!)

Homemade Candy: Chocolate Cashew Clusters

These easy-to-make Chocolate Cashew Clusters are a delicious sweet treat that adds a fun, festive flair to the traditional holiday dessert display, especially when youโ€™ve had your fill of Christmas cookies. I LOVE the combination of rich, smooth chocolate and hard, buttery toffee bits that cover the outside of crunchy, slightly salty cashewsโ€“itโ€™s the perfect contrast of textures and flavors that simply set into the tastiest, melt-in-your-mouth morsels.

Did you know that this delicious dessert has a healthy dose of nutrition in every bite? Dark chocolate is high in flavonoids and antioxidants and contains vitamins and minerals while cashews are rich in fiber, heart-healthy fats, and plant protein.

So this holiday season, letโ€™s skip the customary cookie recipe and make this healthy-ish chocolate nut indulgence, because homemade sweets are always more satisfying and create pure holiday happiness in the form of a candy cluster!

Why We Love This Chocolate Cashew Clusters Recipe

  • Quick and easy to make in the microwave or on the stovetop.
  • Delicious contrast of sweet and salty flavors with a satisfying crunch.
  • Perfect for sharing as edible gifts during the holidays or for serving on a festive party platter.
  • Fun to make with kids and enjoyable to eat by all.
  • Gluten-free treat made with nutrient-dense ingredients.
  • Easy to customize according to your taste preferences.
a couple of Chocolate Cashew Clusters

Ingredients / Shopping List

  • Semi-sweet chocolate chips
  • Dark chocolate chips 
  • Roasted salted cashews
  • English toffee bits
  • Sea salt
  • Sprinkles, optional garnish

Substitutions and Additions

  • Choose Your Chocolate: Depending on your chocolate preference, you can use all semisweet chocolate chips, add or only use milk chocolate, or all dark chocolate, etc.
  • Customize Your Cluster: Cashews are used in this recipe, but any assortment of nuts like almonds, pecans, peanuts, or walnuts will taste great! 
  • Christmas Clusters: For a festive flair, add some chopped dried cranberries, and sprinkle some red and green sprinkles or nonpareils on top. 
  • Chocolate Cashew Turtle Clusters: Swap the toffee for caramel bits to create a homemade โ€œTurtle.โ€
  • Change The Chip: You can add some peanut butter chips, butterscotch chips, or mint chips for different pops of flavor.
  • Fruit: Mixing in dried fruit like cranberries or blueberries will give this chocolate cashew cluster recipe a gourmet candy shop feel.
  • Seeds: Add chia seeds, hemp seeds, or sunflower seeds for an extra boost of nutrition.
Cashew Clusters stacked
  • Large sheet pan
  • Parchment paper (You can use wax paper or aluminum foil in a pinch)
  • Double boiler
  • Mixing tools
  • Measuring tools

SEE FULL PRINTABLE RECIPE CARD BELOW

How to Make the Cashew Clusters

Homemade Chocolate Cashew Clusters are the easiest edible gifts or sweet and salty snacks to make using only 5 simple ingredients. These crunchy cashew and toffee bits candies are coated in melted chocolate and are a perfect no-bake confection that can be prepared in 5 minutes.

  1. Melt the semi-sweet and dark chocolate chips together using either a double boiler or microwave.
    Pro Tip: See FAQ for instructions on how to make your own double boiler. If you have an urgent need to cure a chocolate fix, use the microwave to melt the chocolate. If you want something a little fancier, you can slowly melt the chocolate using a double-boiler. This will give your clusters a little bit of a shine.
    Melted semi-sweet and dark chocolate chips in a bowl
  2. Add cashews and toffee bits to melted chocolate and mix until nuts and toffee are completely chocolate covered.
    Pro-Tip: If you want to use raw cashews instead of pre-roasted, you should roast them first until well toasted, allow them to cool, and then use them to create your chocolate clusters.
    Add cashews and toffee bits to melted chocolate
  3. Scoop mixture into mounds and place on chilled sheet pan.
  4. Sprinkle with sea salt and sprinkles (optional).
    Pro-Tip: Be sure to sprinkle the sea salt on as soon as you form the cluster on the parchment paper. If you wait too long you run the risk of the clusters hardening and the sea salt not sticking.
    Scoop mixture into mounds and place on chilled sheet pan
  5. Chill in the refrigerator for 20 minutes or let clusters set at room temperature for 45 minutes.
    Pro Tip: Clusters should be hardened so that they stick together and the chocolate is solid.
  6. Plate, serve, and enjoy!
    chocolate cashew clusters on wooden tray

Storage Tips

  • To Store: You can store these Chocolate Cashew Clusters in an airtight container at room temperature or in the refrigerator for 2-3 weeks. I like to store them in the refrigerator to make sure the chocolate doesnโ€™t melt. 
a couple of cashew clusters on white table

Frequently Asked Questions

Can this recipe be doubled?
Can I use a different type of chocolate chips?
Can I use melting chocolate instead of chocolate chips in this recipe?
What is a double boiler?
How do I melt chocolate in the double boiler?
cashew clusters with chocolate

Other Easy Homemade Candy Recipes

5 from 2 votes
Chocolate Cashew Clusters featured image

Chocolate Cashew Clusters

Author โ€” Jennifer Fishkind
Serves โ€”
Homemade Chocolate Cashew Clusters are easy to make using 5 simple ingredients. These crunchy cashew and toffee bits candies are coated in melted chocolate and are a perfect no-bake confection that can be prepared in 5 minutes. 
Prep Time 5 minutes
Cook Time 10 minutes
Total Time 15 minutes

Ingredients
  

  • 12 ounce bag semi-sweet chocolate chips
  • 10 ounce bag dark chocolate chips
  • 2 cups roasted salted cashews
  • ยฝ cup English toffee bits
  • Sea salt
  • Sprinkles, optional garnish

WANT TO SAVE THIS RECIPE?

Enter your email below and weโ€™ll send the recipe straight to your inbox (and more recipes sent daily!)

    We won't send you spam. Unsubscribe at any time.

    Instructions
     

    • Prepare a large sheet pan by lining it with parchment paper and setting it in the refrigerator to chill.
    • Use a double boiler or microwave to melt the semi-sweet chocolate chips and dark chocolate chips together.
    • Once the chocolate has completely melted, add in the cashews and toffee bits. Mix until the cashews and toffee bits are completely covered in chocolate.
    • Use a 2-inch cookie scoop to scoop out mounds of the mixture onto the chilled sheet pan.
    • Sprinkle it with sea salt and optional sprinkles.
    • Let the clusters set by chilling them in the refrigerator for 20 minutes or by leaving it at room temperature for 45 minutes. They should be hardened so that they stick together and the chocolate is solid.
    • Plate and serve.

    Jennโ€™s Notes

    Storage:
    You can store these Chocolate Cashew Clusters in an airtight container at room temperature or in the refrigerator for 2-3 weeks. I like to store them in the refrigerator to make sure the chocolate doesnโ€™t melt. 
    Tips:
    • Be sure to sprinkle the sea salt on as soon as you form the cluster on the parchment paper. If you wait too long you run the risk of the clusters hardening and the sea salt not sticking.
    • If you want to use raw cashews instead of pre-roasted, you should roast them first until well toasted, allow them to cool, and then use them to create your chocolate clusters.
    • If you have an urgent need to cure a chocolate fix, use the microwave to melt the chocolate. If you want something a little fancier, you can slowly melt the chocolate using a double-boiler. This will give your clusters a little bit of a shine.

    Nutrition Info

    Calories: 205kcal | Carbohydrates: 18g | Protein: 3g | Fat: 14g | Saturated Fat: 7g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 1g | Monounsaturated Fat: 5g | Trans Fat: 1g | Cholesterol: 5mg | Sodium: 80mg | Potassium: 190mg | Fiber: 2g | Sugar: 11g | Vitamin A: 56IU | Vitamin C: 1mg | Calcium: 44mg | Iron: 1mg

    Related Recipes

    Secrets to Quick & Easy Desserts
    FREE EMAIL BONUS
    How to make delicious desserts in no time at all!
    5 from 2 votes (1 rating without comment)

    Leave a comment

    Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

    How many stars would you give this recipe?




    Comments

    1. 5 stars
      These Look GREAT Jennifer ๐Ÿ‘๐Ÿผโ™ฅ๏ธThank You FOR SHARING โ—๏ธAND We DEFINITELY Like Dark Chocolate ๐Ÿซ BETTER And ALSO BC itโ€™s Better For You ๐Ÿ˜ŠA Mixture IS GOOD. G-dโ™ฅ๏ธBless