Chocolate Caramel Cashew Clusters
These homemade chocolate caramel cashew clusters are super delicious and super easy to make. With only four ingredients, these delicious caramel candies can be whipped up in no time.
I’m a big fan of baking with cashews. I love the nutty, buttery flavor they add to everything. Treats like my cashew caramel corn and cashew toffee butter crunch are always in my rotation, and everyone always asks me to make them.
These chocolate caramel cashew clusters are another favorite, and when you try them, you’ll love them, too. They’re super easy to make, and their combination of buttery cashews, caramel, and chocolate makes them simply irresistible.
Jump to:
Why You’ll Love This Recipe
- Limited Ingredients: You’ll only need four simple ingredients to make this recipe.
- So Easy: Like my white chocolate puppy chow, it only takes about 15 minutes to make this recipe. After that, all you have to do is let the chocolate harden!
- Perfect for Special Occasions: These are so easy and so pretty that they’re the perfect treat for any special occasion.
- Customizable: It’s so easy to change up this recipe to make tons of variations.
- Great for Making Ahead: These are freezer-friendly, so you can make extra for future parties or even just snacking.
Key Ingredients
Because all of these ingredients are key, I’ve listed all four of them here. You’ll find their exact amounts in the recipe card at the end of the post.
- Melting Chocolate Wafers: These are designed specifically for melting, so you don’t have to temper them.
- Cashews: Cashews are buttery and crunchy, creating a delicious base for the candy.
- Caramels: Store-bought caramels melt wonderfully and make the entire recipe so much quicker and easier.
- Melting White Chocolate Wafers: Again, these are designed specifically for melting, giving them the perfect consistency for decorating the clusters.
Variations
- Coarsely Chopped Nuts: Coarsely chopping the cashews gives the candy a slightly different texture with the same delicious flavor.
- Nuts: Use any of your favorite nuts to create different flavor profiles. EVERY kind of nut will work with the flavor of caramel and chocolate in this recipe.
- Chocolate: Milk, semi-sweet, or dark melting chocolate can be used to add a different flavor to your clusters.
How To Make Chocolate Caramel Cashew Clusters
I’ve included a brief overview of the recipe right here, but you can find the specific instructions in the recipe card at the end of the post.
- Melt half the chocolate in the microwave and place it in about 18 equal portions on a baking sheet lined with wax paper.
- Add cashews to the top of each chocolate blob.
- Melt the caramel in the microwave and spoon it over the cashews.
- Melt the remaining chocolate and spoon it over the caramel. Let the clusters sit until hardened.
- Melt the white chocolate in the microwave. Then, drizzle it over the clusters, let it set, and enjoy!
Expert Tips
- Be sure to use wax paper and not parchment paper. Otherwise, you’ll have paper on the bottom of your clusters!
- Melt your chocolate at 30-second intervals and stir between each heating to ensure even melting and no burning.
- Work quickly to spoon your melted caramel over the nuts, as it will begin to harden quickly. You can always pop the caramel back into the microwave if it gets too thick.
- Microwave the white chocolate at 50% power to avoid scorching.
Chocolate Caramel Cashew Clusters FAQs
Chocolate caramel cashew clusters are a sweet and salty treat made with salted, roasted cashews coated in caramel and chocolate and drizzled with white chocolate.
Any nut will work well, each giving its own unique flavor to this treat. For a flavor that is closer to cashews, try macadamia nuts or almonds.
To freeze these clusters, refrigerate them. Then, wrap individual clusters in plastic wrap and store them in an airtight, freezer-safe container or heavy-duty freezer bag for up to 2 months. Bring to room temperature before serving.
More Delicious Nut Recipes
If you try this recipe and love it, please be sure to leave a 5 ★★★★★ rating below and leave a comment! You can also pin it to your favorite Pinterest boards and save it for later.
Also, follow us on Pinterest, Facebook, Instagram, and YouTube. Remember to “like” or “follow” us on all social media.
Chocolate Caramel Cashew Clusters
Ingredients
- 2 cups Ghirardelli® chocolate wafers, melted, divided
- 1 cup whole cashews, roasted, salted
- 22 pieces Kraft® caramels
- Ghirardelli® white chocolate wafers, melted
Instructions
- Line a baking sheet with waxed paper, set aside.
- Melt 1 cup of chocolate wafers in the microwave for 35 seconds. Stir, then return and for an additional 30 seconds. Stir.
- Using a tablespoon, add a little spoonful of chocolate on the waxed paper and continue until all the chocolate has been used, approximately 18.
- Add 4-6 cashews on top of the chocolate.
- Melt caramels in microwave safe dish for 30 seconds. Stir, then return for additional 15 second intervals until caramels are melted. Stir and using a spoon and small spatula, add a spoonful of caramel on top of the cashews. Have to work fast as caramel sets up fast. If that happens, just pop in microwave for 10 seconds. Continue until all the caramel has been used.
- In the same bowl the chocolate was melted in, add another cup of chocolate wafers and microwave for 35 seconds, stir, then again for 30 seconds. Stir.
- Spoon chocolate over the top of the caramel and let set. Can put in the fridge for faster set up.
- Melt white chocolate wafers in the microwave at 50% power for 35 seconds, stir, then again at 15 second intervals at 50% power until smooth and creamy.
- Drizzle over the top of each chocolate caramel cashew cluster and once set, enjoy!
Notes
- Be sure to use wax paper and not parchment paper. Otherwise, you’ll have paper on the bottom of your clusters!
- Melt your chocolate at 30-second intervals and stir between each heating to ensure even melting and no burning.
- Work quickly to spoon your melted caramel over the nuts, as it will begin to harden quickly. You can always pop the caramel back into the microwave if it gets too thick.
- Microwave the white chocolate at 50% power to avoid scorching.
Here are a few enlarged pics that are perfect to pin to Pinterest.
Enjoy, Terri
Copyright © Great Grub, Delicious Treats. All content and images are copyright protected. Do not use any images without prior permission. If you want to republish this recipe, make sure to re-write the recipe in your own words and only list ingredients making sure to link back to this post for the original recipe and directions.
Are you using roasted and salted cashews or roasted unsalted cashews? This looks delicious. Thanks.
Hi MB, thank you! I used roasted and salted cashews. We hope you enjoy these! :)