Best Caramel Clusters Recipes

PECAN CARAMEL CLUSTERS

Steps:

• In a microwave-safe bowl, combine the caramels, water and butter. Microwave, uncovered, on high for 3 to 3-1/2 minutes, stirring every 30 seconds. Stir in pecans. , Drop by tablespoonfuls onto greased baking sheets. Freeze for 15-20 minutes or until set., In a microwave-safe bowl, combine candy coatings. Microwave, uncovered, on high for 1-2 minutes, stirring every 15 seconds; stir until smooth. Dip caramel clusters in coating; allow excess to drip off. Place on waxed paper-lined baking sheets. Chill until firm.

CHOCOLATE PECAN CARAMEL CLUSTERS

Steps:

• For the caramel: Mix 2 cups sugar, 1/4 cup light corn syrup and 1/2 cup water in a small saucepan. Bring to a boil over medium-high heat, stirring just until the sugar dissolves. Cook, swirling the pan (do not stir), until the mixture is light amber and a candy thermometer registers 320 degrees, 8 to 10 minutes. Remove from the heat; slowly whisk in 1/2 cup heavy cream, then 2 tablespoons unsalted butter, 1 teaspoon vanilla extract and a pinch of salt. Return to low heat and whisk until smooth.
• Stir 1 1/3 cups chopped nuts into the warm caramel; cool until the mixture is thick enough to hold its shape. Drop spoonfuls onto an oiled parchment-lined baking sheet; let set. Top with melted chocolate and sprinkle with coarse sea salt.

CHOCOLATE-CARAMEL PECAN CLUSTERS

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Arrange pecans in a single layer on a rimmed baking sheet; toast in oven until fragrant, about 10 minutes. Remove from oven (leave oven on); set aside 36 pecans on baking sheet. Finely chop remaining pecans (for about 1/4 cup); set aside.
• When pecans are cool enough to handle, make 12 clusters by arranging 2 pecans vertically, side by side, below 1 pecan placed horizontally. Gently flatten each caramel; place 1 on top of each cluster. Bake clusters 5 minutes. Remove from oven (leave oven on).
• Place 1 piece of chocolate on top of each cluster. Return to oven; bake until chocolate begins to melt, 1 to 2 minutes. Remove from oven. With the back of a spoon, gently spread chocolate over caramel without completely covering it.
• Sprinkle clusters with reserved chopped pecans. Refrigerate until set, about 15 minutes. Bring to room temperature before serving.

CARAMEL CASHEW CLUSTERS

Steps:

• Line baking sheets with waxed paper and grease paper with butter; set aside., In a microwave, melt 1 pound of candy coating; stir until smooth. Drop by scant tablespoonfuls onto prepared pans. Let stand until partially set, about 3 minutes. Top each with six or seven cashews. Let stand until completely set., In a small heavy saucepan, combine caramels and cream. Cook and stir over low heat until melted; stir until smooth. Spoon over cashews. Reheat caramel over low heat if it thickens. Melt remaining candy coating; spoon over caramel. Let stand until set.

CARAMEL PECAN CLUSTERS

Steps:

• On a greased baking sheet, arrange pecans in six clusters of five pecans each. Place a caramel on each cluster. Bake at 300° for 4-5 minutes or until caramels are melted., Top each with a chocolate square. Bake 1 minute longer or until chocolate is melted. Spread the chocolate over caramel until smooth. Remove from pan to cool on a wire rack.

CARAMEL CORN CLUSTERS

Steps:

• Heat oil with 3 kernels in a 3-quart heavy saucepan, covered, over moderate heat until 1 or 2 kernels pop. Remove lid and quickly add remaining kernels, then cook, covered, shaking pan frequently, until kernels stop popping, about 3 minutes. Remove from heat and uncover.
• Line bottom of a large shallow baking pan with foil. Lightly oil foil. Melt butter in a 6-quart heavy pot over moderate heat. Add brown sugar and corn syrup and bring to a boil over moderate heat, stirring, then boil, without stirring, until syrup registers 300°F on thermometer, 8 to 10 minutes. Remove pot from heat.
• Using a wooden spoon or a heatproof spatula, stir salt and baking soda into syrup, then quickly stir in peanuts and popcorn to coat. Immediately spread mixture in baking pan as thinly and evenly as possible. Cool completely, then break into bite-size pieces.

CARAMEL PEANUT CLUSTERS

Steps:

• Pour Caramel Bits into a microwave-safe bowl, with 2 teaspoons of water and microwave in 30 minute increments, stirring in between each heating. It took 1 ½ minutes to melt the caramels with only a few left unmelted. Stirring the warm, creamy caramel allowed the last chunks to completely melt and be incorporated.
• Pour the jar of peanuts into the caramel and stir to completely coat all peanuts.
• Drop by spoonful onto a buttered or greased sheet of wax paper, or a silicone baking mat. Allow the caramel clusters to cool and set up, about 10 minutes.
• While the clusters cool, prepare the dipping chocolate. In a microwave-safe bowl add the butter and chocolate. Breaking the chocolate into small pieces along the perforations to helps it melt more quickly.
• Again, 30 second increments in the microwave, stirring in between each, will help the chocolate melt quickly and prevent burning or scorching. After 1 ½ minutes, you may still have a few soft chunks of chocolate in the mixture, but stirring will allow them to melt and be combined with the melted chocolate dip.
• After the chocolate is melted, dip each cluster into the chocolate and turn it to be sure all sides are covered. Lift the cluster out of the chocolate on the tines of a fork. Gently tap the fork handle against the rim of the bowl, allowing excess chocolate to drip through the tines of the fork, back into the bowl.
• Place the clusters back onto the prepared surface and leave them to cool and harden 1 to 2 hours.

CHOCOLATE-CARAMEL PECAN CLUSTERS

Steps:

• 1. Preheat oven to 350. Arrange pecans in single layer on a rimmed baking sheet, toast in oven until fragrant, about 10 minutes. remove from oven; set aside 36 pecans on baking sheet. Finely chop remaining pecans; set aside. 2. When pecans are cool enough to handle, make 12 clusters by arranging 2 pecans vertically, side by side, below 1 pecan placed horizontally. Gentle flatten each caramel; place 1 on top of each cluster. Bake clusters 5 minutes. remove from oven. 3. Place 1 piece of chocolate on top of each cluster. Return to oven; bake until chocolate begins to melt, 1-2 minutes. Remove from overn. With the back of a spoon, gently spread chocolate over caramel without completely covering it. 4. Sprinkle clusters with reserved chopped pecans. Refrigerate until set , about 15 minutes. Bring to room tem before serving.

CHUNKY CARAMEL POPCORN CLUSTERS

Steps:

• Heat oven to 250°F Place popcorn, cashews and pecans in large roasting pan.
• Combine brown sugar, butter and corn syrup in 2-quart saucepan. Cook over medium heat until mixture comes to a boil (7 to 8 minutes). Continue boiling 2 minutes. Remove from heat; stir in baking soda.
• Pour butter mixture over popcorn mixture in pan; stir well. Bake for 60 minutes, stirring every 15 minutes. Remove from oven; place onto waxed paper or parchment paper. Cool completely. (DO NOT BREAK INTO PIECES.).
• Place chocolate chips and 1 teaspoon shortening into resealable plastic food bag. Microwave on HIGH (100% power) for 30 to 45 seconds; knead bag. Continue microwaving at 15 second intervals, kneading until smooth. Cut tiny corner from bag; drizzle melted chocolate over popcorn mixture. Repeat with white baking chips and remaining 1/2 teaspoon shortening, microwaving on MEDIUM-HIGH (70% power). Drizzle over popcorn mixture. Let stand until chocolate is set (3 to 4 hours). Break popcorn mixture into pieces.
• Store in container with tight-fitting lid or resealable plastic food bag.
• Recipe Tip
• Chocolate and white baking chips can be melted separately with shortening in a small bowl in microwave or in small saucepan over low heat until melted. Drizzle chocolate mixtures with fork or spoon.

CARAMEL PECAN CLUSTERS

Steps:

• on a greased baking sheet, arrange pecans in 6 clusters of 5 pecans, each.
• place a caramel on each cluster.
• bake at 300 degrees for 4-5 minutes or until caramels are melted.
• top with a chocolate square.
• bake 1 minute longer or until chocolate is melted.
• spread the chocolate over caramel until smooth.
• remove clusters from pan to cool on a wire rack.

NANCY'S CHOCOLATE, CARAMEL & PECAN CLUSTERS

Steps:

• 1. Line a baking sheet with wax paper; set aside. In a microwave, melt 1 cup chocolate chips ( about 1 1/2 minutes) stir until smooth. Drop chocolate by tablespoon onto prepared baking sheet.
• 2. Immediately place one pecan halve on top of each; Place the caramels in a 1 quart microwave-safe dish; add cream. Microwave, uncovered, on high for 2 minutes, stirring once. Spoon by teaspoon on top of each piece.
• 3. Melt the remaining chocolate chips; stir until smooth. Spread over caramel. Then I like to drizzle the remaining caramel over each piece

LOVE NIBBLES * VALENTINE'S * CARAMEL PECAN CLUSTERS

Steps:

• Butter two cookie sheets (do NOT try using wax paper--the caramel will stick to it).
• Combine caramels, butter and water; zap in the microwave (uncovered) on high power for about 3 minutes--STIRRING every 30-45 seconds. Add the pecans and stir.
• Drop from a spoon (use a knife to keep things neat) onto the BUTTERED baking sheets.
• Chill sheets for an hour or freeze for 15 minutes (caramel will be set).
• Coarsely chop both the dark chocolate and the almond bark/white candy coating.
• Melt chocolate and bark in the microwave, on high for about 2 minutes, stirring every 30 seconds or so.
• Line cookie sheets with waxed paper.
• Dip pecan clusters in the chocolate; place clusters on waxed paper. Chill until firm.

CARAMEL PECAN CLUSTERS

Steps:

• Line 2 baking sheets with aluminum foil. On the baking sheets, arrange 60 clusters of 4 pecan halves each, with 1 inch of space between the clusters. Set aside.
• In a 2-quart heavy-bottomed saucepan over medium heat, combine the cream, corn syrup, brown sugar, granulated sugar, and butter. Stir with a wooden spoon or heatproof spatula until the mixture comes to a boil (5 to 8 minutes). Wash down the sides of the pan two times with a pastry brush dipped in warm water to prevent the sugar from crystallizing.
• Increase the heat to medium-high, place a candy thermometer in the pan, and cook the mixture until it registers 246°F on the thermometer (15 to 20 minutes), stirring constantly. Remove the pan from the heat and stir in the vanilla. Pour the caramel into a 2-quart mixing bowl and stir to cool slightly (about 1 minute).
• Spoon a tablespoon of caramel onto the center of each pecan cluster. Let the caramel set completely at room temperature (about 30 minutes).
• Line 2 baking sheets with parchment or waxed paper. Melt and temper the chocolate (see pages 25-30). Spoon a tablespoon of chocolate over the caramel on each turtle, or dip a turtle into the chocolate, coating it completely. With a fork or dipper, remove the turtle from the chocolate, carefully shake off the excess chocolate, and turn the turtle out onto the paper. Repeat with the remaining turtles. Let the chocolate set up at room temperature, or chill in the refrigerator for 15 minutes. In a tightly covered container wrapped in several layers of aluminum foil, the candies will keep for 1 month in the refrigerator or 2 months in the freezer. They are best eaten at room temperature.
• VARIATIONS
• Substitute whole, unblanched almonds or walnut halves, for the pecans. Substitute milk chocolate for the bittersweet chocolate.

CARAMEL APPLE POPCORN CLUSTERS

Steps:

• Line 2 baking sheets with parchment paper. Heat the vegetable oil in a pot over medium-high heat. Add the popcorn kernels; cover and cook, shaking the pan, until the popping subsides. Remove from the heat and let any remaining kernels pop for 30 more seconds. Divide the popcorn between the prepared baking sheets, discarding any unpopped kernels. Scatter the apple chips and almonds on top.
• Make the caramel: Bring the apple juice, brown sugar and corn syrup to a boil in a large heavy-bottomed saucepan over medium-high heat. Cook without stirring until the mixture is deep amber and a candy thermometer registers 280 degrees F, about 30 minutes (the caramel will bubble vigorously toward the end of the cooking time).
• Stir the butter into the caramel until melted. Add 2 teaspoons salt and the apple pie spice. Add the applejack and cayenne, if using, and cook until slightly thickened, about 1 minute. Remove from the heat. Pour the hot caramel over the popcorn mixture and carefully toss with two rubber spatulas. Let cool slightly, then separate the mixture into clusters while still warm. Let cool completely.

CASHEW CARAMEL CHOCOLATE TURTLE CLUSTERS

Steps:

• Line a baking sheet with parchment or foil, and spray lightly with nonstick cooking spray. Arrange the cashews in 16 clusters on the baking sheet.
• Unwrap the caramels and place them in a medium bowl with 1 tbsp of cream. Microwave the caramels in 15-second increments, stirring after every 15 seconds, until they're melted and smooth. At first they will resist melting, but as you continue to heat and stir them, they'll smooth out into a thick sauce. The texture will depend on the caramels you use, so if it seems too thick to easily scoop out, add a bit more cream and stir until you have a workable texture.
• Drop a scoop of caramel on top of each cashew cluster. It's okay if it doesn't cover all the nuts right away-it should ooze down and spread over them eventually. Once all of the clusters are covered with caramel, lightly wet your fingertips and use them to press down on any caramel mounds that haven't spread out, making an even layer on top of the cashews.
• Refrigerate the tray while you prepare the chocolate wafers. Place them in a microwave-safe bowl and microwave them in 30-second increments, stirring after every 30 seconds. Once the chocolate is melted and smooth, place a spoonful of chocolate on top of a turtle cluster, and use the back of a spoon to spread it to the edge, finishing with a swirl on top. While the chocolate is still wet, finish the top of a cluster with a pinch of flaked sea salt. Repeat until all of the clusters are assembled.
• Return the tray to the refrigerator to set the chocolate, for about 15 minutes. For the best taste and texture, serve these clusters at room temperature. Store them in an airtight container for up to two weeks.

NUTTY CARAMEL CLUSTERS

Steps:

• In a 1-qt. microwave-safe dish, combine the caramels, butter and milk. Microwave, uncovered, on high for 1-1/2 to 2 minutes or until caramels are melted, stirring once. Stir in the almonds, peanuts and pecans. Drop by tablespoonfuls onto waxed paper-lined baking sheets., In a microwave-safe bowl, melt chocolate chips and shortening; stir until blended. Spoon over clusters. Refrigerate until set. Store in an airtight container in the refrigerator.

DIVINE CARAMEL CLUSTERS

Steps:

• 1. Utensils you will need! wooden spoon, measuring cups & spoons, dipping spoon, sauce pans, mixing bowls, parsement paper, cookie sheet. Place your liquid ingredients in your sauce pan along with your brown sugar on high heat, letting your liquid come to a boil for 5 minutes or until it has come to a hard candy like stage. Half way through the liquid stage you will began preparing the camels in another sauce pan, add your butter to the sauce pan & your carmels. continue to stir the carmels until they have all melted. In your mixing bowl, have your pecans ready for the next process, which will be adding the ingredients from your first sauce pan. Next you will need to fold in the ingredients untill the pecans our completely coverd. Allow your already ingreients to set for a few seconds and then add the melted carmels and again fold in the camels. You are now ready to make your carmel clusters.
• 2. Began by using a tablespoon and dipping your product up by sliver dollar size spoon fulls. At this point drop onto parsement paper and load into the frige for chilling for at list 3-5min. or until it is to your liking and serve. White Chocolate swirl optional....

CARAMEL CLUSTERS

Steps:

• 1. Place margarine, milk, and caramels in large saucepan. Cook over low heat, stirring frequently, until caramels are melted and mixture is smooth. Remove from heat.2. Add peanuts and KELLOGG'S SMACKS cereal stir until cereal is evenly coated. Spread on waxed paper or buttered baking sheet and allow to cool. Break into bite-size pieces.

CARAMEL NUT CLUSTERS

Steps:

• 1. In 3-quart saucepan, combine margarine, caramels and milk. Cook over low heat until carmels melt and mixture is smooth, stirring constantly. Remove from heat. Add remaining ingredients, mixing until evenly combined. 2. Drop by rounded tablespoon onto baking sheet coated with cooking spray. Cool. Store in airtight container.