Now, for the forming. Working quickly but carefully, use a tablespoon cookie scoop or two spoons to drop clusters of the candy mixture onto baking sheets lined with parchment paper. I like to make them heaping tablespoon-sized. Don’t worry about making them perfect; the rustic, craggy look is part of their charm. Once all the mixture is scooped, let the trays sit at room temperature until the candy is completely set and firm. This can take a few hours. I sometimes slide them into a cool garage or porch to speed it up, but do not refrigerate, as it can cause condensation and make the chocolate “sweat.”
Pro Tips for Best Results
My biggest tip is about patience and heat. I’ve tested this three different ways: on HIGH for 1 hour (burned), on LOW with the lid off (took forever and dried out), and the perfect method—LOW heat with the lid on for 90% of the time. The lid traps the gentle heat and creates a perfect melting environment without any risk of burning. Trust the process.
When stirring in the peanuts and pretzels, work with purpose but don’t over-stir. You want everything coated, but if you stir for too long, the pretzels can start to dissolve and become mushy from the residual heat. A solid minute of vigorous stirring is all you need. I make sure all my add-ins are measured and ready to go the moment I turn the cooker off.
For the most beautiful clusters, use a cookie scoop. I used two spoons for years, and it was messy and uneven. Switching to a medium cookie scoop gave me uniform, professional-looking clusters that were the perfect two-bite size. It also makes the process much faster, which is key before the candy begins to set in the pot.
Common Mistakes to Avoid
Do not use high heat. I know I’ve said it, but it’s the most common error. High heat will cause the chocolate to burn on the bottom and sides of the crock, giving your entire batch a nasty, bitter flavor. The slow cooker’s “Low” setting is specifically designed to mimic a very gentle double boiler, which is exactly what chocolate needs.(See the next page below to continue…)