Pecan Caramel Clusters is a sweet and crunchy holiday candy made with just a few easy to find ingredients. It is always a big hit with family and friends when I make it for gifts.
If you are looking for a few quick and easy homemade Christmas candy recipes to give out as gifts this holiday season this is it!
In a nutshell all you need to do is melt some ingredients, stir and allow the cluster to firm up before dipping them in melted milk chocolate. That's it!
This is one of the easiest homemade candy recipe you will ever make! It took me less than an hour. Once dipped you will need to let the melted milk chocolate harden before you can pack them up and store them.
Candied Nuts, Saltine Cracker Toffee and Coconut Mounds Candy Cups are just a few of the candy recipes I like to make for a homemade holidays gift.
Anyone can make this holiday treat no matter how much candy making experience they have.
Need to make a large batch of Christmas candy?
You can make Chocolate Dried Fruit Nut Clusters, White Chocolate Dried Fruit Clusters , and Chocolate Cherry Nut Cups using a crock pot.
Easy Pecan Candy Recipe
This easy recipe is stress free and so much easier to make because we are starting with store bought candies instead of making a homemade caramel that I can tell you is not so easy to make.
First time candy makers will love this recipe even more than the lucky family and friends who receive a box of this Christmas candy.
Ingredients You'll Need
Below is a quick look at the ingredients and directions. You can find the entire ingredient amounts and step by step directions in the recipe card below. P. S. You can also save your favorite recipes to your personal recipe box! ⬇️
- 1 bag of caramel candies: I used Kraft Caramels Original. Do not use soft or hard candies. The soft version will get too runny when you melt them for this recipe. Read the package well.
- butter: salted or unsalted butter will work.
- heavy whipping cream: is needed to thin the candy just slightly.
- chopped pecans: this recipe will work just as well for other types of nuts like walnuts or even roasted peanuts.
- milk chocolate chips: this is the type of chocolate I used today. I prefer and love the flavor of milk chocolate combined with the gooey center and nuts but there are other options. You could use semi sweet chocolate chips or almond bark instead.
👇See the step by step directions below!
Recipe Prep
Roughly chop the pecans and unwrap the caramel candies.
Step by Step Directions
- Step 1: Place the unwrapped candy pieces, the butter, and heavy cream in a microwave-safe bowl. Slowly in short increments melt the candies stirring each time the microwave stops.
Melting Caramel Example
I microwaved it on high for 30 seconds, then stirred. Then again for 20 seconds and stirred. Then another 10 seconds and stirred until the caramel, butter and cream were completely combined and smooth. The whole process only took 60 seconds in my microwave and the ingredients were softened to the perfect consistency.
Your microwave may heat differently and you may need to heat it for more or less time. Go slowly and stir frequently.
- Step 2: I then immediately stirred the chopped pecans into the melted caramel until all the nuts were covered with caramel.
- Step 3: Using a small 1-inch scoop I dropped mounds of the softened filling by scoopfuls using a 1-inch dough scoop onto a cookie sheet lined with parchment paper.
Pro Tip on hardening homemade candies
You can place the tray in the freezer for 5 minutes to harden the candy mounds but the filling hardened up very well in about 15 to 20 minutes.
The clusters should be firm enough that you can lift them off the parchment paper with a thin metal spatula without loosing their shape.
I do not like hardening candies in the refrigerator or freezer because condensation can form on the hardening candy pieces if you are not careful. This can also happen with a warm melted chocolate coating like this one. I'd rather wait a few hours for the candies to harden on the counter.
Step 4: Once the pecan clusters have firmed up melt the chocolate chips in a small deep bowl in the microwave using the same steps used to melt the caramel.
You could also use a very small crock pot or chocolate candy melting pot to slowly melt the chocolate.
If planning to double this recipe I would use my candy melting pot because the chocolate might start to harden in the time it will take to dip a larger batch of pecan clusters.
To melt the chocolate in the microwave you should do it in short burst of times.
I start at 20 seconds when the chocolate chips are hard and each time I decrease the microwave time in half. Working from 20 seconds to 5 second increments until there are only tiny lumps of chocolate left in the bowl.
It is very important to make sure you are stirring the chocolate each time the microwave stops so it is heating evenly.
- Step 5: Once the chocolate is melted dip both sides of the nut clusters one at a time in the melted chocolate using a fork, candy dipping fork or a plastic fork you have removed the two center tines from.
Hold each piece over the bowl and allow excess chocolate to drip from the cluster before placing it down on a cookie sheet lined with a clean piece of parchment paper.
- Step 6: Allow the chocolate to harden completely before serving or storing.
This recipe made 21 large pieces of candy. If you make smaller mounds of caramel and nuts you will get more finished candies. You may need more chocolate to coat the larger amount of candy.
Storing Tips
Store the pecan turtle candy in single layers in an airtight container. Use pieces of parchment paper to separate each layer so the candy does not stick together or get damaged. Store the candy in the refrigerator for up to a month.
Pro Candy Gifting Tips
- If gifting during warmer months, keep the clusters cool to prevent the chocolate and caramel from melting.
- If packaging the candy for gifts I recommend placing each piece of candy in a paper liner or placing a few pieces in cellophane candy bags.
- Place the pecan caramel clusters in clear holiday cellophane bags, tied with festive ribbons, for a beautiful presentation.
📌Pro Candy Making Tips
- Prep Your Work Area: Have all ingredients and tools ready before starting, as candy can set or harden quickly once prepared.
- Wax paper and parchment paper are not interchangeable. Please use parchment for the best candy making results.
- Avoid Moisture: Keep your tools and workspace dry, as even a drop of water can cause melted chocolate to seize or harden unevenly.
Caramel Candy FAQ's
Here are some commonly asked questions to help you make these delicious Pecan Caramel Clusters perfectly every time!
The best way to melt store-bought caramels is to unwrap them and heat them with a little heavy cream in a microwave-safe bowl. Microwave in short intervals, stirring in between, until smooth and fully melted.
Store the clusters in an airtight container at room temperature for up to a week, or in the refrigerator for up to two weeks for longer freshness.
Yes, these clusters freeze well! Place them in a single layer on a baking sheet to freeze, then transfer to a freezer-safe bag. Thaw at room temperature before serving.
Easy Chocolate Clusters
Homemade Pecan Turtle Clusters are a perfect blend of sweet, salty, and crunchy goodness that’s a perfect flavor combination. They are a perfect holiday treat, a thoughtful gift, or the best way to satisfy your sweet tooth, this easy recipe delivers every time.
No bake Christmas Treats
Check out some of my other no bake Christmas treats below. They are so easy to make and everyone will love them!
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Pecan Caramel Clusters Recipe
Ingredients
- 11 oz. bag Kraft Caramels Original (unwrapped)
- 1 tablespoon butter
- 1 tablespoon heavy cream
- 1 ½ cups roughly chopped pecans
- 2 cups milk chocolate chips
Instructions
Before You Begin
- Have all ingredients prepped and tools ready before starting the recipe, as candy can set or harden quickly once prepared.
- Chop the pecans if using whole nuts.
- Unwrap the caramel candies and discard the plastic wrapper.
Making the caramel centers
- Place the unwrapped caramel candies, butter, and heavy cream in a microwave-safe bowl. Heat in short intervals, stirring well after each pause, until the caramels are fully melted and smooth.
- Immediately stir the chopped pecans into the melted caramel, ensuring all the nuts are evenly coated.
- Using a 1-inch dough scoop, dropped mounds of the caramel pecan mixture onto a parchment-lined cookie sheet. Allow the caramel to firm up.
- Once the caramel pecan clusters have set, melt the chocolate chips in a small, deep bowl in the microwave, following the same method used for melting the caramel.
- Once the chocolate is melted, use a fork, candy dipping fork, or a plastic fork with the center tines removed to dip each caramel cluster into the chocolate, coating both sides.
- Place each cluster down on a cookie sheet lined with a clean piece of parchment paper. Allow the chocolate to harden completely before serving or storing.
- This recipe yielded 21 large pieces of candy. If you make smaller mounds of caramel and nuts, you'll end up with more candies, but you may need extra chocolate for coating.
Recipe Expert Tips
- Do not use wax paper the melted caramel or melted chocolate will stick to it as it hardens and the candy might have a thin layer of wax stuck to the bottom. You need to use parchment paper because the candies will not stick to it like it will with wax paper.
- Storing: Store the pecan turtle candy in an airtight container, placing parchment paper between layers to prevent sticking or damage.
- When packaging the candy for gifts, I recommend placing each piece in a paper liner or bundling a few pieces in cellophane candy bags.
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