Caramel Cashew Clusters

4.50 from 6 votes
Jump to Recipe

This post may contain affiliate links. Please see myย disclosure policy

Caramel Cashew Clusters – gooey caramel with buttery cashews and chocolate make for a super easy, decadent, and delicious no bake treat you can make in minutes!

When I was growing up we always use to buy these turtle candies every year around the holidays. And once in awhile the same store would sell caramel cashew clusters, and I would beg for my mom to buy them. I am not a huge fan of the pecans in turtles, but you use cashews and I am all in!

Caramel Cashew Clusters are almost exactly like Turtle Candy, just a different nut.

stacked caramel cashew clusters on a table

 

Why This Recipe Works

  • It is just a few ingredients that you can really have on hand at any time. So they are great to make last minute or really any time!
  • No baking required! You do need to melt the caramel and chocolate, so a microwave or the stovetop is needed. But you are not actually baking anything.
  • These make such a great gift. If you arrange some in a cellophane bag with a festive ribbon you can give them to friends, neighbors, teachers, the mailman etc.
cashew caramel cluster ingredients

What You’ll Need

  • Cashews
  • Caramel
  • Milk or Heavy Cream
  • Chocolate

See, I told you they were super simple. Just 4 ingredients that you really can have in your pantry or fridge anytime. I like to use the milk when melting the caramel, because it helps it stay a gooey consistency and not completely harden or set up again. You can use really any milk product you have. If you have leftover evaporated milk from another holiday recipe, that works great too.

spooning caramel over cashews

How To Make Caramel Cashew Clusters

  1. Arrange cashews in little clusters on a lined baking sheet.
  2. Melt together caramel and milk until smooth. You can microwave at 50% power for 45 seconds at a time, stirring after each time.
  3. Spoon melted caramel over the cashews. It will get into all the cracks and act like glue to hold everything together. Let the caramel set up for just a few minutes before you add the chocolate.
  4. In a separate bowl melt the chocolate. I like to use melting chocolate, not chocolate chips, so that it is nice and smooth.
  5. Spoon chocolate over the caramel. Let it set up and harden before serving.
spoon melted chocolate over caramel cashew clusters

Storage

Store these cashew cluster in an air tight container at room temperature for about 2 weeks. You to not need to refrigerate these. If it is very warm where you are storing them, you may want to keep them chilled so the chocolate doesn’t melt.

Freezing – you can absolutely freeze these! After they have completely set up store them in an airtight container or freezer safe bag in the freezer for 3-4 months. They will thaw quickly on the counter after you take them out.

a bowl with chocolate and caramel cashew clusters

Recipe Tips & Variations

  • I like to use chocolate that is meant for melting, so not chocolate chips. you can use a bar, Ghirardelli melting chocolate or even the chocolate almond bark. Not only does the chocolate melt easier, it is smoother and just works better when making candy.
  • Mix up the chocolate you use! I like milk chocolate, so that is what I used. But you can use white chocolate, semi-sweet, dark or even a combination. Drizzle white chocolate over dark chocolate to make them extra pretty!
  • When you are melting your caramel you can definitely use the microwave. Just don’t use full powder, and stir it often. Be careful not to burn it, if you go slow you shouldn’t have a problem.
  • Mix up your nuts! Obviously this uses cashews, and if you use pecans it would be called turtles, but whatever nuts you like works great and you should use them! Walnuts, pistachios, peanuts….you name it!
  • For the cashews I like to use Halves & Pieces, so that they stick together well and you get cashews in each bite. I also like to make sure they are salted, so you get the sweet and salty together. But you can use any type of cashew that you have or can get.
close up chocolate covered caramel and cashews

More Fun Christmas Recipes

close up stacked cashew caramel clusters
4.50 from 6 votes

Caramel Cashew Clusters

By Erin
Caramel Cashew Clusters – gooey caramel with buttery cashews and chocolate make for a super easy, decadent, and delicious no bake treat you can make in minutes!
Prep: 15 minutes
Total: 15 minutes
Servings: 18

Video

Ingredients 

  • 1 1/2 cup cashews, roasted and salted
  • 14 oz caramels, unwrapped
  • 2 Tablespoons milk
  • 10 oz milk chocolate

Instructions 

  • Arrange cashews in little clusters on a lined baking sheet.
  • Melt together caramel and milk until smooth. You can microwave at 50% power for 45 seconds at a time, stirring after each time.
  • Spoon melted caramel over the cashews. It will get into all the cracks and act like glue to hold everything together. Let the caramel set up for just a few minutes before you add the chocolate.
  • In a separate bowl melt the chocolate.
  • Spoon chocolate over the caramel. Let it set up and harden before serving.

Nutrition

Serving: 1g | Calories: 235kcal | Carbohydrates: 30g | Protein: 4g | Fat: 12g | Saturated Fat: 5g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 6g | Cholesterol: 5mg | Sodium: 140mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 23g

Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.

Additional Info

Author: Erin
Prep Time: 15 minutes
Total Time: 15 minutes
Course: Dessert Recipes
Cuisine: American
Servings: 18
Calories: 235
Like this recipe? Leave a comment below!

I created a fun group on Facebook,and I would love for you to join us! It’s a place where you can
share YOUR favorite recipes, ask questions, and see what’s new at Dinners, Dishes and Desserts (so that you never miss a new recipe)!

Be sure to follow me on Instagram and
tag #dinnersdishes so I can see all the wonderful DINNERS, DISHES, AND DESSERTS
recipes YOU make!

Be sure to follow me on my social media, so you
never miss a post!

Facebook | Twitter | Pinterest | Instagram 

Did you know there is a Dinners,
Dishes, and Desserts SHOP
? Lots of different E-Books for sale. Or you can buy me a
coffee
to say thanks!

.

About Erin S

Welcome to Dinners, Dishes, & Desserts where my love of food meets my busy life. My name is Erin and Iโ€™m a casual home cook who loves to feed people. On this blog, youโ€™ll find hundreds of quick and easy recipes made mostly from scratch. My days are spent in the kitchen, creating new recipes to share with family and friends.

Other Recipes You Might Like:

Leave a comment

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

Recipe Rating




This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

31 Comments

  1. on the caramel cashew clusters, does the caramel tend to go hard or will it stay soft by using cream or milk

    1. You scrolled past it to leave this comment. Scroll up a little or just use the jump to recipe button at the top that takes you right to it.