This post may contain affiliate links. Please see my 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.
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.
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.
How To Make Caramel Cashew Clusters
- 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. I like to use melting chocolate, not chocolate chips, so that it is nice and smooth.
- Spoon chocolate over the caramel. Let it set up and harden before serving.
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.
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.
More Fun Christmas Recipes
- Chocolate Toffee Bars
- White Chocolate Fudge
- Hot Chocolate Cookies
- Eggnog Muffins
- Candy Cane Pie
- Slow Cooker Peanut Clusters
- Melted Snowman Bark
- Bailey’s Chocolate Cheesecake
Caramel Cashew Clusters
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
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
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
.
They turned out beautifully Erin! I’m so glad you could “drop by” today – I really appreciate it!
You’re killing me with all these delicious treats Erin! I am going to go check out the recipe now! Beautiful photo too.
Your candy does look delicious-popping over to Jen’s site now!
These are right up my alley. I love caramel. These are a perfect holiday treat!
These look so delicious!
Yummy nut clusters are always a hit for me!
These totally remind me of a cookie we sold at Williams-Sonoma when I worked there. I’m sure yours are even more delicious! x
Those remind me of turtles! Yummy!
Did you know Jen and I live in the same town and our husbands work at the same place? LOL. We discovered this a few weeks ago. It’s so funny to see you mention her. What a small food blogger world! Anyway, I LOVE caramel cashew clusters. Yum!!!
PS I realized after you posted a comment on my site that you weren’t popping up in my google reader anymore…I thought I updated the feed to your new website but apparently not. Hopefully it works from now on.
It really is a small world!!
Hm, I’m still not getting your new posts on my google reader, it’s so strange. Has anyone else mentioned this to you recently? I will have to do a manual check I suppose!
Yes, someone did, so I thought I updated my RSS feed. She said she was seeing it then. I will talk to her again to see if she is still seeing it or what is going on.
I am new to this programming and figuring out problems thing – blogger just did it for me, that was the nice thing!
These look scrumptious! Headed over now to grab the recipe. I’m definitely making these this weekend! Thanks so much.