Goo Goo Clusters

     This homemade candy recipe is super fun and easy so I wanted to get it up on the blog so any of you looking for quick homemade gift could get it in time for the Holidays! 

     I found these candies on a website a couple of years ago and have loved making this recipe.  They only take about 1/2 hour to make and are fun to give as neighbor gifts.  The marshmellows can be found at Walmart along with the carmel bits. 

     

Here is how you do it:

Ingredients

1 package Stacker Mallows (thin marshmallows)  8oz. bag.  Mine had 46 in it and I used them all.
11 oz. bag Caramel Bits.  (any caramel would work but these are much easier than unwrapping them.)
2 Tablespoons milk
12 to 16 oz peanuts.  (I used Great Value Cocktail peanuts)
32 oz chocolate.  

(I have used both chocolate almond bark and Callebaut wafers and they were both good). The ones pictured in this blog are the Callebaut dark chocolate Snaps and look semisweet but were sweet and tasted very good.)

     Begin by setting up a couple of cookie sheets and line with parchment paper.  Set out the marshmallows.  These have a concave side and a rounded side.  I set them with the concave side up because it holds the caramel a little bit better. 

     Then put the caramel bits in a microwave safe bowl and heat with the milk for 1 minute. Stir with a fork and then keep heating for 15 second intervals until the caramel is melted and smooth.
Pour the peanuts on a plate and set up your workstation together like this:

     Now you can pick up a marshmallow and use a knife to fill the center of it with caramel.  Then turn the whole thing over and press lightly into the nuts. 

     Set them down on the cookie sheet to cool for about 20 minutes. 

     When they are firm, melt the chocolate in the microwave until smooth when stirred.  (I stir every 15 to 30 seconds. The container should be deep and tall but wide enough to easily get the chocolates out with a fork.  I use my 2 cups Pyrex measuring cup.

     Drop them in and cover with chocolate.  Lift out with a fork.  Wipe off excess chocolate from underneath side of fork and set on the cookie sheet to harden.

     As the chocolate cools it will turn from glossy to a dull color.  You can see that the closest chocolates are not yet set and the furthest chocolates are dull and set.

There you go! These are melt in your mouth delicious!

This recipe was shared with these wonderful sites!
Wonderful at Home 
Naptime Creations 
The Recipe Critic 
Kitchen Meets Girl 
Anyonita's Nibbles 
A to Zebra Celebrations 
A Pinch of Joy! 
My Personal Accent 
The Wondering Brain 
Blog Hop Blitz