M&M’s Toasty Holiday Peanut Chocolate Recipe: Easy & Irresistible

Are you looking for a holiday treat that is quick, easy, festive, and, more importantly, irresistible? These M&M’s Toasty Holiday Peanut Chocolate Clusters are the best holiday chocolate recipe choice.

They bring toasted peanuts, melted chocolate, and, of course, M&M’s. A simple no-bake recipe generally takes around 30-40 minutes.

This recipe is perfect for any time cooking; you can make it for yourself, that you can make when you are hosting guests, or even as a seasonal snack. 

I myself make this during holidays when I usually have a “baking day” with my cousin, who’s around 4 years old. 

In this guide, I will tell you step by step how you can make M&M’s Toasty Holiday Peanut Chocolate recipe at home, what ingredients you will need, what you can serve with it, and give you some pro tips that will make it even better than what you get at the store. 

 

Why You’ll Love This M&M’s Toasty Holiday Recipe

Okay, here are a few reasons why other food lovers and I prefer making this M&M’s Toasty recipe, especially during the holidays. Also, you can make it whenever you want.

• Texture Heaven: This easy homemade chocolate clusters recipe has a very good texture, which is crunchy and has some toasty peanuts in it. Plus, some smooth blend of sweet and milk chocolate makes it better. Moreover, it has some colorful candy shells from M&M, which not only gives it a taste but also makes it look beautiful.
• No-Bake Magic: This recipe is very easy to make. You don’t need too many things to make it. You just need to melt and mix and chill. That’s it. It is also a good recipe during busy days when you want something quick but delicious, especially during the festive season or holidays.
• Kid-Friendly Fun: It’s so easy to make that even your kids can help you stir the M&M’s and even lick the bowl. I mean, it’s a perfect family activity where you can involve your husband, kids, etc.
• Gift-Worthy Glam: Once you make this M&M’s toasty holiday peanut chocolate clusters, then you can even pack them in cellophane bags and tie them with ribbon or in any gift box and give them to somebody else as a gift.

What Ingredients You’ll Need for This Festive Treat

Here are the ingredients that you need to make M&M’s Toasty Holiday Peanut Chocolate Recipe at home. 

(Makes 24–30 clusters)

Main Ingredients:

• 2 cups roasted, salted peanuts (You can also take others, but I recommend using Salty peanuts)
• 1½ cups semi-sweet chocolate chips (Besides this, you want to use 10 oz of high-quality chocolate bars, which you can even chop into uniform pieces to melt them easily)
• 1 cup milk chocolate chips (It’s good to add a sweet balance to the richness of the semi-sweet chocolate.)
• 1½ cups holiday M&M’s (There are many options that you can use, such as for Christmas, you can use red, green, and white. Plus, feel free to swap in pastels or other colors for different seasons. Holiday M&Ms make the perfect addition to Christmas chocolate treats.)
• 1 tsp vanilla extract (It’s optional, but it actually deepens the chocolate flavor.)
• Flaky sea salt (it’s also an Optional garnish for a gourmet touch.)

Why These Ingredients Work:

• Roasted Peanuts: Roasted peanuts are naturally toasty, and they have a little salty flavor, which gives the perfect contrast to smooth and sweet chocolate. (You just try it and then thank me later. I did it, so I know very well how good it tastes). 
• Two Types of Chocolate: When you combine semi-sweet and milk chocolate, it also creates balance, rich yet approachable. 
• Holiday M&Ms: This is a very important ingredient, by the way. We can say that this is one of the main ingredients (yeah! others are too). But they are more decorative; their condition gives a beautiful texture and burst of different colors, which elevate this treat.

 

Ingredient Substitutes: Make It Your Own

Here are substitutes. If any ingredient is not available or you just want to have alternatives like a gluten-free or vegan option, you can try them. 

If you use these substitutes, you will ensure that your M&M’s Toasty Holiday Peanut Chocolate recipe doesn’t lose its original taste.

• Nut-Free Options: You can replace peanuts with mini pretzels, crispy rice, cereal, or even toasted sunflower seeds for a similar crunch but not peanuts. 
• Vegan/Dairy-Free: If you are vegan and want to have a dairy-free recipe, I recommend you go with dairy-free chocolate. Some of my favorite brands for this recipe are Enjoy Life and Pascha. You can also try vegan-friendly M&M alternatives such as Unreal Dark Chocolate Crispy Gems. They are perfect. 
• Gluten-Free: If you want to keep your recipe gluten-free, then make sure that substitutes like pretzels or cereals are certified gluten-free.
• Lower Sugar: If you don’t want to have a lot of sugar in your recipe, then I recommend you swap milk chocolate for dark chocolate for at least 70%. Plus, you can also use sugar-free M&M’s sugar-free alternatives.

 

Step-by-Step Guide: How to Make M&M’s Toasty Holiday Peanut Chocolate

Preparation Tips:

• Uniform Ingredients: You first want to chop the chocolate into small pieces (when pieces are small, it’ll be easier for you to smoothly melt them). If you’re starting with raw peanuts, make sure to spread them properly on your baking sheet.
• Parchment Paper is a Must: You need to line two baking sheets with parchment paper to prevent sticking and ensure that you can easily remove your clusters.

Complete Instructions:

After bringing all the ingredients and preparing everything, here is the step-by-step recipe.

Toasting the Peanuts (If Using Raw):

1. First, you need to preheat your oven to 350°F or (175°C).
2. After that, you need to properly spread raw peanuts in a single layer on a baking sheet.
3. After that, you want to toast them in the oven for around 10–12 minutes, but make sure to stir once halfway through until they’re brown.
4. If you do everything correctly, you’ll notice a golden color and a fragrant (nutty aroma).
5. Now, you can remove the peanuts and let them cool completely. (However, if you’re using pre-roasted peanuts, you can simply measure them out and set them aside.)

 

Melting the Chocolate:

Here are two methods you can melt the chocolate:

Double Boiler Method: 

1. That’s a simple method that I recommend; you just need to fill a medium saucepan with 1–2 inches of water and bring it to a gentle simmer. 
2. Then, place a heatproof bowl on top (make sure the bowl’s bottom isn’t touching the water. 
3. Now, you can add both the semi-sweet and milk chocolate chips along with the vanilla extract. 
4. Then, Stir it continuously until your chocolate is fully melted.
5. Finally, you can remove it from the heat and continue stirring until smooth.

Microwave Method:

1. You’ve to place the chocolate chips and vanilla in a microwave-safe bowl.
2. Microwave at 30-second intervals.
3. Make sure to stir after each burst until the chocolate is mostly melted. 
4. Don’t worry if a few lumps remain; they will melt as you stir.
5. However, don’t make a mistake by overheating the chocolate, as it can seize and become grainy.

 

Mixing In the Peanuts and M&M’s:

• Okay, once you’ve perfectly smooth and melted the chocolate, here’s how to make chocolate clusters. You need to remove the bowl from the heat, then fold in the roasted peanuts and 1 cup of holiday M&M’s. However, you need to use a spatula when you’re combining ingredients (by doing so, you can properly coat the peanuts and M&M’s.
• You can also reserve about ½ cup of the M&M’s to press on top of the clusters later (it’ll give an extra pop of color).

 

Form the Clusters:

It is important to properly form the clusters; here’s a step-by-step process.

• To form a cluster, you first want to take a spoon or a small cookie spoon. Then, drop a spoonful of chocolate mixture onto your prepared parchment paper. You need to do it quickly because chocolate sets too fast (especially when your kitchen is cold).
• Then, you immediately need to press the reserved M&Ms on the top of each cluster. If you want a gold-mint flair touch, you can sprinkle a few flakes of sea salt over the cluster. But make sure your chocolate is still wet and not fully solid.

Setting and Serving:

• Now, you can place the baking sheet in a refrigerator if the room temperature is not cold enough and let the cluster chill for around 20 to 30 minutes or until they are completely firm (You can even check it with your finger). 
• However, once they are properly set, you can transfer the cluster into an airtight container if you don’t want to serve them immediately.

Common Pitfalls to Avoid:

There are some common mistakes that you can make, especially if you are not really familiar with cooking. So here is something that you want to keep in mind.

• Overheating Chocolate: We discussed two methods for melting chocolates: double boiler and microwave. However, it doesn’t matter which one you use. You just want to make sure to remove your chocolate as soon as it melts properly to avoid any gritty texture. And you also want to stir them in between.
• Moisture Issues: When you’re going to mix. Make sure the peanuts and M&Ms are completely dry; otherwise, the chocolate will seize. (If peanuts or M&Ms have any moisture on them, the chocolate will seize and turn into a thick, grainy mess instead of a smooth mixture)
• Working Too Slowly: As you know, chocolate settles very quickly, especially in colder environments. So, you want to prepare all your ingredients in advance so that you can work quickly and smoothly without any delays.

 

Pro Tips for Perfect Holiday Clusters

Here are some pro tips that nobody talks about. If you follow them, you will make your recipe better.

• Tempering (Optional): If you want to have a glossy finish or a satisfying snap, then you should temper your chocolate and melt ⅔ of it first, and then stir the remaining ⅓ off the heat.
• Uniformity is Key: You need to use a cookie scoop if you want a consistently sized cluster; it’ll help them set evenly.
• Keep Your Cool: Usually, our kitchens are warm because they are the place where we continuously operate the microwave, stove, etc. So you want to keep it cool. You can also pop your baking sheet in the fridge between batches to prevent premature chocolate melting.

Fun Variations to Try

Here are some variations that you can try with your M&M’s Toasty Holiday Peanut Chocolate Recipe. This variation will also create a difference between the homemade and the store-bought versions.

• Flavor Twists: If you want to try a different flavor, then try adding ½ tablespoon of espresso powder for matcha flavor, or you can substitute the vanilla with orange or peppermint oil. It will also change the profile of this recipe.
• Texture Play: If you want to have an extra layer of different flavors and crunch, you can try mixing crushed grass jell, toasted coconuts, or even dried cranberries.
• Seasonal Themes: If you are making M&M’s toasty holiday peanut chocolate recipe for a special day, let’s say Valentine’s Day, then you can use pink and red M&M’s and white chocolate. And for Halloween, you can swipe peanuts for candy corn for a quirky twist.

 

Storage and Make-Ahead Tips

Here are some additional tips that will help you to keep M&M’s Toasty Holiday Peanut Chocolate safe for a longer period of time so that you can eat gradually.

• Room Temperature Storage: If you want to store M&M toasty holiday chocolate peanuts at room temperature, here’s how to store homemade chocolate treats. You need to use an airtight container. In that container, they can last for around 2 weeks.
• Freezing: If you want to store more than 2 weeks, then you need to place the clusters in a freezer bag and layer them with parchment paper. And then they will last around 3 months. However, when you serve them next time, you want to keep them for a few minutes at room temperature.
• Make-Ahead Preparation: If you don’t want to do too many things on the same day, you can also prepare in advance. For example, you can toast the peanuts and melt the chocolate one or two days ago and then assemble the cluster on the day when you plan to serve them for maximum freshness and crunch.

Nutrition Facts

Here is the estimated nutrition value of Homemade M&M’s Toasty Holiday Peanut Chocolate recipe. 

Remember that it can go up and down based on what ingredients you are using in what quantity. 

However, generally, the nutrition set will remain closer, as mentioned below.

(Per cluster, based on 24 servings)

• Calories: Approximately 180
• Fat: 12g
• Carbs: 16g
• Protein: 4g

Dietary Notes: Vegan and gluten-free options are also available through the substitutions I provided earlier.

 

Final Thoughts

This M&M’s Toasty Holiday Peanut Chocolate Cluster is more than just a recipe. They are actually edible confetti for your holiday table. In each bite, you will feel a different crunch of toasted peanuts and some velvety smoothness of chocolate. And, of course, the burst of colorful M&M’s. 

They are not just for things that you need to prepare when you want to eat. 

You can actually make them in advance and gift them to someone else, like your friends or family members, because they can last up to two weeks if you just keep them in an airtight container. 

So, tell me in the comment section which M&M’s version you will try, the one that I did, or something else?

 

Can I use other candies in place of M&M’s?

Yes, of course, it’s not compulsory to use M&M’s. You can go with other options, such as you can experiment with Reese’s Pieces, chopped candy Cans, or even Skittles for a fruity twist. 

However, you just want to remember that your candies should add crunch and color without compromising the texture and melted chocolate.

 

How long do these clusters last?

The M&M cluster usually lasts around 2 weeks if you are keeping it in an airtight container. However, it can also last up to 3 months if you freeze them. And every time, you want to keep them at room temperature before serving. 

 

What if my chocolate starts to seize

This can happen if you mistakenly overheat your chocolate or if they are exposed to moisture. 

However, if the chocolate starts seizing, then you want to add a tablespoon of coconut, vegetable oil, or a small amount of cocoa butter. And then stir vigorously for the best result. Always make sure that your ingredients are dry, and heat the chocolate slowly.

 

Can I prepare this recipe ahead of time?

Yes, you can prepare this recipe before the time, such as you can toast the peanuts and melt the chocolate 2 days before the actual day you are planning to serve it for better texture and freshness.

 

Is tempering the chocolate necessary?

No, tempering the chocolate is not necessary, but if you want the best chocolate for homemade clusters, I recommend you do it. You can feel it when you bite into the cluster.