I had forgotten this morning when David went to the store and picked up a snack for us to ask David to get Peanut Clusters because today is March 8 National Peanut Cluster Day #PeanutClusterDay. David does have a couple packs of Peanuts he got from Texas Roadhouse the other day when we went to eat.
We don’t have the Chocolate I need to make Pecan Clusters with. I plan on purchasing the ingredients the next time we go to the store for Charlie to prepare them in his Homeschool Cooking Class. Would you like to help us make Peacan Clusters then we can have one or two and visit and play board games or watch a movie.
National Peanut Cluster Day on March 8 is the perfect day to indulge Peanut Clusters. Peanut Clusters combine the sweetness of Chocolate and the crunchiness of Peanuts to bring you the best of both worlds. With a flavor profile that lends a jolt to your taste buds, this Century-old invention continues to be one of the best-selling confectioneries in the U.S. So pull out your apron and gather all your ingredients, and make your own Peanut Clusters as we mark this delicious holiday.
Ever since learning how Americans have loved adding Chocolate to food products from Strawberries to Marshmallow, the desire to combine the brown goodness with lesser tasting edibles has mostly proven right.
Similar were the urges of Howell Campbell, owner of Standard Candy Company based in Nashville, Tennessee, who decided to combine multiple types of confectionery items including Marshmallow Nougat, roasted Peanuts, and Caramel, and coated them in Milk Chocolate to form a singular Candy bar. Little did Howell Campbell know, his invention would sail a thousand ships, as he would be introducing the amalgamation of Peanuts and Chocolate to millions of Americans.
Goo Goo Cluster, Howell’s signature candy, soon became an American sensation, and people since have not been able to walk away from the stunning taste of Chocolate-covered Peanuts. The irresistibility of a Peanut Cluster is all due to the ignition of dynamic sensory contrast in our taste buds. The contrasting flavor of sweet and salty, topped with the altering textures of soft Chocolate and crunchy Peanuts, lights up a Christmas tree in our brain’s pleasure centers. Howell Campbell’s invention ushered in an entire genre of Candies involving Peanuts, as the Nut soon became a prominently identifiable confectionery item.
As major players like Reese’s Pieces and Snickers have co-opted the hit formula of combining Chocolates and Peanuts, nothing offers the most delectable version of this vintage duo other than a humbling Peanut Cluster. Peanut Clusters are easy to make. Peanut Clusters stores well, and Peanut Clusters taste never gets old. Although we can’t find the exact originator of the holiday, let’s thank them nonetheless, because any excuse to gobble up a batch, or three, of Peacan Clusters is an American Candy, one we can’t wait to taste.
NATIONAL PEANUT CLUSTER DAY ACTIVITIES
- Visit your local candy store and shop ‘til you drop. Pick up all the varieties of Peanut Bars you find, and don’t forget to grab a couple of other Candies.
- Today is the perfect day to try a variety of Peanut Clusters including traditional Peanut Clusters, but did you know there are many other varieties including Caramel and Chocolate Butterscotch Clusters.
FACTS ABOUT PEANUTS
- Inn the U.S .Peanuts are the seventh most valuable crop in the U.S. and have a farm value of over one billion U.S. dollars.
- Peanut-based Candies are extremely popular in the U.S and out of the surveyed top 10 most loved Candies, five were found to be Peanut-based.
- Peanuts pack more antioxidants than green Tea, Grapes, Spinach, and other supposedly healthier Nuts and Berries.
WHY PEOPLE LOVE NATIONAL PEANUT CLUSTER DAY
- Chocolate and Peanuts are great when eaten individually, but as a pair — they are magnificent making them a match made in Heaven.
- A spoonful of Peanut Butter a day can give you vitamins, minerals, antioxidants, and more protein than any other nut.
Recipe for Peanut Clusters:
Peanut Clusters Ingredients
- roasted salted peanuts
- semi sweet chocolate chips
- optional toppings: flaked sea salt and/or drizzled white chocolate, sprinkles
Step 1: Melt a bag of semi sweet chocolate chips in the microwave in 30 second increments until smooth. Be careful to not do longer increments as you do not want the chocolate to burn.
Step 2: Once the chocolate is melted, stir in the roasted salted peanuts and combine. That is it! Now it’s time to form the peanut clusters.
Step 3: Use a spoon or mini cookie scoop to drop Spoonfuls of chocolate covered peanuts onto a lined baking sheet.
Waxed paper or parchment paper will work here. Since you are not cooking with heat, you just need to use a nonstick surface.
If you are topping with flaked sea salt or Christmas sprinkles, do this step now so that it sticks before the chocolate is hardened.
Step 4: Once you have finished assembling the peanut clusters, place them in the fridge to chill until the chocolate is set.
Step 5: This is only necessary if you want to drizzle some with white chocolate. I like doing this with half the batch to add a little variety!
Once the chocolate has hardened, drizzle the tops with melted white chocolate, then place in the fridge again until hardened.
Thank you,
Glenda, Charlie and David Cates
