White Chocolate Peanut Butter Cookie Clusters are dense yet light, crispy, crunchy, chewy, and very addictive. I give them a 1 on work, 10 on reward. I wish all cookie recipes delivered those results.
Sometimes no-bake cookies feel like cheating.
And if that’s how you look at it, I’m very happy to be called a cheater.
With the warmer weather approaching, I wanted something sweet that didn’t involve turning on the oven.
Additionally, I wanted something supremely easy and not at all fussy. These ridiculously easy little clusters fit the bill and are a 10 minute project.
They combine two of my favorite ingredients, white chocolate and peanut butter. When melted together, they make the most amazing sauce. Anything that’s coated with it automatically becomes phenomenal.
Both White Chocolate Buttery Waffles Snack Mix and White Chocolate Vanilla Peanut Butter Puppy Chow use melted white chocolate and peanut butter, and since I love those, I knew the clusters would be a win.
I used peanuts in them, which is usual for me. I love handfuls of peanuts on their own, and of course I love peanut butter, but usually am not fond of peanuts in desserts.They tend to be like hard rocks embedded in soft cookies.
However, here the peanuts add so much crunch, texture, and flavor. I love them.
While peanuts add a hearty crunch, Rice Krispies add lighter, softer crispiness and texture.
They act like little sponges in any kind of batter or recipe you don’t want to use flour in yet need something to take the edge off the sog-factor, such as in Peanut Butter Chocolate Chip Granola Bars or in Healthy Oatmeal Chocolate Chip Miracle Cookies, They’re the perfect solution.
The nuts and cereal are balanced by soft, squishy, puffy marshmallows. I love using marshmallows in bars because their fluffiness is a wonderful contrast to the crispier and crunchier nuts and cereal. Biting into a soft marshmallow coated in white chocolate and peanut butter is how I want to eat all marshmallows forever.
If you wanted to work in chopped pretzels, raisins, popcorn, diced peanut butter cups, other candy, or your general odd and ends, mix-and-match with what you have.
I loved these clusters and wish the pictures conveyed just how good they are, but they were exceedingly difficult to photograph. Lumpy, bumpy, light in color, shiny, small in size, and reflective. Fun times.
They’re one of those treats on the work-reward scale that is a 1 on work, 10 on reward. They remind of these pretzels for that reason. So easy, but exceedingly good, and addictive. Just one more.
They’re dense yet light, and the peanut butter-white chocolate has a melt-in-your mouth quality. They’re crispy and crunchy, yet soft and chewy.
The white chocolate is sweet, yet there’s hints of saltiness from the peanuts and peanut butter for a salty-and-sweet element. And unlike some treats where either white chocolate or peanut butter dominates, you get both loud and clear.
If no-bake is cheating, you can call me a cheater as much as you want.
Enjoy!
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White Chocolate Peanut Butter Cookie Clusters
Ingredients
- one 1-pound package, 16 ounces vanilla Caniquik, coarsely chopped (white almond bark or white chocolate chips may be substituted)
- heaping 1/2 cup creamy peanut butter, do not use natural or homemade; use conventional Jif, Skippy, or similar
- 1 cup Rice Krispies cereal or similar gluten-free crispy rice cereal, plus 1/4 cup cereal, only if necessary; see directions below*
- 1 cup peanuts
- 1 cup miniature marshmallows
Instructions
- Prepare two baking sheets by lining them with parchment or wax paper; set aside.
- In a large microwave-safe bowl, combine Candiquik, peanut butter, and heat on high power for 1 minute to melt. Stop and stir. As necessary, heat in 15-second bursts until mixture can be stirred smooth. Be very careful not to overheat the mixture because white chocolate is notorious for scorching and seizing up.
- To the melted white chocolate-peanut butter mixture, add 1 cup cereal, peanuts, marshmallows, and stir to coat. Mixture will be runny and you want to keep it loose and not too cluttered with add-ins. But if your mixture is extremely runny and would benefit from extra bulk, add 1/4 cup cereal.* Adding a pinch of extra peanuts or marshmallows also works.
- Using a 2-tablespoon cookie scoop or with a spoon, drop mounds onto prepared baking sheets (I made 24). Allow cookies to firm up for about 2 hours at room temperature, or expedite by placing trays in the refrigerator or freezer is you have the space.
- Cookies will keep airtight at room temperature for at least 2 weeks, in the refrigerator for at least 1 month, or in the freezer for at least 6 months. Take care any ingredients used are appropriate for your dietary needs.
Nutrition
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
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Related Recipes:
White Chocolate Buttery Waffles Snack Mix (no-bake) – Peanut butter, white chocolate, cereal, popcorn, sprinkles and buttery waffles make this mix super addictive
Cinnamon Sugar Chocolate Pretzels (no-bake, vegan, GF) – My husband begs for these and I can whip a batch up in less than 5 minutes
White Chocolate Vanilla Peanut Butter Puppy Chow (no-bake) – Peanut butter, white chocolate, cereal, and confectioners’ sugar can do no wrong
Biscoff Marshmallow Chocolate Bars (no-bake) – Marshmallows and bits of Biscoff cookies (or graham crackers) engulfed in a Biscoff/Cookei Butter-chocolate coating
Browned Butter Rice Krispies Treats – (no-bake) My favroite recipe ever for RKTs. Rich, buttery, and supremely gooey
Nutter Butter Special K Bars (no-bake) – Crushed Nutter Butters, peanut butter, and a sticky caramely sauce glue these chewy, easy treats together
Peanut Chewy Payday Bars (almost no-bake) – An at-home, fast, easy and tasty recreation of Payday candy bars
Peanut Butter Cocoa Krispies Smores Bars – Three layers and almost no baking. Bring the campsite to your kitchen, no stinky campfire hair required for these s’mores with peanut butter infused
Marshmallow Caramel Oreo Cookie S’Mores Bars – (almost no-bake) A chocolaty and butter crisp Oreo cookie crust base, topped with melted caramels, gooey marshmallows, and chocolate chips
Make sure to enter the Peanut Butter Comfort Cookbook and KitchenAid Hand Blender Giveaway
Yesterday was a special day for me because it was the official release date of my cookbook, Peanut Butter Comfort. Thank you to everyone who wrote, instagrammed, or tweeted to tell me you received your books. I’m so grateful for your support!
Do you have a favorite no-bake recipe?
I know what you mean about how no-bakes feel like cheating. It’s a good thing though, I dread turning on my oven as the temps get warmer! Was surprised but happy to see peanuts in your cookies! ;) These look delicious as always
Wow, what a great roundup Averie! Your s’mores bars look outrageously good, a must-try for sure! Congratulations on the cookbook!
these look great! I got your book yesterday! CONGRATS!
Flavor, crunch and texture are such a great combination! I have a feeling I could gobble down a few of these clusters in no time :)
Yeah I would definitely be all over these cookies! They sound awesome :)
Happy Blogging!
Happy Valley Chow
Hi Eric
I had mentioned to you before about your comments going into spam and how to avoid that – but not putting your URL in the actual comment field. The software recognizes that as spam apparently.
Oh man these sound great! Pb and marshmallows are my favorite flavor combo! Adding white chocolate and the fact that these are no bake is even better!
People can call me a cheater all they want, but I love no bake cookies! Not only are they a cinch to make, but they are essential for southern summers. No way would I even dare turn on the oven during the hottest days. I love these vanilla no bake cookies. I’ve only ever made chocolate versions. Definitely need to try a vanilla/peanut butter combo now that 90+ degree days are upon us in DC. Can’t wait! :)
I see nothing cheating about these no bakes. Oh my. I can imagine how addictive they are to just take one more bite!!!
between your love of truffles/no-bake little balls, white choc, and PB, I think these would be right up your alley! :)
No-bake cookies are the best! These sound great!
What an awesome idea! I love all the peanut flavor mixed with the the mini marshmallows! Sounds like the perfect summer treat to me!
It looks so addictive that I am actually scared to make them. But hey, we have to fight with things we’re afraid of ;)
The first thing I thought of when I saw the flavors of these cookie clusters is your white chocolate butterscotch pb! Gosh, I love that stuff. These are, no doubt, amaaaazing since they are similar in flavor. What a fun little treat to snack on! Would be hard to eat just one….
the white chocolate butterscotch pb…yes! Also in this same flavor family. Love that stuff too!
These little gems look addictive indeed–sweet, salty and kind of like candy! I’d probably be “sampling” them by the spoonful as fast as I could get them on a cookie sheet. I also like these types of recipes for using up the odds and ends–crushed pretzels or nutter butters sound good in them too!
Paula the pics don’t do this recipe justice. Make these! They are a quickie little thing and you will love them, knowing that you enjoy your white choc and pb!
The perfect no-bake cookie treat, Averie! I just adore everything peanut butter and white chocolate (as you probably know by now, LOL!). And, I plan on sharing my favorite snack recipe using both on the blog this fall. As you mentioned, your recipe is ideal during the summer months due to being no-bake. But, what a fabulous Christmas treat and “gift from the kitchen” as well. Imagine them packaged in cellophane bags or jars…with pretty ribbon bows! LOVE. xo
Wow, impressed you’re thinking of the fall. I can hardly think of…Friday :)
I love how these sound, with the peanut butter and Rice Krispies! And of course, it’s made me hungry at 1am! Why do I never learn my lesson? I’ve actually never made a no-bake cookie before, so this’ll be my first! :)
They’re going to be quite the first. I loved these things. The pictures don’t convey how good they are. And it’s better you don’t start them at 1am when willpower tends to be a little less b/c they are super addictive :)
Easy, no-bake, cheating clusters? YES AND YES! What more can I ask for? :)