Hamdi Saidani This Sunny’s Easy Kitchen Sink Clusters recipe is a salty-sweet and chewy treat, which is made with peanut butter and pretzels. It’s the perfect no-bake treat, ready in about 1 hour and 20 minutes.
Sunny’s Easy Kitchen Sink Clusters Ingredients
- 1/2 cup peanut butter
- 2 tablespoons powdered sugar
- 1/8 to 1/4 teaspoon liquid smoke
- Kosher salt
- 24 small pretzels
- 12 individual caramels, preferably Kraft, unwrapped
- 1 cup chopped milk chocolate or milk chocolate chips
How To Make Sunny’s Easy Kitchen Sink Clusters
- Prepare the peanut butter filling: Preheat the oven to 350°F. Line a 12-cup muffin pan with paper liners. In a small bowl, mix together the peanut butter, powdered sugar, liquid smoke, and a pinch of salt. Transfer this mixture to a zip-top bag and snip off one of the bottom corners.
- Assemble the clusters: Place 2 pretzels in the bottom of each muffin cup. Pipe a heaping teaspoon of the peanut butter mixture onto the pretzels in each cup.
- Bake and top with chocolate: Top each with a single caramel and press it down into the peanut butter. Bake for 8 to 10 minutes, until the caramel is just melted. Meanwhile, gently melt the milk chocolate in a double boiler or in the microwave.
- Chill and serve: Remove the clusters from the oven and immediately top each one with about a teaspoon of melted chocolate and another small pinch of salt. Place the pan in the refrigerator for about 1 hour, or until the chocolate is completely set.
Recipe Tips
- What is liquid smoke? Liquid smoke is a natural product made from condensing the smoke from burning wood. It adds a wonderful, savory, smoky flavor that gives these clusters a unique “kitchen sink” taste, reminiscent of bacon.
- Can I use a different kind of chocolate? Yes. Semi-sweet or dark chocolate would also be delicious and would provide a nice contrast to the sweet caramel and salty pretzels.
- How to prevent sticking? Using paper liners in the muffin tin is the most important step. This will ensure your clusters pop out easily once they are set.
- Can I make these without a muffin pan? Yes. You can create the clusters on a parchment-lined baking sheet. They may spread a little more, but they will still be delicious.
What To Serve With Kitchen Sink Clusters
These sweet and salty bites are a perfect standalone treat.
- A tall glass of cold milk
- A cup of hot coffee or hot chocolate
- As part of a holiday cookie or candy platter
How To Store Kitchen Sink Clusters
- Refrigerate: Store the clusters in an airtight container in the refrigerator. It is best to place parchment paper between the layers to prevent sticking. They will keep for up to one week.
Kitchen Sink Clusters Nutrition Facts
- Serving Size: 1 cluster
- Calories: 180 kcal
- Fat: 10g
- Carbohydrates: 20g
- Protein: 4g
Nutrition information is estimated and may vary based on ingredients and cooking methods used.
FAQs
Do I have to use a piping bag for the peanut butter?
No. The recipe’s suggestion to use a zip-top bag with the corner snipped off is a perfect and easy substitute for a piping bag. You can also just use two small spoons to dollop the mixture.
Can I use different pretzels?
Yes. You can use pretzel snaps or even coarsely crushed pretzel pieces for the base of the clusters.
Why did my caramel get too hard?
This can happen if the clusters are baked for too long. You only need to bake them until the caramel is soft and just melted, not until it starts to bubble vigorously.
Try More Recipes:
- Easy to Gobble Cobbler Recipe
- All-Butter Easy Pie Dough Recipe
- Easy No-Bake Cheesecake Parfaits Recipe
Sunny’s Easy Kitchen Sink Clusters Recipe
Description
A fun and easy candy cluster with a perfect mix of salty, sweet, smoky, and chewy, featuring pretzels, peanut butter, caramel, and chocolate.
Ingredients
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350°F. Line a 12-cup muffin tin with paper liners.
- Mix the peanut butter, powdered sugar, liquid smoke, and a pinch of salt.
- Place 2 pretzels in the bottom of each muffin cup. Top with a teaspoon of the peanut butter mixture, then a single caramel.
- Bake for 8-10 minutes until the caramel is melted.
- Melt the chocolate chips.
- Top each warm cluster with a teaspoon of melted chocolate and another pinch of salt.
- Refrigerate for about 1 hour until set.
Notes
- The liquid smoke is a key ingredient for the unique “kitchen sink” flavor profile.
- Don’t overbake the clusters, or the caramel will become hard once it cools.
- These are a perfect make-ahead treat for parties or as a homemade gift.
- For easy cleanup, don’t skip the paper liners in the muffin tin.
