Dark Chocolate Sea Salt Peanut Clusters
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Introduction
One of my favorite movie theater candies is chocolate covered peanuts. It’s a classic — give me a box and I would almost eat the whole thing. So what’s a girl to do without her favorite movie snack? That’s where these come in.
These dark chocolate sea salt peanut clusters combine roasted peanuts with melted sugar-free dark chocolate, a little liquid stevia, and coarse sea salt. They set in mini muffin cups, so the portions stay neat and are easy to remove from the pan.
The recipe uses four ingredients and does not require an oven. Melt, stir, portion, salt, and chill the clusters until firm.
Tools You Need
- Microwave
- Microwave-safe bowl
- Spoon
- Mini muffin pan
- Mini muffin cups
A mini muffin pan helps keep the clusters evenly sized. If you do not have one, the original method also supports spooning the mixture onto a parchment-lined baking sheet.
Key Ingredients
Roasted peanuts provide the crunch. Lily’s dark chocolate chips form the coating, while liquid stevia adds sweetness to taste.
Sprinkle coarse sea salt over the clusters while the chocolate is still soft so the salt adheres.
How to Make Dark Chocolate Peanut Clusters
Line a mini muffin pan with paper cups. Place the chocolate chips in a microwave-safe bowl and heat for up to 2 minutes total, stopping to stir every 30 seconds until smooth.
Stir in the peanuts until they are evenly coated, then mix in the liquid stevia. Spoon the mixture into the prepared cups and immediately sprinkle each cluster with coarse sea salt.
Freeze the pan for 5 to 10 minutes, until the clusters are firm. Keep leftovers in an airtight container in the refrigerator.
Ingredients
All Ingredients
- 1 cup peanuts, roasted
- 4 oz lily's dark chocolate chips
- A pinch of sea salt, coarse, for sprinkling
- 15 drops liquid stevia, or to taste
Nutrition Facts
20 servings per recipe| Per Serving 60 | Per Recipe 1150 | |||
| 4 servings of peanuts (1 cup) @ 166 each | 33.2 | 664 | ||
| 8 ⅒ servings of lily's dark chocolate chips (4 oz) @ 60 each | 24.3 | 485.99 | ||
| 4.5g | 6% | 92g | 119% | |
| 4 servings of peanuts (1 cup) @ 14 g each | 2.8 g | 56 g | ||
| 8 ⅒ servings of lily's dark chocolate chips (4 oz) @ 4.5 g each | 1.82 g | 36.45 g | ||
| 1.5g | 8% | 32g | 161% | |
| 4 servings of peanuts (1 cup) @ 2 g each | 0.4 g | 8 g | ||
| 8 ⅒ servings of lily's dark chocolate chips (4 oz) @ 3 g each | 1.21 g | 24.3 g | ||
| Trans Fat | 0g | 0% | 0g | 0% |
| Cholesterol | 0mg | 0% | 0mg | 0% |
| 25mg | 1% | 460mg | 20% | |
| 4 servings of peanuts (1 cup) @ 116 mg each | 23.2 mg | 464 mg | ||
| 4g | 2% | 89g | 32% | |
| 4 servings of peanuts (1 cup) @ 6 g each | 1.2 g | 24 g | ||
| 8 ⅒ servings of lily's dark chocolate chips (4 oz) @ 8 g each | 3.24 g | 64.8 g | ||
| 2g | 9% | 48g | 173% | |
| 4 servings of peanuts (1 cup) @ 2 g each | 0.4 g | 8 g | ||
| 8 ⅒ servings of lily's dark chocolate chips (4 oz) @ 5 g each | 2.02 g | 40.5 g | ||
| 0g | 4g | |||
| 4 servings of peanuts (1 cup) @ 1 g each | 0.2 g | 4 g | ||
| Sugar Alcohols | 0g | 0% | 0g | 0% |
| 2g | 40g | |||
| 4 servings of peanuts (1 cup) @ 4 g each | 0.8 g | 16 g | ||
| 8 ⅒ servings of lily's dark chocolate chips (4 oz) @ 3 g each | 1.21 g | 24.3 g | ||
| 2g | 4% | 36g | 72% | |
| 4 servings of peanuts (1 cup) @ 7 g each | 1.4 g | 28 g | ||
| 8 ⅒ servings of lily's dark chocolate chips (4 oz) @ 1 g each | 0.4 g | 8.1 g | ||
About these numbers: We are home cooks, not certified nutritionists. Nutrition is shared as a courtesy and calculated with free online nutrition calculators — we compare a few to get as close as we can — so please treat it as a helpful estimate rather than a guarantee. The brands you buy, any swaps you make, and how generously you portion the recipe will all move these numbers.
Directions
-
Prepare the pan
Line a mini muffin pan with mini muffin cups.
-
Melt the chocolate
Place the dark chocolate chips in a microwave-safe bowl. Microwave for up to 2 minutes total, stopping to stir every 30 seconds, until fully melted.
-
Coat the peanuts
Stir the peanuts into the melted chocolate until evenly coated.
-
Add the stevia
Mix in the liquid stevia.
-
Portion the clusters
Spoon the chocolate-peanut mixture into the prepared muffin cups.
-
Add the sea salt
Sprinkle the clusters with coarse sea salt while the chocolate is still soft.
-
Chill until firm
Freeze for 5 to 10 minutes, or until the clusters are firm.
-
Store
Transfer leftover clusters to an airtight container and keep refrigerated.
Notes
Recipe Notes
- Add the coarse sea salt immediately after portioning so it sticks to the melted chocolate.
- A parchment-lined baking sheet can be used instead of a mini muffin pan, though the clusters will be less uniform.
- Keep the finished clusters in an airtight container in the refrigerator.
- Our preference is Lily’s chocolate chips because the macros and ingredients are excellent.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I leave out the liquid stevia?
The liquid stevia is added for sweetness. Leaving it out will make the result depend entirely on the sweetness and bitterness of the chocolate chips you use.
Can I use a different chocolate?
The recipe was written with Lily’s dark chocolate chips. Another product may melt, sweeten, and set differently, so check its label and treat the change as an untested variation.
Can I use other nuts instead of peanuts?
The published formula was made with roasted peanuts. Other nuts will change the flavor, size, and chocolate-to-nut ratio, so substitutions have not been verified as equivalent.
Do I need a mini muffin pan?
No. A mini muffin pan keeps the portions neat and evenly sized, but you can spoon the mixture onto a parchment-lined baking sheet instead.
How should I store dark chocolate peanut clusters?
Keep the clusters in an airtight container in the refrigerator so the chocolate remains firm.
Why is my chocolate burning or clumping?
Microwave the chocolate in short intervals and stir every 30 seconds. Stop heating once the chips are smooth; continued heating can scorch or seize the chocolate.
More Easy Keto Treats
For another simple stovetop snack, try our Keto Candied Pecans.
Have you tried this recipe or any other recipe on the blog? Please rate it below and let us know what you think in the comments! We love hearing from you — and tell us what your favorite movie theater snack is while you’re there.
You can also share it on Instagram using the hashtag #buttertogetherkitchen and we will feature you on our page.
Updated — August 17, 2026: We rewrote the article with complete melting and portioning directions, ingredient guidance, storage notes, and answers to common questions.