Chocolate Peanut Butter Cornflake Clusters

Chocolate Peanut Butter Cornflake Clusters

These little no-bake treats are exactly the kind of thing that disappears from a church table before anyone thinks to ask for the recipe. They’re crunchy, sweet, peanut buttery, and finished with a layer of creamy chocolate.

Ingredients

• 4 cups cornflakes
• 1 cup creamy peanut butter
• 1 cup granulated sugar
• 1 cup light corn syrup
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
• ¼ teaspoon salt
• 1½ cups milk or semi-sweet chocolate chips
• 1 teaspoon coconut oil or shortening, optional for smoother chocolate

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Instructions

Line two baking sheets or your countertop with parchment or wax paper.

Add the sugar and corn syrup to a medium saucepan. Heat over medium heat, stirring frequently, until the mixture comes to a gentle boil. Let it bubble briefly—about 1 minute—then remove it from the heat. Avoid cooking it too long, or the clusters can become hard once they cool.

Immediately stir in the peanut butter, vanilla, and salt until completely smooth.

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Place the cornflakes in a large mixing bowl. Pour the warm peanut butter mixture over them and gently fold until every piece is coated. Try not to crush the cereal too much—you want plenty of crunch.

Working while the mixture is still warm, drop heaping tablespoonfuls onto the prepared parchment. You should get roughly 24–30 small clusters.

Let them sit for about 20–30 minutes, or until firm.

Meanwhile, melt the chocolate chips in the microwave in 20-second intervals, stirring after each interval. If desired, stir in the coconut oil for a thinner, smoother coating.

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Dip the tops of the clusters into the melted chocolate, or spoon chocolate generously over each one.

Leave them at room temperature until the chocolate sets. For faster results, refrigerate them for about 15 minutes.

The Secret to Getting Them Just Right

The biggest trick is not overboiling the sugar mixture. A short boil gives you clusters that hold together while remaining pleasantly chewy and crunchy. Cooking it too long can turn them surprisingly hard.