Today’s Spotlight is on Peanut Clusters.

Peanut clusters come in many forms but in a nutshell, (see what I did there) Peanut Clusters are one or more chocolate covered peanuts. The ideal being one big cluster of bitesize chunks of roasted peanuts, chocolate and some caramel nougat.

 

History

Peanut clusters are one of the oldest confectioneries in America, with industrial production dating back to 1912. The iconic recipe has inspired many spin-offs and is credited for popularizing peanuts in North America.

Here are some other peanut cluster products and their histories:

• Bun Bar = The Bun Bar was introduced in the 1920s by the Wayne Bun Candy Company in Fort Wayne, Indiana. The original Bun candy bar contained a mixture of nougat, caramel, and peanuts, all covered in milk chocolate. The Wayne Bun Candy Company copyrighted the Vanilla Cream Bun in 1947, and the Bun Bar as we know it was officially born. The Bun candy is still widely distributed and popular in the U.S. The Bun Bar has maple, vanilla, and sea salt caramel flavored centers. The brand was bought by Clark Bar, and in 1998, by Pearson, who invented the Nut Cluster.
• GooGoo Cluster – The Goo Goo Cluster was invented in 1912 by Howard Campbell Sr. and Porter Moore at the Standard Candy Company in Nashville, Tennessee. The candy bar was originally made in a copper kettle and sold individually out of glass jars on select drugstore counters. The Goo Goo Cluster was the world’s first combination candy bar. At the time it was created, other candy bars were made exclusively with chocolate, caramel, or taffy. The Goo Goo Cluster contains marshmallow nougat, caramel, and roasted peanuts covered in milk chocolate. The candy was originally named “Goo Goo” because a teacher recommended that Mr. Campbell name his treat “Goo Goo” because it was so good, people would ask for it from birth. It is considered the first combination candy bar, made up of several different types of candy rather than an all-chocolate chocolate bar.
• Goobers – The Blumenthal Chocolate Company introduced Goobers, the first chocolate-covered peanut candy, in 1925. The company was based in North Carolina, where “goober” is a southern nickname for peanuts. The company also marketed the candy as “Goober Peas”. The Blumenthal family sold the company in 1969, and it was renamed the Ward Candy Company. Ward Foods acquired Blumenthal in 1969, and Chicago-based Terson Company acquired Ward Foods in 1981. Nestlé acquired the brand from Terson Company in 1984. Goobers have often been eaten as a movie snack and have been sold in movie packs. The original chocolate covered peanut candies were called Goobers, which were first sold in 1925.
• Peanut M&Ms – One of the more well-known chocolate-covered nuts. Peanut M&Ms were introduced in 1954 by the Mars company. They were the first new type of M&M released.  Peanut M&Ms are made of a single peanut in a chocolate-coated candy shell.  They are shaped differently than regular M&Ms because they have a peanut at the center. Peanut M&Ms were originally only tan in color to represent the color of the roasted peanuts being used in the product. In 1960, they added green, yellow, and red colors. Peanut M&Ms are the second most popular flavor of M&M’s. The spokes candy for this flavor of M&M’s is Yellow.

Technically a Snickers Bar should be on this list with a host of other peanut candy bar favorites. Let us know in the comments what candy bars you think would qualify.

Here are some facts about peanut clusters:

• A peanut cluster contains 73 calories, 7g total carbs, 6.3g net carbs, 4.7g fat, and 1.8g protein.
• The Goo Goo Cluster is a disk-shaped candy bar that contains marshmallow nougat, caramel, and roasted peanuts covered in milk chocolate.
• Astronaut Allen B. Sheppard brought peanuts with him to the moon.
• Some peanut clusters are made with roasted Spanish peanuts blended with chocolate.
• Other peanut clusters are made with jumbo roasted peanuts combined with rich melted milk chocolate.

 

Here is a Peanut Cluster Recipe for you to try:

Ingredients:

• 2 pounds white candy coating coarsely chopped.
• 1 package (12 ounces) semisweet chocolate chips
• 1 package (11-1/2 ounces) milk chocolate chips
• 5 cups salted dry roasted peanuts.

Instructions:

1. In a heavy saucepan over low heat, cook and stir candy coating and chips until melted and smooth. Cool for 10 minutes; stir in peanuts.
2. Drop rounded tablespoonfuls onto waxed paper-lined baking sheets. Refrigerate until firm, about 45 minutes.

 

Celebrating Peanut Clusters

National Peanut Cluster Day is celebrated on March 8. Peanut clusters are a combination of chocolate and peanuts, which creates a sweet and salty treat.

Here are some ways to celebrate National Peanut Cluster Day:

• Indulge in peanut clusters.
• Enjoy the combination of sweet and salty.

 

You can also celebrate National Peanut Day on September 13.

Here are some ways to celebrate National Peanut Day:

• Make your own peanut butter.
• Bake with peanuts.
• Go out for peanuts.
• Create a trail mix.
• Read the “Peanuts” comic strip.