Peanut Clusters

Peanut Clusters is a traditional British recipe for a classic biscuit (cookie) made from a chocolate, butter, sugar, egg and flour batter with chopped peanuts that's dropped onto rice paper and lightly oven baked to set. These make an excellent Christmas gift. The full recipe is presented here and I hope you enjoy this classic British version of: Peanut Clusters.

prep time

20 minutes

cook time

20 minutes

Total Time:

40 minutes

Makes:

Rating:

Tags : Baking Recipes British Recipes

These crunchy nut and chocolate biscuits are made the length and breadth of Britain. A range of nuts can be used, but walnuts, peanuts and hazelnuts from the classic clusters.

Ingredients:

40g plain chocolate
50g butter
100g caster sugar
1 egg, beaten
1 1/2 tsp vanilla extract
50g plain flour
1/2 tsp salt
1 1/4 tsp baking powder
175g chopped peanuts
icing sugar, for coating

Method:

Grease three baking sheets and line with rice paper then set aside until needed. Meanwhile roughly chop the chocolate and put in a bain-marie (a bowl set over simmering water). Allow to cool slightly. Meanwhile, cream together the sugar and butter then add the chocolate and mix to combine thoroughly. Add the egg and vanilla and beat until smooth.

Sift the flour, salt and baking powder directly into the butter and chocolate mix and fold into the butter mixture. Add the nuts and combine until thoroughly mixed.

Drop heaped tablespoons of the batter, spaced well apart, onto the prepared baking sheets. Place in an oven pre-heated to 180°C (350°F/Gas Mark 4) and bake for 10 minutes before transferring to a wire rack to cool. Dredge the clusters in icing sugar and store in an air-tight tin. These make great Christmas presents.