March 8th is National Peanut Cluster Day! Melted chocolate mixed with peanuts make a perfect combination for a sweet and salty deliciousness!
Two things had to happen for peanut clusters to even exist. First, a process had to be invented for the cocoa bean to be processed and transformed into what we know as chocolate. That process wasn’t widely used until about the late 1890s and just about the same time the second important thing happened; agriculture found a way to grow the peanut and bring it to the public with steal tools and steam power.
It didn’t take long for confectioneries to add the now readily available peanuts to melted chocolate. The sheer simplicity of the salty peanuts added to sweetened chocolate is a mouthwatering temptation few can resist, even today.
HOW TO OBSERVE
Peanut clusters are an easy to make snack that can be ready in just minutes. Melt the chocolate. Add the peanuts and stir them together. Drop them by spoonfuls into a “cluster” on waxed paper or foil and let them harden and then ENJOY!! Remember to share! Use #PeanutClusterDay to post on social media.
From Foodimentary.com:
- ‘Peanut Cluster’ is referred to a type of candy that mixes melted chocolate and peanuts.
- These crunchy treats are a perfect combination of a sweet and salty deliciousness.
- There are several versions of peanut clusters including caramel clusters, butterscotch clusters and chocolate peanut clusters.
- Peanuts have a higher antioxidant capacity over grapes, green tea, tomatoes, spinach, carrots and many more.
- Peanut clusters have been around for many years dating way before 1912 when they were made popular by the Goo Goo Cluster.
Fun Fact:
Astronaut Allen B. Sheppard brought peanuts with him to the moon.
During World War II the the Emporia Wholesale Coffee Company “shipped approximately 50,000 pounds of chocolate peanut clusters weekly for consumption by those on the fighting front.”
