Chubby Hubby Clusters are homemade candy made with just 4 ingredients! Chocolate, peanut butter and pretzels combine for the perfect sweet and salty treat.
If you like candy with pretzels, try this Peppermint Pretzel Candy recipe next! You’ll love our Cookie Dough Pretzel Bites too.
What is Chubby Hubby Candy
Chubby Hubby Candy are clusters of pretzels, peanut butter and malted milk balls dipped in melted chocolate. It’s inspired by the popular Ben & Jerry’s ice cream flavor of the same name—and just as addictively delicious!
These easy chocolate clusters might just be the perfect homemade candy for fans of sweet and salty snacks.
You have the super sweet milk chocolate, the salted pretzel flavor and that “something special” from the malted milk balls.
I love making these Chubby Hubby Clusters as a gift or a little treat to share with the family.
- Only 4 ingredients.
- Ready in 30 minutes.
- No special equipment needed.
If you love these, try our homemade kitkat recipe next! Or give our copycat Reese’s peanut butter cups a whirl soon.
Ingredient Notes
Here’s everything you need to make Chubby Hubby clusters candy.
- Mini pretzel twists – I use salted twists for the sweet-salty flavor. Unsalted twists will also work if you want your clusters less salty.
- Creamy peanut butter – Using regular peanut butter like JIF or Skippy brands will make for sweeter chubby hubby. For less sweetness, you can use natural unsweetened peanut butter.
- Malted Milk Balls – Whoppers or a similar style of chocolate malt ball candies are best. The malt adds a hint of nutty grain flavor that sets these apart.
- Milk chocolate – I use milk chocolate chips. Semi-sweet chocolate chips would also be a good choice if you prefer a darker cocoa flavor.
Tips and Tricks
- Melt the chocolate chips and peanut butter. Heat them in the microwave, stirring every 30 seconds until smooth and combined.
- Work quickly. After folding in the malt balls and pretzels, you’ll need to quickly scoop the mixture into clusters, before the chocolate sets.
- Use mini cupcake liners. They help keep the chubby hubby clusters from sticking to a pan AND make them easy to eat.
- Let set before eating. The chocolate needs a few minutes to harden so it doesn’t get all over your hands and face when you take a bite!
Recipe FAQs
No, malted milk powder should not be substituted in this chubby hubby clusters recipe. The crunch of the malted milk balls is important for giving the clusters their structure.
These chubby hubby clusters should be stored covered or tightly wrapped at room temperature. They don’t usually need to be chilled, but if you notice the chocolate is softening too much, you can transfer them to the refrigerator.
If you don’t have a microwave, you can melt the chocolate chips and peanut butter in a double boiler on the stove.
Place a heat-safe bowl over a sauce pan filled with water. Add chocolate chips and peanut butter to the bowl. Bring the water to a low simmer, stirring the chocolate regularly until melted and smooth.
Yes, you can swap out the milk chocolate chips for any flavor you like!
More Easy Candy Recipes
- Rocky Road Clusters: easy treats for any time of year!
- Caramel Nut Clusters: the perfect sweet and salty dessert idea!
- Peanut Butter Fudge
- Crock Pot Candy
- Cream Cheese Mints
- Graham Cracker Toffee
Homemade Candy Recipes
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Chubby Hubby Candy
Ingredients
- 1 package 12 ounce Milk Chocolate Chips
- ¾ cup Creamy Peanut Butter
- 5 ounces Malted Milk Balls Crushed
- 1 ½ cups Small Pretzel Twists
Instructions
- Line 2 large baking sheets with parchment paper. Set aside.
- In a microwave safe bowl, melt milk chocolate with peanut butter for one minute. Stir and heat an additional 15-30 seconds if needed. Stir until smooth.
- Fold in crushed malted milk balls and pretzel twists. Once all the ingredients are evenly coated, work quickly using a 2 small spoons to drop about two pretzels onto the parchment paper lined pans. Repeat until all clusters are made.
- Allow chocolate to set or refrigerate for speed setting (about 15 minutes). Store in airtight container in refrigerator or at room temperature (if it’s not too hot in your house). ENJOY.
Notes
- Swap out milk chocolate chips for semi-sweet if preferred.
- Melt the chocolate chips and peanut butter. Heat them in the microwave, stirring every 30 seconds until smooth and combined.
- Work quickly. After folding in the malt balls and pretzels, you'll need to quickly scoop the mixture into clusters, before the chocolate sets.
- Use mini cupcake liners. They help keep the chubby hubby clusters from sticking to a pan AND make them easy to eat.
- Let set before eating. The chocolate needs a few minutes to harden so it doesn't get all over your hands and face when you take a bite!
Nutrition
Chubby Hubby Clusters are the perfect homemade candy for any time of year!
Hi…..Instead of crushed malted milk balls, could you use malted milk powder? If so what amount would you use? Thanks in advance for you help.
I wouldn’t for this recipe, because the malted milk balls are still slightly “chunky”. You want that candy flavor…not just the malted milk powder flavor. Hope that helps!
Why oh why did I look at this while hungry?! These look amazing!
Those would last 9.4358674 seconds in my house! YUM!
These would be devoured in no time at our house! Love this combo!
Your Chubby Hubby Bars are the number 1 favorite here at work. I just told a co-worker you had posted these clusters and it seems I’ll be making them tonight 🙂
That’s such a delicious recipe, I can see why your coworkers love it 🙂 Plus it makes a whole bunch!
I made these clusters last night, brought them to work and they are GONE!! Another winner. Thank you!
Whooohooo!!!
I hate malted milk balls, can I use something else instead?
my hubby would love these to snack on! and I have not thought of that ice cream in SO long, but it used to be our favorite falvor
Oh my goodness, these look delicious! I think I would enjoy them way too much!