These cranberry pistachio chocolate clusters are a delicious and healthy no bake dessert! They’re easy to make and a total crowd pleaser.
We like to think of chocolate as a natural food, which I think qualifies these cranberry pistachio chocolate clusters as a “whole foods” holiday treat? Compared to the peppermint ice cream sandwiches, the preparation is a dream: quick and simple. Melt the chocolate, add cranberries and pistachios, and cool in refrigerator. Easy as that, and the result is so so delicious, especially with a quality dark chocolate. With the contrasting red and green of the pistachios, they’re fun and festive without the need for colored sugar or icing. And, dare I say, healthy?
How to make pistachio chocolate clusters
Some people just ooze baking and cookies practically fall off of them as they walk…insanely talented friends Annie, Sarah, Ashlae, and Kathryn come to mind. For those of you who don’t consider yourself a natural-born baker (both Alex and I included), these are perfect holiday treats to whip up. They’re also a great gluten-free option if you’re looking for something for the holiday table.
All you do for these pistachio chocolate clusters is literally: melt chocolate, pour it into circles, and add toppings. Since we originally made these chocolate clusters for Christmas, we added naturally green and red toppings: pistachios and dried cranberries. However, of course you can add any toppings that you like! Almonds, walnuts, pecans, dried cherries, sea salt, edible glitter: whatever you think would look and taste good! Many chocolate clusters recipes have the “toppings” inside the clusters: but for our cranberry pistachio chocolate clusters we placed them on top for visual appeal.
Looking for cookie recipes?
Aside from these cranberry pistachio chocolate clusters recipe, here are a few of our favorite cookie recipes:
- Bliss Bites (Chocolate Peanut Butter No Bake Cookies)
- Chocolate Tahini Vegan No Bake Cookies
- Soft Gingerbread Cookies
- Peppermint Meringues
- Chai Spiced Snowball Cookies
- Ginger Cookie Ice Cream Sandwiches
- The Best Soft Ginger Molasses Cookies
- Shortbread Cookies with Chocolate Drizzle
- Cherry Quinoa Chocolate Bark
- Narwhal Gingerbread Cutout Cookies
- Healthy Peanut Butter Buckeye Balls
- Gingersnap Sandwich Cookies
- Easy Peppermint Bark
This recipe is…
This pistachio chocolate clusters recipe is vegetarian, gluten free, and vegan, plant-based and dairy-free using vegan chocolate.
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Cranberry Pistachio Chocolate Clusters
(5 votes, average: 4.40 out of 5)
- Prep Time: 45 minutes
- Total Time: 45 minutes
- Yield: 32 1x
Description
These cranberry pistachio chocolate clusters are a delicious and healthy no bake dessert! They’re easy to make and a total crowd pleaser.
Ingredients
- 12 ounces (2 cups) high-quality dark chocolate chips, vegan if necessary
- 2/3 cup salted pistachios (or substitute roasted salted pepitas)
- 2/3 cup dried cranberries
Instructions
- Line two baking sheets with wax paper.
- Fill a large skillet halfway with water and bring to a simmer. Place 2 cups chocolate chips in a heat-safe bowl (metal or glass). Once the water is simmering, turn off the heat and place the bowl of chocolate in the water, then stir until melted.
- Drop a small mound of chocolate onto wax paper, then top each mound with 4 to 5 cranberries and 4 to 5 pistachios.
- Cool in the refrigerator until hardened (30 minutes to 1 hour).
- Category: Dessert
- Method: Stovetop
- Cuisine: American
Keywords: Chocolate Clusters, Pistachio Chocolate, Cranberries, No Bake, Easy Dessert, No Bake Cookies, No Bake Dessert, Vegetarian, Vegan, Gluten Free
About the Authors
Sonja Overhiser
Cookbook Author and writer
Sonja Overhiser is author of Pretty Simple Cooking, named one of the best healthy cookbooks of 2018. She’s host of the food podcast Small Bites and founder of the food blog A Couple Cooks. Featured from the TODAY Show to Bon Appetit, Sonja seeks to inspire adventurous eating to make the world a better place one bite at a time.
Alex Overhiser
Cookbook Author and photographer
Alex Overhiser is an acclaimed food photographer and author based in Indianapolis. He’s host of the food podcast Small Bites and founder of the recipe website A Couple Cooks. Featured from the TODAY Show to Bon Appetit, Alex is author of Pretty Simple Cooking, named one of the best vegetarian cookbooks by Epicurious.
30 Comments
Shanna
December 3, 2013 at 10:31 pmI like the hand sneaking in in the bottom pic. : ) These look great, guys!
Sonja
December 5, 2013 at 9:18 pmHaha, yeah, I just couldn’t wait! Thanks :)
Jess
December 4, 2013 at 4:55 amLove the simplicity and festive look of these desserts. You’re so right – it’s so easy to get caught up in the hustle this time of year, but just taking a step back to enjoy the moment is so key. Happy holidays and here’s hoping for little stress and a little extra chocolate. ;)
Sonja
December 5, 2013 at 9:23 pmCheers to that! Thanks, Jess!
Katrina @ Warm Vanilla Sugar
December 4, 2013 at 7:18 amLove the simplicity to these – they’re super pretty too!
[email protected]
December 4, 2013 at 8:50 amI can’t even imagine how many of these I could gobble up!
amy
December 4, 2013 at 10:29 amYes, I think you have just provided me with the answer to “what should I make for the neighbors this year?” Simple and festive – thanks!
Sonja
December 5, 2013 at 9:25 pmGreat idea! This would definitely be a good one for a gift for friends or neighbors. Good luck!
Deanna Brzeg
December 4, 2013 at 10:46 amThis is a must to make!
Skye
December 4, 2013 at 10:53 amFor some reason pistachios just say Christmas to me. I don’t know if it’s a simple as because they’re green or if there’s just something so very decadent and festive about them. Love the idea of mixing them with chocolate and cranberries. Triple Christmas.
Susan
December 4, 2013 at 11:10 amJust this year, I realized that I LOVE pistachios and I’ve long been a dark chocolate fan – I WILL be making these soon!
Nicole
December 4, 2013 at 11:40 amThis is my kind of dessert!
Linda Wagner @ Linda Wagner Nutrition
December 4, 2013 at 11:50 amThese are PERFECT!! Thank you for sharing!!
Lisa in Indy
December 4, 2013 at 1:54 pmThanks for the great idea. So easy. I think I would drop the melted chocolate by teaspoonful into tiny muffin-like paper cups first and then add the pistachios and dried cranberries. That way, you have the same size pieces and you don’t have to handle them to pry them off the parchment. Plus, people eating them don’t get chocolately fingers. (no, I’m not being compulsive like Martha!)
Sonja
December 5, 2013 at 9:28 pmGood idea! Muffin cups would add a fun element. Thanks for mentioning!
Kathryn
December 4, 2013 at 3:50 pmHa, you are too kind! I wish cookies really did fall off me as I walked – I’m pretty sure I’d be the most popular person in the office!
I love the simplicity of these – it’s such a classic and perfect combination of flavours with such a great balance of sweet/salty/tart. Love them.
Sonja
December 5, 2013 at 9:29 pmHaha, wouldn’t that be nice? At least in my head that’s what happens when you walk :) Thanks for being an inspiration!
Grace
December 5, 2013 at 12:26 amYUM! I’m going to make these this weekend. Love the light in the last picture.
Linda Wagner @ Linda Wagner Nutrition
December 5, 2013 at 5:29 pmI agree, great shot, sharing these with my clients and on my blog tomorrow!
Sonja
December 5, 2013 at 9:30 pmWonderful – thanks, Linda!
Sonja
December 5, 2013 at 9:29 pmThanks, Grace! Let us know how they turn out!
Alexe @ Keys to the Cucina
December 5, 2013 at 4:02 pmThese look scrumptious. I love the salty combination of the pistachios with the chocolate!
sarah
December 5, 2013 at 9:23 pmThanks, friends! And these look delicious. I’ll have to add them to my Christmas baking list. ;)
Sonja
December 5, 2013 at 9:31 pmYou’re so welcome – thanks for inspiring us!
Paula
December 6, 2013 at 11:00 pmI love the idea of these, but I have a cashew allergy (with pistachios being in that “family”). I was thinking about using pepitas in their place as they are also have a green hue. What are your thoughts on the flavor combination? Just looking for thoughts before I make a huge batch! Thank you!
Sonja
December 7, 2013 at 4:59 pmPaula, I think pepitas is a great idea! The flavor combination would be perfect (I think), especially if they are salted since it would bring in the salt. I will actually list this as a substitution in the recipe!
Olivia Lane
December 9, 2013 at 11:38 pmfound you via Fair Trade Certified’s post on FB. Those clusters look incredible! i gotta get my guy to make me some. I’d like cardamon in mine too.
Rachel (teacher-chef)
December 10, 2013 at 7:38 pmThese are absolutely delicious, I just whipped up a few for a gathering this weekend. I also mixed in some of the nuts and cranberries into the melted chocolate. The flavor combination is not expected, but so perfect!
Meghan
December 13, 2013 at 10:41 amI just made these for a French class Christmas party, and they turned out great!! They weren’t difficult to make, and you can’t get much better than just three ingredients. Thank you so much for the great recipe! :)
Michelle
December 13, 2013 at 7:24 pmYumm! I’ll be making these to bring to book club this week. Do you get your fair trade chocolate online? Amazon? I’m always wondering where to find more information about where to buy fair trade locally.