White chocolate, cashews, pretzels and soft caramel combine to make the most delicious clustered treat! The holidays just wouldn’t be complete without this See’s copycat polar bear paw dessert!
One of my most favorite things to do with my mom and sisters when we are all together (which isn’t often since I live out of state), is to go shopping at the mall. The first stop we always make is to See’s Candies so we can get our chocolate fix while we try to find that new, perfect outfit.
I always immediately point at the Polar Bear Paws when the attendant asks what I’d like.
Have you had them? If not, you definitely need to!
But if you don’t want to brave the mall and crowds during the busiest season of the year, you can make them at home! It’s SO easy, much cheaper, and they taste JUST like the real deal!
Fill a mini tin bucket with them, wrap it up all pretty with a bow, and gift it to neighbors and friends! I can’t think of anything that would make me happier at the moment, than if my neighbor showed up at my door with a bucket of these beauties. Or, add a few of them to the goodie plates with your other favorite baked yummies.
These are sure to become a Christmas time and winter time tradition!
These are super adaptable, as far as what type of nut you choose to use. I’m in love with cashews and was in the mood, so that’s what I went with, but you could totally sub in peanuts, walnuts, pistachios, pecans or whatever your heart desires.
Heck, I even threw a twisted pretzel in the mix because I love the sweet and salty combo.
Just a quick tip, though, I like to use the caramel bits (you know the little balls) because I feel like they produce a perfectly soft caramel that stays that way. No one wants to break their teeth on a piece of candy! It would be a real shame!
You’re just five minutes and a few ingredients away from a blissful experience of the taste buds!
Here’s how to put them together:
Polar Bear Paw Clusters
Ingredients
- 10 Tbsp. cashews or other nut of choice separated into 1 Tbsp. increments
- 10 Pretzel Twists
- 1 c. caramel bits the little balls
- 1 Tbsp. heavy cream
- 1 c. white chocolate chips
Instructions
- Begin by placing 1 Tbsp. of nuts in individual piles on a piece of parchment paper or a nonstick baking mat on a cookie sheet. Place a pretzel on top of each pile. Melt the caramel bits with the heavy cream in the microwave. Stir until smooth and immediately add a big spoonful over each mound of nuts. Caramel will set up quickly. Place the cookie sheet in the refrigerator for about 10 minutes to let the caramel set up. Melt white chocolate chips (I just did it in the microwave), stir until smooth, then pour a big spoonful over the top of the caramel. Allow to set up in the refrigerator, then remove and store, in a re-sealable bag or container, at room temperature. You'll want the caramel and caramel to cover the nuts and pretzels completely because they are the "glue" that will hold the clusters together.
This is what happiness looks like! I cannot even begin to describe how phenomenal these white chocolate caramel and nut clusters are! It’s embarrassing how quickly we ate them! Now, I’m off to start my diet! 🙂
