Cockroach Clusters (Harry Potter-Inspired)

July 23, 2018 By Whip & Wander 46 Comments

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“Reckon Fred’d take a bit of Cockroach Cluster if I told him they were peanuts?“—Ron Weasley, Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban

Do Cockroach Clusters contain real Cockroaches?

In the wizarding world of Harry Potter, Cockroach Clusters are likely made from actual candied clusters of cockroaches otherwise Ron wouldn’t have been tempted to dupe his brother Fred into eating them. In my world, I’ve swapped the bugs for a mix of crunchy pecans, creamy nut butter, chocolate, and naturally sweet dates and honey for a tasty no-bake frozen treat. These Harry Potter-Inspired wizarding confections are perfect for a Harry Potter-themed party, but they’re also legitimately one of my favorite sweet treats to keep in my freezer year-round.

Tips for easy assembly of Cockroach Clusters

I highly recommend making these Cockroach Clusters in a food processor rather than a blender because the width of the bowl will allow you to better see when the mixture has reached the correct consistency. Your mixture should be quite crumbly and sticky; several levels courser than thick nut butter. To shape the Cockroach Clusters, I use a tbsp measuring spoon of mix and squeeze gently to shape into an oblong form slightly larger than the pecan half that goes on top.

Once frozen, I prefer to use a spoon to drizzle chocolate over the top of each Cockroach Cluster rather than fully dip them. Not only does this method save you ample time and considerably limit the mess, but it also saves you from fishing bits of “cockroach” out of the bowl of melted chocolate if anything breaks off during impact with the hot mixture. I also really like the look of the insides peeking out between the chocolate drip on the sides. This method makes them look less like a truffle and more like a whimsical confection you might find in the wizarding world.

WHAT TOOLS DO I NEED TO MAKE THIS RECIPE?

Measuring cups and measuring spoons
A food processor
A baking sheet
Parchment paper or a silicone baking liner
A medium saucepan + a medium or large heat-proof bowl to nest over the top -OR- a double-boiler
A wooden spoon or spatula

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No double-boiler? No problem

I don’t have a double boiler, but melting chocolate without one is super easy. Add 2 inches of water to a medium saucepan and place a heat-proof glass bowl over the top. There should be space between the top of the water and the bottom of the bowl to allow for slow and gentle heating, so choose a bowl that is large enough that it simply hovers above the water without touching it. Heat over low, stirring occasionally and turning the heat down if the water begins to boil (which can scorch your chocolate and result in a grainy texture).

A note for special diets

These Cockroach Clusters are grain-free, gluten-free, refined sugar-free, and friendly for Paleo diets. In addition to the pecans, I also use nut butter in this recipe. Almond butter is a great nut butter option if you’re strict Paleo. If you’re not, peanut butter is my favorite nut butter choice.

LOOKING FOR MORE HARRY POTTER-INSPIRED RECIPES?

You’re in luck! You can find all my Harry Potter-inspired recipes and other magical content linked HERE.