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Paleo Cockroach Clusters

July 23, 2018 By Whip & Wander 46 Comments

Cockroach Clusters

“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

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Do Cockroach Clusters contain real Cockroaches?

In the 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.

Cockroach Clusters

Easy peasy, cockroach squeezie

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 a 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.

If you’d like to fully dip these beauties in chocolate you can, but I prefer to simply pour chocolate over the top of each with a spoon instead. Not only does this method save you ample time and considerably limit the mess, 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 just really like the look of the insides peeking out between the chocolate drip on the sides. This method makes them look less like a stuffy truffle and more like a whimsical confection you might find in the wizarding world.

Cockroach Clusters

No double-boiler? No problem

I don’t have a double boiler, but melting chocolate is super easy. Add 2 inches of water to a medium saucepan and place a heat-proof glass bowl over the top. Choose one that is large enough that it does not touch the water, but hovers above. Turning the heat to medium-low, melt the chocolate slowly, stirring occasionally and turning the heat down if the water begins to bubble.

Cockroach Clusters

Cockroach Clusters

Cockroach Clusters

A note for special diets

These Cockroach Clusters are grain-free, gluten-free, refined sugar-free and friendly for Paleo and SIBO diets. These technically fall within macros for a Keto diet as well coming it at 6 net carbs per cluster.

In addition to the pecans, I also use nut butter in this recipe. Almond butter is a great option if you’re strict Paleo; if you’re not, peanut butter is my favorite option.

LOOKING FOR MORE POTTER CONTENT?

I’m celebrating Harry Potter and J.K. Rowling’s birthdays on July 31st by filling the month with all things Potter. Check back regularly this month to see additional Harry Potter recipes and content linked in each of my posts as they arrive.

  • PALEO LEMON ICE POPS

  • POLYJUICE POTION SMOOTHIE

  • NYC MAGIC: HARRY POTTER AND THE CURSED CHILD

  • HAGRID’S PALEO ROCK CAKES

  • BUTTERBEER FROZEN CUSTARD

  • WEASLEYS’ DRAGON ROASTED NUTS

  • GLUTEN-FREE PUMPKIN PASTIES – SWEET AND SAVORY

  • HARRY POTTER’S STICKY CHOCOLATE BIRTHDAY CAKE

Cockroach Clusters

Cockroach Clusters

Cockroach Clusters

Cockroach Clusters

Cockroach Clusters

31 votes

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Paleo Cockroach Clusters

Prep 20 mins

Cook 5 mins

Inactive 1 hour

Total 1 hour, 25 mins

Author Whip & Wander

Yield 30 clusters

Ingredients

  • 1 cup pecans
  • 1 cup nut butter
  • 1/2 cup almond flour
  • 1/4 cup raw honey
  • 4 pitted dates
  • 1/2 tsp vanilla
  • 1/2 tsp cinnamon
  • 1/2 tsp sea salt (I prefer Jacobsen's)
  • 4 oz 100% cacao unsweetened chocolate bar
  • 2 tsp coconut oil
  • 6-8 drops liquid stevia
  • 30 pecan halves, to top

Instructions

  1. Prepare a cookie sheet with a silicone liner or parchment paper.
  2. Add pecans, nut butter, almond flour, raw honey, putted dates, vanilla, cinnamon, and sea salt to a food processor. Pulse until mixture is combined and looks coarse and crumbly. Be careful not to overblend or you will end up with nut butter.
  3. Shape the Cockroach Clusters into 1 tbsp mounds. Squeeze gently to shape into an oblong form, slightly larger than the pecan half you will top them with and place on the lined cookie sheet.
  4. Place in the freezer for 20-30 minutes.
  5. Once frozen, prepare the chocolate. Add 2 inches of water to a medium saucepan and place a heat-proof glass bowl over the top. Choose one that is large enough that it does not touch the water, but hovers above. Turning the heat to medium-low, melt the chocolate, coconut oil, and stevia slowly, stirring occasionally and turning the heat down if the water begins to bubble.
  6. Once the chocolate is melted and glossy, use a spoon to drizzle the tops of each cluster with chocolate to your liking. Press a pecan half gently into the top while the chocolate is still warm.
  7. Place the clusters back in the freezer to allow the chocolate to solidify.
  8. Cockroach clusters should be stored in the freezer. They are lovely frozen or slightly thawed, but should not be kept at room temperature for long periods of time or the chocolate becomes quite messy.

Courses Dessert

Cuisine British

Nutrition Facts

Serving Size 1 cluster

Amount Per Serving

Calories 135

% Daily Value

Total Fat 10 g

15%

Saturated Fat 2 g

10%

Sodium 27 mg

1%

Total Carbohydrates 8 g

3%

Dietary Fiber 2 g

8%

Sugars 5 g

Protein 3 g

6%

* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2,000 calorie diet. Your daily values may be higher or lower depending on your calorie needs.

Filed Under: desserts Tagged With: dessert, gluten-free, grain-free, harry potter, paleo, refined sugar-free, sibo

Previous Post: « Weasleys’ Dragon Roasted Nuts
Next Post: Gluten-Free Pumpkin Pasties – Sweet and Savory »

Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. Marta Rivera

    July 24, 2018 at 10:56 am

    I’ll be the first to admit, I wish this had a different name. When thinking about it, though, I know my kids would love to eat them if they knew it was a nod to HP.

    Reply
  2. Annette Dattilo

    July 24, 2018 at 11:05 am

    The title did freak me out a bot. lol However they actually look tasty. Fun little treat.

    Reply
  3. Sam | Away She Went

    July 24, 2018 at 12:40 pm

    Those sound amazing! I would definitely eat those “cockroaches”! I love all of your recent Harry Potter recipes!

    Reply
  4. Rachel

    July 25, 2018 at 10:22 am

    These sound fantastic! My son is super into harry potter right now so maybe he and i can make these together!

    Reply
  5. Catherine @ To & Fro Fam

    July 25, 2018 at 11:11 am

    This post made me laugh so hard! Even if you’re not a Harry Potter fan, these would be perfect for a Halloween party.

    Reply
  6. Ruthie Ridley

    July 25, 2018 at 11:41 am

    This looks INCREDIBLE! I want to try right now!

    Reply
  7. Alexis

    July 25, 2018 at 11:43 am

    Oh my goodness, you had me at chocolate and nuts. These are definitely going on our treat list for the week and I love that they are healthy for my family. Thank you.

    Reply
  8. Meredith

    July 25, 2018 at 11:57 am

    My boys would love these “cockroach” clusters! We are all about creating snacks inspired by our favorite stories right now. Pinning to try very soon, thanks!

    Reply
  9. Marlynn | UrbanBlissLife

    July 25, 2018 at 11:57 am

    This would be such a fun treat to make for a kids’ HP party! I love it!

    Reply
  10. Waz

    July 25, 2018 at 12:01 pm

    Yay, another Harry Potter themed treat! I completely forgot about this from the Prisoner of Azkaban. Yours look and sound much more delicious than what Ron had in mind. 😉

    Reply
  11. Pam Greer

    July 25, 2018 at 12:45 pm

    I know some Harry Potter fans that would absolutely love these!! These would also be great at Halloween!

    Reply
  12. Ginny McMeans

    July 25, 2018 at 1:51 pm

    Hahaha! These are just great. They sound delicious and look so cute. I’ll be making these little cockroaches asap.

    Reply
  13. Jacque Hastert

    July 25, 2018 at 1:58 pm

    Perfect for any Potter fan. These would also work perfectly for Halloween!

    Reply
  14. Anna

    July 25, 2018 at 5:13 pm

    These are so fun. They seriously look like cockroaches. When I saw the title of your post I thought, no way! Haha…these would be perfect for Halloween and I love that they’re paleo.

    Reply
  15. Lisa Favre

    July 26, 2018 at 7:03 am

    As the ultimate Harry Potter fan, I so appreciate this little treat! Now I wanna re-read all the books!

    Reply
  16. Amber Battishill

    July 26, 2018 at 9:51 am

    These are so cute, fun and I love this series of Potter inspired eats! So much creativity!

    Reply
  17. Pech

    July 26, 2018 at 12:38 pm

    I love the idea of these and could be fun for a couple different themes as an easy snack to offer!

    Reply
  18. jaimee

    July 26, 2018 at 2:39 pm

    how creative! all my favorite things into one little treat. i’m not a harry potter fan but i could definitely see myself making these. thank you for explaining the process so well too! xo.

    Reply
  19. Tabitha Blue

    July 26, 2018 at 2:39 pm

    I like your version without the real cockroaches!!! 🙂 These look divine!

    Reply
  20. Jersey Girl Cooks

    July 26, 2018 at 8:12 pm

    How fun! Any Harry Potter fan would love these!

    Reply
  21. Jillian

    July 26, 2018 at 8:32 pm

    This title grabbed my attention for sure!! What a fun treat for a fun book/movie series!

    Reply
  22. Marie

    July 26, 2018 at 8:43 pm

    This is so creative and they are so cute looking too! I love the flavours too!

    Reply
  23. Natalie

    July 26, 2018 at 11:58 pm

    These look so delicious and a fun activity for an afternoon with the kids!

    Reply
  24. Annie @ Annie's Noms

    July 27, 2018 at 12:26 am

    I love these, such a fun idea to create Harry Potter inspired treats. They look and sound yummy and I know I wouldn’t be able to stop at one!

    Reply
  25. danielle wolter

    July 27, 2018 at 3:58 am

    LOL what a great name! These look so delicious 🙂

    Reply
  26. Mimi

    August 29, 2018 at 10:32 am

    I love that these sounds so yummy but the look super freaky so I think I need to make them for Halloween

    Reply
  27. Paula @ I'm Busy Being Awesome

    August 29, 2018 at 10:34 am

    They look incredible, I love the Harry Potter theme

    Reply
  28. Dawn - Girl Heart Food

    October 22, 2018 at 9:00 am

    These are so fun! And I bet they taste super yummy – love nuts with chocolate so this is right up my alley 🙂

    Reply
  29. Claudia Lamascolo

    October 22, 2018 at 11:08 am

    I bet these are like popcorn and you cant stop eating them they sure look delicious

    Reply
  30. Lauren Vavala | DeliciousLittleBites

    October 22, 2018 at 4:44 pm

    I have this ridiculous fear of what I call “crunchy” bugs….basically any bug with an exoskeleton. I might have to call these something other than cockroaches to be able to eat them lol, but I sure do love the flavors!

    Reply
  31. Noel Lizotte

    October 22, 2018 at 4:56 pm

    A great treat! Perfectly named for the Halloween season, too! I’m sure the kids are lined up waiting for their portion!

    Reply
  32. Karyl Henry

    October 22, 2018 at 6:27 pm

    These are such a fun idea! And you could defininitely use them as a Halloween “trick” on the kids, to see if they believe they’re really cockroaches 🙂

    Reply
  33. Michelle

    October 22, 2018 at 9:24 pm

    I think pecans were a good call as a substitution for cockroaches haha I love the inspiration behind this recipe!

    Reply
  34. Mahy Elamin

    October 23, 2018 at 1:59 am

    Wow, these Cockroach Clusters are so cute! I would love to eat them for breakfast, lunch and dinner! Thank you for sharing this great recipe and I am pinning this recipe for later!

    Reply
  35. Veena Azmanov

    October 23, 2018 at 4:27 am

    OMG, how creepy and yet cute is that. I hat cockroaches but I’d dig into these. My kids would love these. Need to try soon

    Reply
  36. Elaine Benoit

    October 23, 2018 at 5:31 am

    I love your Harry Potter themed food. I love the name! My niece’s kids will get a kick out of these as they are all HP fans! And these look delicious to boot!

    Reply
  37. Gloria

    October 23, 2018 at 11:54 am

    I am a Harry Potter fan. These look like fun. I bet my grandkids would love to help make them too. Perfect for Halloween parties.

    Reply
  38. Marisa Franca

    October 23, 2018 at 12:52 pm

    Those clusters look so good but oh the name!! Couldn’t you call them anything else? I could abide spiders but cockroaches make me shutter. They make the perfect Halloween treat. Spooky and scary.

    Reply
  39. Emily Leary

    October 25, 2018 at 3:46 am

    What fun! My kids are dedicated Harry Potter fans and they would absolutely love these – such a great idea for Halloween 🙂 Awesome!

    Reply
  40. Anna

    October 25, 2018 at 7:19 am

    These look so fun and easy to make! Perfect treat to make with the kids for Halloween! Looking forward to trying this recipe out!

    Reply
  41. Anne Lawton

    October 28, 2018 at 11:15 am

    This is such a cute idea! My daughter is a huge Harry Potter fan, I’m going to make these for her.

    Reply
  42. Tammy

    October 28, 2018 at 1:59 pm

    These are seriously so cute! I have to make them now…they just look so good and they’re paleo so win/win! ;D

    Reply
  43. Amanda Mason

    October 28, 2018 at 5:48 pm

    I’m enjoying all your Harry Potter themed food! These look so fun; something my kids will love to make! Perfect for Halloween!

    Reply
  44. Chef Markus Mueller

    October 28, 2018 at 7:08 pm

    These look like the perfect sweet treat to pack for a school lunch, or even a work lunch! On the other hand I would probably make these and then just eat them all myself! hahaha!

    Reply
  45. Nicolas Hortense

    October 28, 2018 at 8:31 pm

    I love how you mess with peoples heads in this recipe. The recipe is a beautiful, chocolaty, nutty dessert. Yet, you give the idea that your eating cockroaches. Love it!!

    Reply
  46. Nicoletta Sugarlovespices

    October 28, 2018 at 9:38 pm

    So so coll! They really look like cockroaches, but they would be so yummy!

    Reply

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