Nana's Peanut-Butterscotch Clusters

This is another one of Nana's recipes. She made them EVERY Christmas. I bet she made 10 batches at a time- there always seemed to be peanut butter clusters to go around for everyone at her Christmas party every year. Everybody loves these- they are a little sweet from the butterscotch, a little savory from the peanut butter and a whole 'lotta crunchy from the corn flakes and peanuts :)

These are also great because they freeze very well. You can make them ahead of time and store them in ziplock bags in the freezer so that you have more time for last minute preparations as your event gets closer. Nana always made these little guys ahead of time- she was such an organized hostess.

They couldn't be easier: 4 ingredients, 4 steps, and no oven required:

Recipe (makes about 21 cookie clusters):

• 2 packages Butterscotch Chips
• 1 cup Peanut Butter (smooth or crunchy; either is fine, but I would suggest crunchy especially if you are not going to add the optional peanuts)
• 5 cups or so of Corn Flakes Cereal (4 cups or so, if you are going to add the optional peanuts)
• *OPTIONAL: 1 cup Peanuts (Nana ALWAYS added peanuts)

Before you start anything else, prepare 2 baking sheets by covering with wax paper, and make room for them in your fridge (or at least room to refrigerate one at a time). The stacking cookie cooling racks maximize space in the fridge and allow you to chill 2 racks (or even more) at a time without having to clear out a ton of shelves :)

1. In a medium-large microwave safe bowl, dump 2 bags Butterscotch Chips, and 1 cup crunchy Peanut Butter. Microwave about 45 seconds- then stir, another 45 seconds- stir again, another 30 seconds if needed, until well melted together: 
2. Dump in 5 cups Corn Flakes and 1 cup peanuts, if using. Gently fold/stir together until all is well coated and combined. (gently as to not break down the corn flakes too much).
3. Using a spoon, or your two hands :) make little mounds of these on the cookie sheets. 
4. Refrigerate about 10 minutes.

(My refrigerator is going to thank me when I put this 4 tiered tower of Peanut-Butterscotch Clusters into its tummy!)

*Don't forget, THESE FREEZE WELL, so they are good ones to make ahead for parties and holidays before you get too busy with last minute prep and shopping :)