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Ragtag Candies

When you're craving a treat that brilliantly balances sweet, salty, crunchy, and chewy textures, these Ragtag Candies are your go-to no‐bake dessert. The magic comes from mixing up pantry staples like chocolate chips, marshmallows, and pretzels with custom mix-ins to suit your taste—plus, no oven is required!
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Prep Time 15 minutes
Cook Time 30 minutes
Total Time 45 minutes
Servings: 4 servings
Course: Dessert
Cuisine: American
Ingredients Equipment Method Notes

Ingredients
  

For the Chocolate Mixture
  • 1 cup semi-sweet chocolate chips
  • 1 cup white chocolate chips
  • ½ cup creamy peanut butter
  • 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
  • Pinch salt
For the Mix-ins
  • 2 cups small marshmallows
  • 1 cup crushed salty pretzels
  • 1 cup mini butter cookies or graham cracker pieces
  • ½ cup chopped peanuts or mixed nuts
  • ½ cup shredded coconut optional

Equipment

  • Medium saucepan
  • Large heat-safe mixing bowl
  • Spatula
  • Baking sheet
  • Parchment paper

Method
 

  1. In a medium saucepan over low heat, combine 1 cup semi-sweet chocolate chips, 1 cup white chocolate chips, and ½ cup creamy peanut butter. Stir continuously until the mixture is fully melted, silky smooth, and free of lumps.
  2. Remove the saucepan from heat and stir in 1 teaspoon vanilla extract and a pinch of salt.
  3. In a large heat-safe mixing bowl, combine 2 cups small marshmallows, 1 cup crushed salty pretzels, 1 cup mini butter cookies (or graham cracker pieces), ½ cup chopped peanuts or mixed nuts, and ½ cup shredded coconut if using.
  4. While the chocolate mixture is still warm, pour it over the mix-ins. Gently fold the mixture with a spatula to evenly coat all the pieces, being careful not to crush the crunchy bits.
  5. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper. Using a tablespoon, drop small clusters of the candy mixture onto the parchment, spacing them slightly apart. The rustic, uneven shape is part of the charm.
  6. Allow the candies to cool completely until set—about 1 hour at room temperature or 20-30 minutes in the refrigerator if you’re in a hurry. Store any leftovers in an airtight container.

Notes

These candies are wonderfully adaptable and forgiving—if you don’t have a specific ingredient, feel free to substitute. For instance, try almond or sunflower seed butter instead of peanut butter, or swap pretzels for potato chips for a different crunch. They’re perfect as a summer treat, require no baking, and can be made ahead of time. Enjoy customizing them to match your pantry and taste preferences.