Here in Northern Indiana Chocolate Charlie Candy is a big deal and has been for as long as I can remember. They only make this candy during the holiday season and in our area. It has chocolate, peanuts, marshmallow and shredded coconut……YUM! I searched for copy cat recipes for this and was surprised that there were no recipes that even came close. I did my best guess and it turned out great! My husband said it was just like Chocolate Charlie, but better since it was fresh.
I would recommend using the food processor on the coconut, in the real candy it is very fine coconut.
I hope you enjoy this as much as my family and I did.
Chocolate Charlie Candy Recipe
Prep time
Cook time
Total time
Recipe type: Holly
Cuisine: dessert
Serves: 40
Ingredients
- 1 pack of white almond bark 20 oz.
- 1 bag of semi-sweet chocolate chips 12 oz (Ghirardelli preferred)
- 1 cup of bittersweet chocolate chips (Ghirardelli preferred)
- 1 cup of shredded coconut
- 1½ cup roasted peanuts
- 2 cups of large marshmallows
- 2 cups of mini marshmallows
Instructions
- put the almond bark and both kinds of chocolate chips in a crockpot on LOW for 45 mins.
- when 45 mins. is up stir until combined
- while chocolate is melting put the shredded coconut in a food processor for about 1 min.
- line 2 pie pans with parchment paper on the bottom
- turn off crockpot and add peanuts and coconut, stir until combined
- add marshmallows, stir quickly and put even amounts in the two pie pans
- tap pans on counter top to get out air bubbles
- refrigerate for 1 hour or until set
- it's best at room temperature and does not need to be refrigerated, store in sealed container
Mmmmmmm! This is my kinda candy! I love everything you’ve put in it!! :)
Thanks Annie, I love it all too! My daughter doesn’t like peanuts, so I usually make her a little bit without them.
Whenever I travel through Indiana I stop at the Southbend chocolate company to pick up some of their sweet treats. This dessert would be a valuable addition to their collection and mine.
Thanks Shelby!
I always bought it at South Bend Chocolate when I was home for the holidays. I wonder if they stopped carrying it…?
Hi. I’m not sure if they still carry it or not. I have not been there it awhile. Just about every grocery store in town does sell it though.
We always bought ours at Martin’s
I did repair for Claies candy…there is no coconut in the recipe
The fine stuff at the end is the skin off the peanuts
Hi Tom. I think they might have changed their recipe. I was shocked when you said that, so I picked up a box at the store today and check the ingredients, the second to last ingredient is coconut, so I don’t know? Hope you have a Merry Christmas!
I made this last year and it was a huge hit!!! Thank you so much! I have given the recipe out numerous times and have been told this is better than the original! (because it is so fresh) Had to come back to this site to print off the recipe again!!! Happy Holidays!
Thanks Michelle! So glad you like it. Merry Christmas!
Michelle that was so nice of you to share this recipe. Two my kids have peanut allergies and they are so sad not to be able to try it.
My daughter is 15 and she loves to bake. I can’t wait to show her. Now we can make it together with almonds instead.
Hi, so glad they will be able to try it. Almonds sound really good, maybe I will have to try that too. Merry Christmas.
My only comment is that using the crockpot is awkward and heavy…otherwise, great recipe!
Thanks! Technically you could use the microwave or double boiler, but this way you don’t have to worry about the chocolate getting over cooked and seizing up.
I came across your recipe this year and thought I would try it out and it is fabulous!! I grew up in South Bend so Chocolate Charlie was a staple treat to have at Christmas time. I’ve been able to buy it when i go home for Christmas or my parents have mailed it to me the years that I wasn’t up there. Thank you so much for sharing this recipe!
Tried your recipe. Can’t wait for my kids to taste it. My husband says it tastes just like it. The only thing I changed and it did make it more like what you buy–instead of stirring the marshmallows into the chocolate, I poured the marshmallows onto a cookie sheet and poured the chocolate over them. That is exactly how I remember it. (just a fine point :-) ) I am so glad to find this recipe. I asked Martins to order some but they said they don’t ship food. It is available from Vermont Country Store but I can’t imagine it is nearly as fresh as making your own! And it is so easy to do. The 45 minutes in the crockpot gave wonderful results! We loved the South Bend area and all the wonderful people. This makes a great holiday season for us. Thanks, again.
Hi MaryAnn, I’m so glad you guys like it! It’s one of my favorites and I like the homemade so much better than store bought now. I’ll have to try pouring the chocolate on top, probably much easier. Happy Thanksgiving!
Holly, my kids and grandkids loved it! It is so much fresher being homemade. It takes us right back “home to Indiana.” Oh, and be fore-warned when you go to make this for the first time, it makes a lot of candy!
We haven’t tried this yet, but I’d like to question the one minute in the food processor. I’m afraid the coconut would be liquid in our processor. I just wanted to verify the time in there, Many thanks, and happy Thanksgiving!
Hi Jim, I usually do about a minute on the coconut, but feel free to do less or not do it at all. The blade on my food processor is about 14 years old, maybe that is my problem :) Happy Thanksgiving!
So YUMMY I also made my own marshmallo!!! After reading the comments I did both with the marshmallows 1/2 mixed in the chocolate 1/2 tossed in the pans. Our Christmas is this Saturday can’t wait to have everyone try it!!! Merry Christmas
Hi Debi, I’m so glad you like it! I was thinking about making my own marshmallows this year too, we will see if I have time this weekend. Merry Christmas!
Oh, I’m definitely going to give this a try! I moved from Elkhart (where you can usually find Chocolate Charlie fairly easily during the holidays) to Valparaiso, where it’s like pulling teeth to find it! I haven’t been able to find any the last two years, so I’m looking forward to making this. If all goes well, I’ll definitely start making it every year!
Hi Crystal, I hope you guys love it! My family likes this better than the real stuff!
OOh, I have to try this – I’m from South Bend so I LOVED Chocolate Charlie growing up! I don’t remember there being coconut, though admittedly it’s been a few years, but I see you also used dark chocolate (& I freaking LOVE coconut/chocolate) so yours is the recipe I’m going to try! Most other recipes use milk chocolate, but that’s a little too sweet for me – I’ve always preferred dark to milk! Thanks for sharing & cheers from Oregon!
Hi Lyndsey, We hope you like the recipe. The ingredient list on the box has coconut in it but I think it is so finely chopped you can’t see it in their candy. Let us know how it turns out if you make it. Thanks for taking the time to comment, we appreciate it!
We recently moved from northern Indiana to New Jersey. Because of the pandemic we we’re not able to go back for Christmas this year. I checked into having Chocolate Charlie shipped to us but that was too expensive. I found your recipe and it turned out perfect! I have introduced it to the Jersey shore and they love it too. I do have one question; why do you use 2 pie pans? I found that awkward. Is there an advantage over say a 13×9 that I’m not seeing? I’m making it for Easter this year! Thank you!
I’m so glad you like it! I always give it as gifts, so that’s why I use the two pans. But you can use any pan or pans that you like :) Happy Easter!