Tumbleweed Dessert

These surprisingly easy tumbleweed dessert clusters are guaranteed to delight anyone who craves sweet-and-salty treats, since they’re packed with peanuts, peanut butter, butterscotch chips and those yummy potato sticks you probably remember from childhood. You know, the ones that come in cans, that you can pop into your mouth a handful at a time? Those addictive little crunchies are what give these tumbleweed candies their twiggy texture. Not to mention, they’re so, so yummy.

If you’re not the biggest fan of chocolate but do love sweets, these will be right up your alley, since they don’t contain any chocolate (though you’re free to add some!). Plus, the four-ingredient, no-bake recipe takes just 25 minutes to make, start to finish, which means this is a good one for school lunchboxes, kids’ parties, Easter baskets and more.

Ingredients for Tumbleweed Dessert

• Butterscotch chips: Toffee-colored chips give these candy clusters a buttery, caramel flavor that’s so good with the salty peanuts and potato sticks.
• Peanut butter: Creamy peanut butter is the main binder here, holding these crunchy candies together, although you could opt for chunky peanut butter if that’s all you have on hand.
• Dry-roasted peanuts: We doubled up on the peanut flavor with peanut butter and peanuts, for double the goodness in every bite.
• Potato sticks: These crispy sticks are what give Texas tumbleweed candies their texture and shape—and their chip-like taste.

Directions

Step 1: Melt the butterscotch and peanut butter

Diana Rattray for Taste of Home

In a microwave-safe bowl, melt the butterscotch chips and peanut butter in the microwave, for one to two minutes, then stir until the mixture is smooth and void of air pockets. Nuke another 30 seconds, if need be.

Step 2: Add the mix-ins

Diana Rattray for Taste of Home

Stir in the peanuts and potato sticks, giving everything a good mix until it’s evenly incorporated but still chunky.

Step 3: Form the candy

Diana Rattray for Taste of Home

Drop the mixture by tablespoonfuls onto waxed-paper-lined pans. Refrigerate the candy for an hour or so, until it’s well set.

Diana Rattray for Taste of Home

Tumbleweed Dessert Variations

• Load them up: We love a simple, four-ingredient recipe, but tumbleweed candies can be as over the top as you like! Consider adding white chocolate chips, Rice Krispies or mini marshmallows to make them even more decadent.
• Make them even nuttier: Swap the creamy peanut butter for chunky, and add slivered almonds or heart-healthy walnuts to the mix.
• Style them for Easter: This kid-friendly snack is also a popular Easter dessert, since the tumbleweeds resemble nests. Create the treats the same way, then place a pastel M&M or a robin’s egg candy on top of each tumbleweed before refrigerating them.

How to Store Tumbleweed Dessert

The best thing about these no-bake tumbleweed candies is that they’re dairy-free and don’t need to be refrigerated. Just place them in a sealed, airtight container so moisture doesn’t turn the potato sticks stale sooner than you can finish them.

How long does tumbleweed candy last?

As long as you keep air away from them, they’ll last for weeks. The potato sticks can start to turn a bit soft after that.

Can you freeze tumbleweed desserts?

Yes, although we recommend freezing them twice. Freeze them first on a waxed-paper-lined tray, so they harden. Then you can transfer them to a sealed airtight container or bag to keep them in the freezer. This method ensures they won’t stick together.

Tumbleweeds are best eaten right after you make them because they contain potato sticks. So keep that in mind when you go to defrost them. The texture and taste might be slightly different afterward.

Tumbleweed Dessert Tips

Diana Rattray for Taste of Home

What if I’m having trouble forming the tumbleweeds?

Wait until the mixture cools a bit before dropping the tumbleweeds on the tray. If you form them when the mixture is still warm and sticky, it will just want to stick to the bowl and the spoon.

How can I make my tumbleweeds harden faster?

This combo of salty-sweet ingredients can be sticky and soft, so pop the waxed-paper-lined tray in a freezer for a bit to make them set faster, if the fridge route is taking too long.

Do I have to use butterscotch chips?

Not at all! Many reviewers noted that a combination of chocolate and peanut butter chips tastes equally delicious.