This weapon works exceptionally well with almost any stun, ice or root inflicting item in the game. Notable examples include, but are not limited to:
Cudgel for its long stun duration against single targets
Frost Blast for it's effectiveness against whole crowds of enemies
Ice Shield for its defensive capabilities along with its ability to freeze enemies around the player
Wolf Trap for its effectiveness at locking down enemies and bosses alike for extended periods of time
Even The Boy's AxeRotG and Ice Bow are great for their fast attack speed as combo attack tools to get critical hits off on enemies quickly, especially when pairing either one with Kill Rhythm to increase the attack speed of the Nutcracker.
It is possible to get the Heavy Stun affix on this weapon, which would be synergistic with the Nutcracker's critical condition if the weapon weren't too slow to land another blow before the stun from the affix ended.