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Peanut Butter Balls are a favorite no bake treat! Made with smooth peanut butter and covered in chocolate they are so easy to make!
Few things go together as well as peanut butter and chocolate. It has to be one of my all-time favorite flavor combinations and one that I talk about a good bit for recipes.
Easy Peanut Butter Balls Recipe
Growing up, my Grandmother would make little peanut butter balls that looked just like little buckeyes. She’d mix all of the ingredients together and roll the peanut butter mixture around to form these little bite sized treats. Then, she’d carefully dip them into her chocolate, leaving just a bit of the peanut butter peeping through at the top.
Now, her buckeyes were wonderful treats that I surely love still, but when Sam and I were making them when he was younger we decided not to fool around with all that special dipping for our peanut butter balls. And by request, we decided to make them a little bit bigger.
Okay, a good bit bigger.
I don’t think she’d mind and I know she’d love the changes.
Ingredients for Peanut Butter Balls
For these peanut butter balls, you’ll need:
- creamy peanut butter – the creamy peanut butter is perfect in this recipe.
- confectioner’s sugar – this is also called powdered sugar since it is of a powdery consistency. Granulated sugar will not work here.
- unsalted butter – if you only have salted butter on hand, you can use that, just reduce the amount of salt called for in the recipe to ⅛ teaspoon.
- vanilla extract – as with most sweet recipes, the vanilla extract enhances the sweetness in these peanut butter balls.
- salt – take note of the type of butter used in the recipe and adjust the salt accordingly.
- chocolate chips dark, milk, or semisweet – the chocolate chips are melted with the vegetable shortening or coconut oil below and then the peanut butter balls are dipped into the melted chocolate as a coating. Use whatever your favorite chocolate is that you enjoy!
- vegetable shortening or coconut oil – use whichever one you prefer. The coconut oil can lend a coconut flavor to items while vegetable shortening is generally flavor neutral.
How to Make Peanut Butter Balls
Make the Peanut Butter Mixture
Mix. Mix together the peanut butter, confectioners sugar, butter, vanilla and salt with an electric mixer until well combined.
Scoop. Scoop the peanut butter mixture into individual balls with a 1 tablespoon cookie scoop and place on the parchment lined baking sheet.
Chill. Place in the freezer for about 15 minutes to harden.
Make the Chocolate Coating
Melt. Melt the chocolate chips and your choice of shortening or coconut oil together in microwave for 1 ½ minutes to 2 minutes at 50 percent power.
Dip. Dip each hardened ball into the melted chocolate using a spoon. Then place each chocolate-dipped ball back onto the parchment lined baking sheet to dry.
After the chocolate has dried, serve them immediately or store accordingly.
How to Make-Ahead, Store and Freeze Peanut Butter Balls
These delicious peanut butter balls are always a favorite treat to have on hand and make such a thoughtful food gift to take to a friend!
To make ahead. Prepare as directed. Store in a cool place on the counter for a few days or in the refrigerator for up to a week.
To store. Place in an airtight container in between layers of waxed or parchment paper.
To freeze. Place the balls in a single layer on a parchment lined baking sheet and into the freezer until they have frozen, about 30 minutes to overnight. Once frozen, transfer them to a freezer-safe container and freeze up to 7 months.
To serve, simply remove from the freezer and allow to reach room temperature.
Here’s my family recipe for these delicious peanut butter balls.
Peanut Butter Balls Recipe
Ingredients
- 2 cups creamy peanut butter
- 2 cups confectioner’s sugar
- 4 tablespoons unsalted butter softened
- 1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 1/4 teaspoon salt
- 1 (12-ounce) package chocolate chips dark, milk, or semisweet
- 2 teaspoons vegetable shortening or coconut oil
Instructions
- Line rimmed baking sheet with parchment paper. Set aside.
- Mix together peanut butter, confectioner’s sugar, butter, vanilla extract and salt with an electric mixer until well combined. Using a 1 tablespoon cookie scoop, scoop individual balls and place onto the parchment paper. Place in freezer for 15 minutes to harden.
- Melt chocolate chips and shortening or coconut oil together in microwave for 1 ½ – 2 minutes at 50 % power.
- Dip each hardened peanut butter ball into the melted chocolate using a spoon and then place back onto the parchment paper lined baking sheet to dry.
- Store in an airtight container.
Notes
Prepare peanut butter balls as directed. Store in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to a week or in a freezer-safe container in the freezer for up to 7 months. Vegan:
For a vegan option for these peanut butter balls, use dairy-free chocolate chips and coconut oil in place of the butter called for in the recipe.Â
Nutritional Information
Recipe time includes time for chilling to firm before dipping in the chocolate as well as the time for the chocolate to dry.
Enjoy!
Robyn xo
From the Add a Pinch recipe archives, originally posted 2011.
Need this. Want this. LOVE!
Thanks! They are addictive. I warn you!
I’ve made these for many years. I decided to use this recipe, but I usually use paraffin wax to melt with the chips and the chocolate didn’t harden. I had to put them in the fridge unless I didn’t let them sit long enough. Recipe is similar
We make these every year at Christmas but add 2 cups of Rice Krispies. We also take the time to temper good quality chocolate using a mixture of dark and milk chocolate. The chocolate has a nice snap to it when you bite into the cookie. Worth the extra time and money to temper the chocolate and buy good quality chocolate ( we typically order Verona chocolate on line.)
yum!
Thanks, sweetie! I wish you were nearby and we’d share a batch of the babies!
Love peanut butter and chocolate…how easy to get both in one bite! This will be going on New Year’s Eve party tray!!!! Merry Christmas to you and your family!!!!!
Merry Christmas to you and your family as well, Mary! I hope it is the best ever!
I can never get enough Peanut Butter Balls during the holidays. Now I have an excuse to make more 😀 Recipe testing is such a good excuse xo
I think I eat a year’s supply the week of Christmas.
Do you freeze before or after dipping chocolate for storage
Stephanie, you will freeze them for 15 minutes before dipping them in chocolate. After you have dipped them in the chocolate, let them dry, then place in an airtight container in the refrigerator or in the freezer for longer storage. Hope you enjoy!
I’m totally trying this!!
awsome!!!!
I don’t know who in their right mind wouldn’t love these! I think if I made these, my husband might just love me forever 😉
They disappear like hot cakes around here! I have to stash them in the freezer when I make them! xo
Oh my gosh! These peanut butter balls look delicious! 🙂 Great pictures!
Oh gosh, I cannot wait to try these. I am usually the cookie queen at work but this year for some reason I just don’t have time to bake like I usually do… so I’ve been looking for super simple recipes to keep my coworkers from staging a mutiny! These look so, so good – they’ll love them!
These are scrumptious! I made some for our upcoming Super Bowl party. One question I have, though, is what is the purpose of the coconut oil or shortening that is mixed with the melted chocolate? I mostly dipped my balls in melted chocolate that did not have the oil/shortening added, and they seemed to set up just fine. Thanks!
O
It’s to keep the chocolate glossy
These were so yummy. . .Seeing them brought back fun memories of my girls years ago (now they have “littles” of their own). When they were little, I started making my own peanut butter. . .Often I would make PB balls, similar to yours, for their snacking but rolled them in different things like granola or chopped nuts, and of course chocolate for a treat. . .they loved them !! We all did. You reminded me of a fun time many years ago. . .and that I should really make again, for my “grand-littles” this time, and of course. . .for the “BIG” kids too.
I love this, Sandy! Made me smile! 🙂
Merry Christmas!
Can we freeze right after dipping and then put them in an air tight container? Then to store can we keep them in the fridge?
I have done that before and honestly i thought they tasted way better frozen.i am not the author of this post but from experience.
These are perfect!!! Peanut butter is my favorite. Love the simplicity of this tasty recipe.
Thanks so much, Jessie! I’m a peanut butter and chocolate fan myself! xo
I’ve had these so often always love them. Some that I’ve had seemed to have a crunch in the peanut butter. Is that because crunchy peanut butter was used or were rice crispy’s mixed in? Either way they are very addicting and am glad I only see them at the holidays.
Hi Karen,
To get the crunch you are right, you can either use chunky peanut butter or add a little crispy cereal. I hope you love these! xo
It was graham cracker…added the crunch
Love this simple version of the buckeyes! Who doesn’t love peanut butter and chocolate together!
I’m making these tonight then freezing for the holidays. (if I can keep my hands off of them!)
Have a wonderful Christmas!
I am having problems with even getting these rolled into balls. Dough is very soft even after spending the night in Fridge. If I don’t get these made soon, I will eat all of the dough! Help! More powdered sugar???
Is the peanut butter too oily? I’d say try more sugar. Worst case, you can press it all into a jelly roll pan and spread the melted chocolate on top, freeze and cut into petit-four sized squares. Still delicious!!!
These are delicious! But don’t skip the part about freezing the rolled peanut butter ball before dipping… it’s essential! The longer you freeze, the better the results!!
Agreed! Much easier to roll from the freezer. I was heartbroken when Lindt Chocolate discontinued their peanut butter truffles! I was looking for something similar and came across this recipe. I cut the recipe in half (never again since we ate them all in one day) and used melted Lindt milk chocolate bars. So easy and delicious!
So glad you enjoy them! Thanks so much! xo
Was so excited to try to make these but mines turned out ito be peanut butter discs . They froze as balls but melted while I was dipping so my sister got a kick out of that . So now they are in the fridge and one is all you need , guess that is a plus .Will try again !
I wonder what could have happened? Maybe the chocolate was just a bit too hot?
At least it sounds like you had a good time with your sister! Thanks so much – I hope you like them and try them again. xo
DID YOU REALIZE YOUR PIN FOR “PEANUT BUTTER BALLS” IS UNDER “CORNED BEEF HASH” IN PINTEREST? JUST TO LET YOU KNOW.
Thanks Kathie – Wonder how that happened…I appreciate you letting me know!
Very good recipe the entire family loves them every body wants the recipe that try it out here at my house. Thank you so much
Thanks so much Tab!
This is now my favorite recipe for peanut butter balls! Thank you
That’s great, JB! So happy you enjoyed them! xo
Absolutely delicious!! It was so easy to make, and SO SO good. I made it for my family and everyone was a fan and wanted more. Now one of my favorite recipes.Â
I’m so glad everyone loved them, Rachel! xo
My mother made the peanut butter balls also. I make them them the same way,but instead of oil or shortening, I use about a tablespoon of thin sliced pariffin in with the melted chocolate! Now don’t get bent out of shape until you try it. It does not effect the taste at all and makes those babies shine so pretty. They look delicious,and are delicious. I’m 68 yrs old and have been eating them this way for years. It saves a few calories to.linda
The wax makes them shine and the wax makes them harden faster so they can be stored
what is the best way to defrost these, in preparation for giving? thank you
Do you think these would ship well to my college student? With lots of cushioning, of course?
As parents of two U of M alums, we’ve eaten them for years – they are called Buckeyes! Â They are great!
I make about 6 batches at Christmas to give away as gifts for family. I add crushed Graham crackers to my mixture and it adds a nice taste then I dip in melted semi sweet chocolate chips that I melt in a double boiler.
I made these but even after freezing the dough they were super sticky!!!!! So i just rolled them in confectioner sugar and put them in the freezer hopefully it will be okay.
Hi Alonna,
Some peanut butters have more oil content than others, which can make them more sticky. Hopefully the freezer step of the recipe will help them. Enjoy! xo
I make alot of Christmas cookies and pass them out every year and i am always looking for new recipes. These look so Yummy. Merry Christmas to you and your family
I hope you enjoy these too, Donna! They are delicious!
Since you mention looking for new cookie recipes, you may want to look at the cookies I’ve posted the past several days and some more to come in the coming days too. Everything from Pecan Sandies, two kinds of sugar cookies, and many more (many of my family heirloom candies too.) Just wanted to mention in case they might help you!
Merry Christmas to you and your family as well! Thanks so much! xo
Does anyone know how many balls this makes?Â
Hi Theresa,
The recipe makes approximately 50 pieces. xo
Awesome recipe! Thank you for sharing! I will be making them tonight for our Holiday weekend!
Thanks so much Natalie! xo
I have never liked or maded peanut butter balls but some of my family wanted them so I use your recipe and they are delicious but mine never got hard and I had them in the freezer for about an hour. What could I have done wrong I’m going to try them again when these are gone which will be very soon.
I make these with skippy peanut butter dip then In milk chocolate then in Crushed Oreos…or when I use gram cracker recipe I add the Oreo cookie to mix then dip them in chocolate and in crushed  Oreos again…to die for!Â
Can these be made using WOWBUTTER instead of peanut butter, for those allergic to nuts.
I haven’t tried making these with WOWBUTTER, Terry, so I can’t tell you from experience how they will turn out.
Do you use natural peanut butter or peanut butter with added sugar such as Jif or Kraft?
I make these with Jif but I think you could use the natural peanut butter, too, if you wish.
I made these exactly as your recipe calls. They never got hard. Is it possible that you omitted an ingredient?
Eileen, if the peanut butter mixture didn’t harden, it could be a difference in the oil content of the peanut butter. Some contain more oil than others. I’ve never had an issue with them not hardening.
Love them!
Thanks, Linda!
Been making them for over 50 years. I use gulf (paraffin) wax melted with chocolate chips and the shell stays hard. Melt it slowly and make sure no water gets in chocolate.
Thanks, Trish. I remember my grandmother and mother making these for years, too.