Homemade chocolate peanut butter balls are the first candy to disappear off holiday cookie trays, but why wait? For all of us with a sweet tooth, it's time to celebrate because June is National Candy Month!
What wonderful news! What a great excuse to indulge! Any day in June is the perfect time for these easy treats! You can stir up a batch in a jiffy! The taste of these yummy candies is very similar to a Reece's Peanut Butter Cup!
According to CandyStore.com, Reece's cups are the top-selling candy in America. We eat them by the ton! Research indicates over 39% of Americans call it their favorite candy. You can't go wrong with the timeless combination of peanut butter and chocolate.
It's a duo as delightful as Fred Astaire and Ginger Rogers! Or for you youngsters, as perfectly paired as Woody and Buzz!
They are so easy to make! Combine peanut butter, powdered sugar, butter, and crushed crisp rice cereal in a bowl. Roll into walnut-size balls, park them on a parchment-covered sheet pan, and chill.
When they are good and cold, dunk them in a bath of melted chocolate almond bark, or semi-sweet or milk chocolate chips. I do not have a double boiler, so I put an oven-proof glass bowl (make sure it is oven-proof) on top of a saucepan with some water. Please set the burner on low so the water barely simmers.
You don't need the water in the pan to touch the bottom of the bowl. As the water simmers, it generates enough gentle heat to melt the semi-sweet chocolate chips or almond bark with a little bit of shortening to a perfectly melty consistency.
You can also melt either one easily in your microwave. Break or cut the almond bark into smaller pieces, put it in a microwave-safe bowl, and place it in the microwave.
Melt it in 30-second intervals, stirring between each, until it is smooth, melty, and dippable. A little bit of shortening will help the almond bark or chips achieve a perfectly melty consistency.
There are lots of nifty tools for candy dipping! I may buy one before the holidays, but this time, I used a skinny fork and a long toothpick to plop the ball into the melted chocolate, give it a roll, and set it back on the covered baking pan to harden. If you have any chocolate left, you can drizzle it lightly over the candies for added texture.
It might also be fun to melt a small amount of peanut butter chips or white chocolate chips to make a pretty drizzle! Sprinkles would be adorable, too! Garnishes always elevate the appearance of a special treat but believe me, these chocolate peanut butter balls taste fabulous, even unadorned!
I listed another option on the printable recipe card for a smoother center in peanut butter balls: using more powdered sugar and omitting the rice cereal. These goodies are so quick and easy to make that they'd be fun to do with your kids or grandkids!
These would be fun to make later on over the Thanksgiving break because they freeze beautifully and keep a month or more in the freezer! They would be so adorable in a tissue-lined tin and wrapped with a festive ribbon bow! Stack them in layers separated by waxed paper in a freezer container so you have some ready for cookie platters or gifts!
My family loves sweet and salty combinations, so I'm going to try adding crushed pretzels to the filling or sprinkling finely chopped salted party peanuts or smoked sea salt on top! If you want to combine the top two candies in America into one treat, why not put mini M and M's in the peanut butter mixture? Are you a Heath fan? Try some brickle bits!
Almond butter or cashew butter would be delicious options. You can use any nut butter inside these beauties! Make sure you chill the candy centers thoroughly before dipping them in chocolate.
What's your favorite peanut butter and chocolate combination? Is there a recipe you'd be willing to share? Wait. Are you saying you don't like peanut butter at all? You're kidding. Well, maybe you'll love these instead: Chocolate Covered Coconut Balls.
Here is a recipe for an easy-to-make treat with just four ingredients. They are always the first candy to disappear from the candy tray.
If you prefer a smoother peanut butter filling, you can omit the rice cereal and use these ingredients instead. The instructions are just the same.
If you enjoyed this recipe today, please share it on your social media accounts like Facebook, Instagram, Twitter and Pinterest. I’d sure be tickled and ever so grateful, thank you!
If you haven’t already, check out my Facebook page where I’ll be posting easy, delicious and family-friendly recipes every week!
If you enjoyed a post, I'd love it if you would leave a review or a comment. It really helps my little business. ❤❤
Love, GB (Betty Streff)
Sign up for my newsletter and receive a free gift! A printable sign that would look great in your kitchen, framed above your sink, or just placed anywhere to remind us how lucky we are to have dirty dishes!
I’m going to give these a try, they look delicious.
Thank you!! They are yummy, especially if you like Reese's peanut butter cups! (I can't imagine anyone who doesn't love them!!) let me know what you think!!