Chocolate peanut butter balls are the kind of homemade candy that makes people hover around the cookie tray. Rich chocolate on the outside, sweet peanut butter goodness inside, and a little crunch that keeps you coming back. Better tuck a few away before you set them out!
If you love Reese’s Peanut Butter Cups, these easy little treats ought to make you very happy. You don’t even need to turn on the oven!
Peanut butter and chocolate are a duo as delightful as Fred Astaire and Ginger Rogers. Or, for you youngsters, as perfectly paired as Woody and Buzz! Some things are just meant to be together.
These are wonderful for Christmas candy trays and homemade gifts, but I see no reason to make chocolate wait for a holiday. Stir up a batch, recruit the kids or grandkids to help roll them, and call it quality time. With chocolate. My favorite kind.
Prefer a smooth peanut butter center? I’ve included that option on the recipe card, too.
They are so easy to make! Combine peanut butter, powdered sugar, butter, and crushed crisp rice cereal in a bowl. Roll into walnut-sized balls, place them on a parchment-covered sheet pan, and chill.
Dunk them in a bath of melted chocolate almond bark or semi-sweet or milk chocolate chips when they are good and cold. 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. Set the burner to low so the water barely simmers.
The water doesn't need 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 easily melt either one in your microwave. Break or cut the almond bark into smaller pieces, put it in a microwave-safe bowl, and microwave it.
Melt it in 30-second intervals, stirring between each, until it is smooth, melty, and dippable. A little shortening will help the almond bark or chips reach 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, roll it, and set it back on the covered baking pan to harden. If you have any chocolate left, drizzle it lightly over the candies for added texture.
It might also be fun to melt some peanut butter 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 over the Thanksgiving break because they freeze beautifully and keep for 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 another time, I will 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 add mini M&M's to 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? Are you kidding? Oh well, I have a beloved sister-in-law that doesn't like chocolate!
Got a sweet tooth? You are my people! If you’re filling a holiday candy tray or making gifts from the kitchen, try my chocolate-covered coconut balls, Velveeta fudge, and homemade peanut brittle, too. A little variety is wonderful—as long as you save a few pieces for the cook!
Here is a recipe for an easy-to-make treat with just six 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.
You sure can! These little treats freeze beautifully, so you can get a head start on your holiday candy making. Once the chocolate coating has hardened, pack them in an airtight freezer container with waxed paper between the layers. Freeze for up to a month, then thaw in the refrigerator. That’s one less thing to do when the holiday hustle starts!
Yes! If you prefer a smooth center instead of a little crunch, leave out the rice cereal and use 1 cup creamy peanut butter, 6 tablespoons softened salted butter, and 2 cups powdered sugar. Follow the same rolling, chilling, and dipping instructions. Both versions are delicious—it's a tough job picking a favorite!
They may need more chilling time! Chill the centers for at least 30 minutes, or overnight, before dipping. If they soften while you’re working, pop them back in the refrigerator. Keep the melted chocolate warm and stir in the shortening called for in the recipe to help it coat smoothly. A skinny fork and a toothpick work just fine—you don’t need fancy equipment!
Fun Fact: According to CandyStore.com, Reese's cups are America's top-selling candy. We literally eat them by the ton! Research indicates that over 39% of Americans call it their favorite candy. You can't go wrong with the timeless peanut butter and chocolate combination
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Love, GB (Betty Streff)
🐝 Real food. Real kitchen. Real good.
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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!!