Peanut Butter Balls are one of the most requested no bake treats I make! They are always the first thing gone on any cookie platter, and they are just the perfect, easy, chocolate peanut butter treat!
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Peanut Butter Balls Are A Year Round Favorite Treat!
While Peanut Butter Balls are a staple on my holiday dessert tray every year, the combo of chocolate and peanut butter is pretty hard to resist any time of the year! These sweet, EASY Peanut Butter Balls are delicious, pretty, and a crowd favorite. Let’s talk about how to make one of my most favorite treats of all times!
Tips on How to make Easy Peanut Butter Balls
These are such an easy treat, but I have to admit, dipping the balls in chocolate isn’t my favorite thing to do! This is where I get my kids involved in the process. They love helping out in the kitchen from time to time, especially if it’s for one of their most favorite treats!
- Make sure they’re chilled when you dip them. It will make the process MUCH easier! The chocolate will set up more quickly and the peanut butter balls will hold their shape when you dip and tap the excess warm chocolate.
- I like to use Ghirardelli Melting Wafers most of all for dipping. They melt SO smooth, and taste delicious. You don’t need to add an extra tablespoon of butter or shortening into the chocolate to thin it out…it’s just the perfect consistency!
- BUT if you can’t find the Ghirardelli wafers, you certainly can use chocolate chips, or even almond bark. Since chocolate chips are necessarily made for melting, this is where you can add a tablespoon of shortening or butter into the chocolate to thin it out a little bit, making the dipping process easier.
- You can melt the chocolate in the microwave in 25- second increments, or over a double boiler.
- If the chocolate thickens up too much while you’re dipping, melt it again for a few seconds, until you reach the desired consistency.
- You can decorate these with sprinkles, sea salt, or just drizzle some extra chocolate over top, like I did!
- When you dip the balls in the chocolate make sure to tap off all the excess chocolate you can! Then when you place the dipped ball onto the parchment lined sheet, use a toothpick and drag it around the base of the ball so it doesn’t pool up at the bottom!
Pro Tip: You can even use a toothpick for dipping the balls into the chocolate. It tends to get a little messier, but it works
Peanut Butter Balls can also be referred to as Buckeyes!
Buckeyes are popular in Ohio, as the Buckeye is the state tree! Buckeye Balls are only partially dipped in chocolate, leaving the peanut butter showing on the top. That way they look like the nuts from a Buckeye tree. Peanut Butter Balls are traditionally covered in chocolate.
Can You Freeze Peanut Butter Balls?
Yes! You can absolutely freeze these. First allow the chocolate to set completely. Then in a large, airtight, tupperware-style container, place the balls in an even layer in the bottom of the container. Place a piece of parchment paper on top of them and make another layer. Repeat as many times as you can, depending on the depth of the container. You can store them in the freezer for up to a month.
Shape Them Into Eggs!
For a special Easter theme, you can shape your peanut butter balls into the shape of an egg and make these Peanut Butter Eggs for Easter. They are so much better than Reese’s Eggs…if that’s possible!
Love Chocolate and Peanut Butter? Here Are A Few More Recipes You Will Love:
PrintPeanut Butter Balls
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Prep Time: 20 minutes -
Cook Time: 0 minutes
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Total Time: 20 minutes
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Yield: 60 balls 1x -
Category: Candy
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Method: No Bake
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Cuisine: Dessert
Prep Time:
Yield:
Category:
Method:
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Print Recipe
PinDescription:
Classic and Easy Peanut Butter Balls are a no bake favorite!
Ingredients:
- 1 cup creamy peanut butter
- 1 cup butter, room temperature
- 4 cups powdered sugar
- 1 1/4 cups crushed graham crackers
- 15 ounces semi-sweet chocolate (for melting)
Instructions
- In the bowl of your stand mixer fitted with the paddle attachment combine the peanut butter and butter, mixing on medium speed until smooth.
- Turn mixer to low and add in the powdered sugar and graham cracker crumbs, mixing until evenly incorporated. Mixture will be thick.
- Using a small cookie scoop (about 1 tablespoon), portion out the mixture and roll into balls. Place them on a large parchment lined baking sheet. Place the baking sheet in the refrigerator for at least 30 minutes to chill.
- In a medium bowl melt the chocolate in 25- second increments, stirring after each until smooth.
- Using a fork, dip each peanut butter ball into the melted chocolate, tapping off the excess. Place back on the parchment lined baking sheet. Repeat with all balls.
- Drizzle any extra chocolate on top of the balls.
- Allow the chocolate to set before storing.
Notes:
Tip – Drag a toothpick around the melted chocolate when you place the dipped peanut butter ball back onto the baking sheet after dipping. This will prevent the chocolate from pooling up at the bottom as it dries, and just making the balls prettier.
Store at room temperature for up to 2 days, or refrigerated for up to a week.
Keywords:: peanut butter, recipe, no bake, peanut butter chocolate, chocolate, peanut butter balls
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Hi! I’m Shelly and I’m an addict. Of the buttercream sort. I started this site a few years ago as a way to justify my sugary, buttery obsession with desserts. It has worked out well for me so far, because as it turns out you guys all love sugary, buttery desserts too! It feels good to know you're not alone, doesn’t it?
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Can the peanut butter be substituted for almond butter?
I haven’t tried that, but I don’t see why it wouldn’t work!
This is the second time making this peanut butter balls and everyone loves them
I made these on Easter. I used colored white chocolate and glitter for the drizzle. I also used chocolate Graham crackers because that’s what I had. They were a huge hit! People said they tasted more like nougat than peanut butter but they were good!
★★★★★
Do they need to be refrigerated or do they just sit at room temp? also they look so good
either!!
I wanted to hop in here and say this for anyone who doesn’t know, you CAN NOT USE REAL BUTTER IN YOUR CHOCOLATE. Shortening is fine but mixing real butter into it will thicken your chocolate, not thin it out. Do not make the same mistake as me and ruin a ton of chocolate.
How many Peanut Butter Balls will this recipe make?
60 🙂 The yield is right there in the recipe for you!
My stepmother makes these every year and they are a favorite! Had to make them myself since we can’t travel for Christmas. I cut the sugar by 1/2 c and added a little extra graham cracker crumbs instead (~1/4 c). I do not notice a difference in flavor or texture with the reduced sugar. Used natural peanut butter and the batter was crumbly, but works if you press the balls together with your fingers instead of rolling in your palms. I do not like semi-sweet chocolate so used milk chocolate chips which did not melt well in the microwave. They… Read more »
Yes. Milk chocolate will also melt in a microwave, but it’s got a different composition. I recommend a double boiler for any chocolate — make sure the top bowl/pan DOES NOT touch the bottom of the pan with the water in it. Direct heat is very bad for chocolate. So is water. Depending on the type and amount of butter, that may have contributed to the chocolate seizing up. Try some coconut oil or shortening, If you don’t have either on hand, a tsp of vegetable oil at a time should do the trick.
If I want to ship them , should I freeze them in the tin with the parchment layers? Any suggestions for sending these off to family members? Thank you!
★★★★★
Made these today as part of my Christmas baking line up and they are spectacular!! The graham crackers are a great addition. Tastes like Reeses pieces. Instead of drizzling the excess chocolate on top I sprinkled some crushed peanuts on top instead. 🙂
★★★★★
I tried these and absolutely love them. I only used 1 1/4 c of the graham cracker and they turned out perfect thank you I love some of your other recipes I have tried.
★★★★★
Thank you so much and so glad you enjoyed!
FIVE STARS?????????? These are THE BEST peanut butter balls I’ve ever made. We love dark chocolate so we dip them in dark chocolate instead of semi sweet. AMAZING!
★★★★★
I am so glad you liked them!! Thank you so much!
Hi Shelly just made some peanutbutter balls it was a creamy mixture this one is a keeper.
★★★★★
So glad you liked them!!
Can you use Graham wafer crumbs instead of the wafers?
sure!
Crumbling may be because of peanutbutter used … natural will give different results than processed
Is salted butter ok, or should you use unsalted?
I like to use salted, but you can use either…whatever you prefer!