Once you make Chocolate Covered Peanut Butter Balls, you will be hooked. This homemade treat melts in your mouth for a delicious dessert anytime of the year.

Chocolate Covered Peanut Butter Balls stacked
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If you love Reese’s peanut butter cups, you will love this recipe for Chocolate Peanut Butter balls. They taste just like them but in bite size form. We love making these for Christmas, birthday parties and anytime we get the chance.

If you love chocolate and peanut butter combination, then you must try Chocolate Covered Ritz Crackers.

Why We Love This Recipe

Simple ingredients make this holiday treat so flavorful. This no bake dessert recipe is one that everyone looks forward to. It’s the perfect treat to add to your favorite holiday dessert trays or to give to friends and family.

Ingredients

  • Peanut Butter. Creamy peanut butter is suggested for a smooth texture.
  • Butter. The butter needs to be softened at room temperature.
  • Vanilla Extract. Make sure to use pure vanilla.
  • Powdered Sugar. You may need to sift the powdered sugar if its lumpy.
  • Chocolate Chips. I use semi-sweet chocolate chips.

Find the complete ingredients for this recipe at the bottom of the post.

Variations and Substitutions

  • Use your favorite type of Chocolate – These peanut butter balls are great dipped in milk, white chocolate or dark chocolate.
  • Use any type of nut butter – I usually make these with peanut butter any type of nut butter will work. Almond Butter, Cashew Butter or Sunflower Butter would all be delicious in this recipe. You can also use crunchy peanut butter.
  • Add Sprinkles – Before placing the peanut butter balls in the refrigerator, sprinkle them with your favorite holiday sprinkles.
  • Drizzle chocolate on top – This is optional but looks really pretty. I like to drizzle extra chocolate on top or use something different such as white chocolate. It makes the peanut butter balls look so fancy.
  • Melting Wafer – Use melting wafers instead of chocolate chips. There are many different colors of melting wafers that you can use.

How to Make Chocolate Peanut Butter Balls

  • Step 1 – First, line a baking sheet with waxed paper and set aside.
Peanut butter and butter in a mixing bowl.

Step 2. Next, combine the peanut butter, butter and vanilla together in a large bowl.

Powdered sugar added to peanut butter mixture.

Step 3 – Slowly add the powdered sugar to the mixture. You can use a stand mixer.

Mixture combined in a bowl.

Step 4. Combine until well blended.

Peanut butter balls on baking sheet.

Step 5. Form the mixture into balls and place on a cookie sheet lined with wax paper. I like to use a cookie scoop.

Peanut butter balls dipped in melted chocolate.

Step 6. Once you have made all of the balls, melt your chocolate. My favorite way to do this is in the double boiler. If you don’t have one, you can simply put a metal or glass bowl on top of a saucepan with about an inch of water in it. Be sure to add the shortening to your chocolate. This will make covering your peanut butter balls with chocolate a lot easier.

Peanut butter balls dipped in chocolate and placed on baking sheet.

Step 7. One at a time, dip your peanut butter balls into the melted chocolate. Once all of them are coated, put the cookie sheet in the fridge for 15-30 minutes.

 Chocolate Covered Peanut Butter Balls stacked together.

Pro Tips

  • Cookie Scoop – You will want to use a cookie scoop so that each peanut butter ball is uniform. It makes it so much easier, and everything goes much faster. You can make a bunch of them very quickly thanks to the cookie scoop.
  • Chill Peanut Butter – Make sure that the Peanut Butter Balls are placed in the refrigerator before dipping. This will make sure that the balls don’t fall apart.
  • Dip with a Fork – Use a fork to dip into chocolate. This makes sure excess chocolate will drip off the fork.
  • Do not overcook the chocolate – Overcooked chocolate will become clumpy and will not be smooth on these peanut butter balls.
  • Room temperature ingredients. This recipe will be easier to mix if you use room temperature butter.
  • Sticky Peanut Butter – If peanut balls get sticky slowly add in more powdered sugar.

Frequently Asked Questions

What are Peanut Butter Balls?

Peanut Butter Balls is usually made during the holidays. They are rich and decadent dessert that combines chocolate and peanut butter together.

They taste amazing and are a no bake treat that is easy to make. It only takes about 20 minutes to prepare.

What are Peanut Butter Balls made of?

Peanut Butter Balls are a mixture of creamy peanut butter that is mixed with powdered sugar, butter, and vanilla. This mixture makes a creamy ball to be covered with melted chocolate.

You can add sea salt or sprinkles to make this holiday treat more festive.

How long can you keep Peanut Butter Balls in the refrigerator?

Peanut Butter balls are best eaten fresh.  You can keep them in the fridge up to 2 weeks as long as they are in an airtight container.  You can also freeze peanut butter balls up to 2-3 months.

How to Freeze Peanut Butter Balls?

Yes, you can freeze these peanut butter balls. This is a great candy to make ahead of time to save time for all your holiday baking.

Place prepared chocolate peanut butter balls on a baking sheet.
Then place in the freezer for about 30 minutes.
Once they have frozen, you can then transfer to a zip lock bag or a freezer safe container.
They will last up to 3 months in the freezer.

More Chocolate Peanut Butter Desserts

Chocolate Covered Peanut Butter Balls

4.88 from 24 votes
Once you make Chocolate Covered Peanut Butter Balls, you will be hooked. This homemade treat melts in your mouth for a delicious dessert anytime of the year.
Prep Time 30 minutes
Refrigerate 30 minutes
Total Time 1 hour
Servings 24
Cuisine American
Course Dessert
Calories 197

Ingredients

  • 1 1/2 cups creamy peanut butter
  • 1/2 cup butter softened
  • 1 teaspoon vanilla
  • 3 cups powdered sugar
  • 12 oz bag of chocolate chips
  • 2 tablespoons shortening
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Instructions

  • Line a baking sheet with waxed paper and set aside.
  • Mix peanut butter, butter and vanilla together in a large bowl.
  • Slowly add one cup of powdered sugar to the creamy mixture, mixing well each time.
  • By the time you get to the third cup of powdered sugar, the mixture will become very difficult to stir with a spoon.
  • Once all of the powdered sugar is incorporated into the peanut butter mixture, you can start making your balls. Simply pinch off a small amount and roll between your hands to form a small ball. Place the peanut butter balls on the prepared cookie sheet with waxed paper.
  • Once you have made all of your balls, melt your chocolate. My favorite way to do this is in the double boiler, but if you don’t have one, you can simply put a metal or glass bowl on top of a saucepan with about an inch of water in it. As the water in the saucepan begins to heat up, the steam will heat up your bowl and start melting your chocolate. Be sure to add the shortening to your chocolate – this will make covering your peanut butter balls with chocolate a lot easier.
  • One at a time, drop your peanut butter balls into the melted chocolate. Lift the ball out of the chocolate with a fork and then transfer it to the waxed paper.
  • Once all of your peanut butter balls are coated, put the cookie sheet in the fridge for 15-30 minutes. This will ensure the chocolate coating is completely hardened.

Nutrition Facts

Calories 197kcal, Carbohydrates 18g, Protein 4g, Fat 13g, Saturated Fat 4g, Cholesterol 10mg, Sodium 108mg, Potassium 105mg, Fiber 1g, Sugar 16g, Vitamin A 118IU, Calcium 8mg, Iron 1mg

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About the Author

Hi, I’m Carrie. Welcome to Desserts on a Dime!

I’m on a mission to help you create delicious desserts on a budget and do not require a ton of time. Together, we are going to make something sweet that the entire family will love!

4.88 from 24 votes (9 ratings without comment)

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Comments

  1. Denise says:

    5 stars
    Big hit for gifts! Will definitely make again.

  2. Amanda says:

    5 stars
    Made for friends and family. Nothing left was completely devoured! Will be making again for New Year’s Eve!

  3. Tammy L Rhodes says:

    5 stars
    These are so good that my family wanted me ti make them some for xmas they are a big hit in my family. The bomb

  4. Michelle Church says:

    Love this!

  5. Erin stealey says:

    5 stars
    Obsessed with them! Easy to make and delish!

  6. Sarah Mitchell says:

    5 stars
    I just love these! I was looking for the recipe and found on this page! Love it!

  7. Chasity Powell says:

    5 stars
    super easy to make, my littles made this. They are 9 and 11.

  8. Brenda Lins says:

    4 stars
    Question –
    If you freeze them (for Christmas) after removing from freezer and thawing how long are they good for then and I assume you must keep them in the refrigerator? These would be for gift giving. Thank you

    1. Carrie says:

      They should be good for about 7 days.

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