Why You’ll Love These
Seriously, they are like Reese’s Peanut Butter Cups but homemade and taste way better. They are like buckeye balls but completely covered in chocolate. These make great gifts for friends and neighbors. They are always received with huge praise. I received this recipe from a co-worker years ago and have been making it ever since. I consider these the BEST peanut butter balls I have ever eaten. They are old fashioned peanut butter balls because the old recipes didn’t use graham cracker crumbs or rice cereal. Which, in my opinion, is the only way to make them Some of our other favorite treats to make during the Christmas holidays are chocolate covered pretzel rods, eggnog cookie recipe, dark chocolate peppermint bark, and peppermint fudge.
Just 4 Ingredients
Honest, only four simple ingredients! These no-bake peanut butter balls are really easy and so delicious!
Peanut butter – We prefer smooth and creamy peanut butter but if you like chunky, go for it. Use brands like Skippy, Jif, or Peter Pan. Do not use all-natural peanut butter.Unsalted butter – You can use salted butter if you like.Confectioners’ sugar ( powdered sugar) – Adds sweetness and helps bind the peanut butter.Almond bark (Candiquik) or candy melts – For the chocolate coating.
How to Make Peanut Butter Balls
In a saucepan, melt the peanut butter and butter together over medium heat. Prepare a baking sheet with wax paper. Remove it from the heat and add the confectioners’ sugar (powdered sugar). Let cool to room temperature or enough to handle easily. Roll the peanut butter mixture into 1-inch balls and refrigerate to chill until firm, about 30 minutes. This is the most time-consuming step. Melt almond bark per the package instructions, dip each ball into melted chocolate to coat let excess chocolate drip off. If you prefer not to use the almond bark, you can melt a bag of semi-sweet chocolate chips with one tablespoon of vegetable oil or coconut oil. You can melt it in a double boiler or in the microwave at 30-second intervals. Feel free to use white chocolate, dark chocolate, or milk chocolate. It’s your choice. Place balls dipped in chocolate on wax paper to dry completely. These old-fashioned chocolate peanut butter balls are also known as Buckeyes. Or even a peanut butter cup in ball form.
Tips And Variations
Make sure to chill the peanut butter balls before dipping them in the chocolate. It makes the process much easier.You can also use melted chocolate chips instead of candy melts. Just melt a bag of your favorite chocolate chips with one teaspoon of coconut oil or vegetable oil. Chocolate chips are necessarily made for melting, so you will need to add the oil.You can melt the chocolate in the microwave at 30-second intervals or use a double boiler.If your chocolate starts to thicken, melt it again, being careful not to burn the chocolate.You can also use a toothpick to coat the peanut butter balls in the chocolate.
Variations
We love the smooth peanut butter for these, but you can use crunchy peanut butter.You can use festive sprinkles for the tops. Such as chocolate sprinkles, chopped peanuts, toffee bits, or even flaky sea salt.Drizzle the tops with semi-sweet chocolate, white chocolate, milk chocolate, or dark chocolate.Shape them into eggs for Easter.
