Peanut Butter Balls Recipe (2024)

Peanut Butter Balls are a favorite no bake treat! Made with smooth peanut butter and covered in chocolate they are so easy to make!

Peanut Butter Balls Recipe (1)

Few things go together as well as peanut butter and chocolate. It has to be one of my all-time favorite flavor combinations and one that I talk about a good bit for recipes.

Table of Contents

  • Easy Peanut Butter Balls Recipe
  • How to Make the Best Peanut Butter Balls
  • Ingredients for Peanut Butter Balls
  • How to Make Peanut Butter Balls
  • How to Make-Ahead, Store and Freeze Peanut Butter Balls
  • More Delicious Treats
  • Peanut Butter Balls Recipe

Easy Peanut Butter Balls Recipe

Growing up, my Grandmother would make little peanut butter balls that looked just like little buckeyes. She’d mix all of the ingredients together and roll the peanut butter mixture around to form these little bite-sized treats. Then, she’d carefully dip them into her chocolate, leaving just a bit of the peanut butter peeping through at the top.

Now, herbuckeyes were wonderful treats that I surely love still, but when Samand I were making them when he was younger we decided not to fool around with all that special dipping for our peanut butter balls. And by request, we decided to make them a little bit bigger.

Okay, a good bit bigger.

I don’t think she’d mind and I know she’d love the changes.

How to Make the Best Peanut Butter Balls

Ingredients for Peanut Butter Balls

Be sure to see the recipe card below for the full listing of ingredients, instructions, notes, and estimated nutritional information.

Peanut Butter Balls Recipe (2)

For these peanut butter balls, you’ll need:

  • Peanut butter – creamy peanut butter is perfect in this recipe.
  • Confectioner’s sugar – this is also called powdered sugar since it is of a powdery consistency. Granulated sugar will not work here.
  • Butter– Use salted or unsalted butter based on what you have. If you use salted butter, reduce the amount of salt called for in the recipe to 1/8 teaspoon.
  • Vanilla extract – the vanilla extract enhances the sweetness in these peanut butter balls.
  • Salt – take note of the type of butter used in the recipe and adjust the salt accordingly.
  • Chocolate chips – You can use your favorite chocolate chips in this recipe:dark, milk, or semisweet. The chocolate chips are melted with vegetable shortening or coconut oil to coat the peanut butter balls.
  • Oil – Use vegetable shortening or coconut oil. Coconut oil can lend a coconut flavor to items, while vegetable shortening is generally flavor-neutral.

How to Make Peanut Butter Balls

Make the Peanut Butter Mixture

Peanut Butter Balls Recipe (3)
Peanut Butter Balls Recipe (4)

Mix. Mix the peanut butter, confectioners sugar, butter, vanilla extract, and salt with an electric mixer until well combined.

Peanut Butter Balls Recipe (5)

Scoop. Scoop the peanut butter mixture into individual balls with a 1 tablespoon cookie scoop and place on the parchment lined baking sheet.

Chill. Place in the freezer for about 15 minutes to harden.

Make the Chocolate Coating

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Peanut Butter Balls Recipe (7)

Melt. Melt the chocolate chips and your choice of shortening or coconut oiltogether in microwave for 1 1/2 minutes to 2 minutes at 50 percent power.

Peanut Butter Balls Recipe (8)
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Dip. Dip each hardened ball into the melted chocolate. Place each chocolate-dipped ball back onto the parchment-lined baking sheet to dry.

After the chocolate has dried, serve immediately or store accordingly.

Peanut Butter Balls Recipe (10)

How to Make-Ahead, Store and Freeze Peanut Butter Balls

These delicious peanut butter balls are always a favorite treat to have on hand and make such a thoughtful food gift to take to a friend!

To make ahead. Prepare as directed. Store in a cool place on the counter for a few days or in the refrigerator for up to a week.

To store. Place in an airtight container in between layers of waxed or parchment paper.

To freeze. Place the balls in a single layer on a parchment lined baking sheet and into the freezer until they have frozen, about 30 minutes to overnight. Once frozen, transfer them to a freezer-safe container and freeze up to 7 months.

To serve, simply remove from the freezer and allow to reach room temperature.

More Delicious Treats

Best Rice Krispies Treats

Caramel Crunch Popcorn

Peanut Brittle

Easy Fudge

Peanut Butter Balls Recipe (11)

Here’s my family recipe for these delicious peanut butter balls.

Peanut Butter Balls Recipe (12)

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Peanut Butter Balls Recipe

Robyn Stone

5 from 20 votes

Peanut Butter Balls are the perfect combination of peanut butter and chocolate! This no-bake peanut butter balls recipe makes a simple treat that everyone loves! These peanut butter balls are deliciously make-ahead and freezer friendly too!

Prep Time: 1 hour hour

Cook Time: 15 minutes minutes

Total Time: 1 hour hour 15 minutes minutes

Servings: 50 pieces

Ingredients

  • 2 cups (540 g) peanut butter
  • 2 cups (227 g) confectioner’s sugar
  • 4 tablespoons (57 g) unsalted butter, softened
  • 1/2 teaspoon (2 g) vanilla extract
  • 1/4 teaspoon (0.65 g) kosher salt
  • 1 (12-ounce) package (340 g) chocolate chips, dark, milk, or semisweet
  • 2 teaspoons (8 g) shortening

Instructions

  • Line rimmed baking sheet with parchment paper. Set aside.

  • Mix together peanut butter, confectioner’s sugar, butter, vanilla extract and salt with an electric mixer until well combined. Using a 1 tablespoon cookie scoop, scoop individual balls and place onto the parchment paper. Place in freezer for 15 minutes to harden.

  • Melt chocolate chips and shortening or coconut oil together in microwave for 1 1/2 – 2 minutes at 50 % power.

  • Dip each hardened peanut butter ball into the melted chocolate using a spoon and then place back onto the parchment paper lined baking sheet to dry.

  • Store in an airtight container.

Notes

Make-Ahead and Freezer Friendly:
Prepare peanut butter balls as directed. Store in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to a week or in a freezer-safe container in the freezer for up to 7 months.

Vegan:
For a vegan option for these peanut butter balls, use dairy-free chocolate chips and coconut oil in place of the butter called for in the recipe.

Nutrition

Serving: 1piece | Calories: 88kcal | Carbohydrates: 6g | Protein: 2g | Fat: 6g | Saturated Fat: 1g | Cholesterol: 2mg | Sodium: 59mg | Potassium: 66mg | Sugar: 5g | Vitamin A: 30IU | Calcium: 5mg | Iron: 0.2mg

Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.

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Recipe time includes time for chilling to firm before dipping in the chocolate as well as the time for the chocolate to dry.

Enjoy!
Robyn xo

From the Add a Pinch recipe archives, originally posted 2011.

Categorized as:All Recipes, Chocolate, Christmas Recipes, Dessert Recipes, Freezer Friendly Recipes, Game Day Recipes, Halloween Recipes, Holiday and Occasion Recipes, New Year Recipes, Recipes, Simple Recipes, Southern Favorites

Welcome to Add A Pinch

About Robyn

Robyn Stone is a cookbook author, wife, mom, and passionate home cook. Her tested and trusted recipes give readers the confidence to cook recipes the whole family will love. Robyn has been featured on Food Network, People, Southern Living, and more.

Read more about Robyn

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Peanut Butter Balls Recipe (2024)

FAQs

How many cups of peanut butter must be used in order to make exactly enough peanut butter balls for the children at the party? ›

To make exactly enough peanut butter balls for the children at the party, you will need: 18 cups of peanut butter, 4.5 cups of confectioners sugar, and. 9 cups of condensed milk.

Why are my peanut butter balls runny? ›

Confectioners' Sugar: Confectioners' sugar binds everything together and adds sweetness. Without this powdery sugar, the peanut butter filling will be too liquid.

How many cups of peanut butter are in a jar? ›

26 oz of peanut butter is Avoirdupois weight in the US, whereas cups are “liquid volume.” Now round: 26 oz = 2.9 cups peanut butter.

How to make peanut butter tastier? ›

At this point, I love to sweeten the peanut butter with maple syrup (or honey) and add a pinch or two of salt. If your peanut butter is still thicker than you're looking for, add some oil — any neutral oil will do.

How much peanut butter is enough? ›

It is OK to eat peanut butter every day, but in moderation. Do not eat more than 2 tablespoons, approximately 32 grams, a day. This protein-packed spread is made by blending roasted peanuts into a thick paste and contains various nutrients that promote good health.

Why are my peanut butter balls not firm? ›

Not chilling the peanut butter balls long enough.

When the peanut balls aren't chilled long enough, they still have a soft texture that makes them tricky to work with because it's harder to have control when twirling them through the melted chocolate.

Why is my homemade peanut butter not runny? ›

Applying heat is the easiest way to thin peanut butter, but if your PB still looks grainy or is so thick that it's prone to burning, a little liquid can help. Try whisking in a few drops of water as you heat the peanut butter, slowly adding more until the butter reaches the right consistency.

What can I add to peanut butter to make it runny? ›

Any other fat, including vegetable oils, can be used to thin peanut butter. Each, of course, may add something to the mix -- like different flavors -- so you'd probably want something neutral, like peanut oil.

How many cups of peanut butter are in a 2lb jar? ›

How many cups in 2 lbs of peanut butter? 2 lb equals 907 g, so it is equivalent to about 3 to 3 1/2 cups of peanut butter.

Is it cheaper to make your own peanut butter? ›

And it's also a lot cheaper than store brands. You will love the texture. If you want it thick put it in the fridge. If you like it soft and runny keep it out.

How many cups are in a 16 oz jar of peanut butter? ›

A jar of store bought peanut butter that is 16 oz will yield about 2 cups and cost around 6 dollars (unless you go with the cheaper brands that have lots of additives in them).

Can dogs eat peanut butter? ›

Can dogs eat peanut butter? Yes, dogs can eat peanut butter, but it's important to check the label before spoiling your dog with this delicious treat as added ingredients could be harmful for them. For example, xylitol, a sugar substitute, is extremely toxic for dogs and can sometimes be found in peanut butter.

Why does my peanut butter taste funny? ›

The peanut butter may also appear dried out. If you have natural peanut butter (i.e., peanut butter made without stabilizers), it may also grow mold as a sign of spoilage. Finally, check the taste. Rancid peanut butter will have a sharp or bitter taste, and it won't taste like the spread you know and love.

What measuring cup do you use for peanut butter? ›

I'll tell you. You need a plunger-type measuring cup for all things sticky, gloppy, syrupy, gooey, greasy, and the like. You know how measuring peanut butter, or shortening, or honey is a mess? No more!

How do you calculate peanut butter servings? ›

Packaging often lists a single serving of peanut butter as 2 tablespoons (32 grams), roughly the amount needed to make a peanut butter sandwich. Like all other types of nut butter, peanut butter is high in calories, and has 191 calories per serving.

How much peanut butter does 1 cup of peanuts make? ›

1 cup of peanuts = about 150 grams. 1 cup of homemade peanut butter = 256 grams. So you need about 1 3/4 cups of peanuts for 1 cup of peanut butter. Which is easier than counting out 540 peanuts to make a 12-ounce jar of peanut butter!

What is the minimum peanut content for peanut butter? ›

According to the FDA, in order for a product to be labeled as peanut butter, it must contain at least 90 percent peanuts. The additional 10 percent may include salt, sweeteners and hydrogenated vegetable oils. Both natural and conventional peanut butter fit into this category.

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