Peanut Butter Balls are an easy treat made with sweetened peanut butter and covered in chocolate. Everyone LOVES this recipe!
Peanut Butter Balls are one of those recipes my mother-in-law makes that I cannot get enough of! Peanut butter is my happy place! If I could only ever eat these and her Bacon Wrapped Crackers, I think I’d be a happy girl. (She also inspired our Hot Chocolate Puppy Chow recipe!)
Peanut Butter Balls
Peanut Butter Balls {NO BAKE}
Click the button above to save this recipe!
Ingredients You’ll Need for No Bake Peanut Butter Balls
- Peanut Butter – I like a creamy peanut butter for this recipe, but you could use crunchy if you want some extra texture!
- Powdered Sugar – Also called confectioners’ sugar or icing sugar.
- Butter – If you use salted butter, skip adding salt later in the recipe.
- Vanilla – Use real vanilla extract, not imitation vanilla.
- Salt – If you use salted butter, you’ll want to skip this ingredient.
- Chocolate – Semi-sweet chocolate morsels work perfectly in this recipe.
- Shortening – Creates a smoother and more manageable consistency than melted chocolate alone. Adding shortening helps to make a more evenly coated peanut butter ball.
How Do You Make Peanut Butter Balls
⭐ First, mix peanut butter, butter, vanilla and salt with a mixer until blended (try using an electric mixer on low). Add 2 cups powdered sugar, blend.
⭐ Next, use additional powdered sugar until mixture can be shaped into a ball and will stay on a toothpick. Shape into about 1-inch balls and refrigerate until firm.
⭐ Then, place chocolate chips and shortening in microwave-safe bowl. Microwave in 15 – 20 second increments, mixing in-between until chocolate is melted. (You can re-melt as needed when making balls).
⭐ Finally, insert toothpick into balls. Dip into chocolate, then remove excess. Place on a parchment-lined tray. Remove toothpick. Refrigerate until firm.
Love easy holiday recipes? Try a strawberry poke cake next!
Scroll down to the printable recipe card toward the bottom of this article for ingredient measurements and detailed cooking instructions.
How Long Are Peanut Butter Balls Good For?
★ At Room Temperature
Our Peanut Butter Balls Recipe can be stored for several days at room temperature in a cool dry place. Make sure it is kept in a well-sealed container. Do not store unrefrigerated in a warm or hot climate.
★ In the Refrigerator
They can be stored in the refrigerator for up to two weeks. Again, you’ll want to make sure the balls are in a sealed container so they don’t take on the smell or flavor of other items in your fridge.
★ In the Freezer
My favorite way to store chocolate peanut butter balls is in the freezer! They will last for several months, so you can make a big batch ahead of time and just pull out what you need in the moment.
Should Peanut Butter Balls Be Refrigerated
For best ready-to-eat results, store in the refrigerator for up to two weeks. If you have time for thawing, you can store in the freezer for several months.
You’ll also want to refrigerate your balls after forming them, and before dipping in chocolate.
Can Peanut Butter Balls Be Frozen
Yes, peanut butter balls can be frozen! Make sure to allow the chocolate coating to cool completely, then place the balls in a container in single layers, separated by sheets of parchment paper. Use a freezer-safe, sealed container and make sure to label with the date and contents.
This will stay good in the freezer for up to three months. Thaw in the refrigerator overnight or on the counter at room temperature before enjoying. Do not thaw in the microwave.
How Do You Dip a Peanut Butter Ball
To dip the balls, first shape them into spheres – this is best done by rolling them into your hands. Then place them in the refrigerator for a few hours, or into the freezer for about 30 minutes to set. You want them to be firm so they won’t melt in the hot chocolate.
Next, spear a ball about halfway through with a toothpick, and then dip or swirl it in your melted chocolate. Place the chocolate covered peanut butter ball on a parchment lined baking sheet and remove the toothpick, and gently smooth chocolate over any holes or bubbles that may have been created.
How Do You Keep the Peanut Butter Balls from Melting?
Make sure the balls are chilled until firm before dipping in the hot melted chocolate. Place in the refrigerator for a few hours, or in the freezer for about 30 minutes.
If you are doubling the recipe (or more), remove the balls from refrigeration in small batches so they stay cold and firm.
Tips on How to Make Easy Peanut Butter Balls
★ It is important that you have added enough powdered sugar so that you achieve a workable peanut butter dough, but not so much that it becomes crumbly. If your dough is too runny, add additional powdered sugar in small increments.
★ Make sure to chill your dough balls for a sufficient amount of time between forming them and dipping them to make sure they will keep their shape and stay on the toothpick while you are dipping.
★ When storing your peanut butter balls, use parchment paper between the layers to keep them from sticking to one another.
★ Prepare a double batch, because these go fast!
More Sweet Recipes with Peanut Butter
- Peanut Butter Granola with Chocolate Chips
- Buckeye candy
- Three Ingredient Peanut Butter Cookies
- Peanut Butter “Candied” Apples
- Flourless Peanut Butter Chocolate Chip Cookies
- Peanut Butter Fruit Dip
Delicious Savory Recipes with Peanut Butter
What to Serve with Peanut Butter Balls
We love these as a treat after lunch or dinner! Here are a few yummy meal ideas to serve alongside:
- Easy BBQ Pulled Pork
- Instant Pot Ribs
- Perfect Ribeye Steak
- Mexican Lasagna with Tortillas
- Quick Meatball Soup
Recommended Tools
- Bakers half sheet – It’s cool, we only have about six of these bakers half sheets because they’re good for absolutely everything. Cookies? Yes! Steak? Yes! Cake? Oh yeh! Roasted veggies? Uhhhh huh!
- Electric mixer – I love love love love love (x’s 100) my stand mixer. Really and truly. But my daily work horse is this handheld electric mixer. It even comes in allll the colors. Which, yay!
- Silicone baking mats – Nothing sticks to these! Whaaaa?! Perfect for baking sugary cookies, or cheesy croissants. You know why? Because nothing sticks to these!!!
- Stand mixer – Save the best for last? Or at least the most grand. I don’t know why, but a kitchen just doesn’t feel like a kitchen without one of these bad boys tucked away on the counter. My favorite things to make in ours are ginger cookies, no churn ice cream, and shredded chicken. Yup, seriously. The mixer shreds chicken like no ones business!
Get our FREE Easy Casseroles Ebook!
Follow us below!Use #mamalovesfood on Instagram!
How to Make Peanut Butter Balls
Peanut Butter Balls
Ingredients
- 1 1/2 cups creamy peanut butter
- 1/2 cup butter room temp
- 1 teaspoon real vanilla extract
- 1/4 teaspoon salt
- 3 cups powdered sugar more as needed
- 1 package semi-sweet chocolate chips 12 ounces
- 2 tablespoons shortening
Instructions
- Mix peanut butter, butter, vanilla and salt with a mixer until blended (try using an electric mixer on low). Add 2 cups powdered sugar, blend.
- Use additional powdered sugar until mixture can be shaped into a ball and will stay on a toothpick. Shape into about 1 inch balls and refrigerate until firm.
- Place chocolate chips and shortening in microwave-safe bowl. Microwave in 15 - 20 second increments, mixing in-between until chocolate is melted. (You can re-melt as needed when making balls).
- Insert toothpick into balls. Dip into chocolate, then remove excess. Place on a parchment lined tray. Remove toothpick and smooth over holes. Refrigerate until firm.
Video
Notes
Nutrition
Get our FREE Easy Casseroles Ebook!
Follow us below!Use #mamalovesfood on Instagram!
We Love Peanut Butter!
• From breakfast to dessert and everything in between, peanut butter is a versatile, affordable ingredient that can be added to meals and snacks for a tasty, nutritious boost.
• No matter how you partake in peanut butter, you’ll get eight powerful grams of protein, two grams of filling fiber and 12 grams of unsaturated fat in each two-tablespoon serving!
• Now it’s your turn to spread the peanut butter love! Share your favorite peanut butter recipe in the comments with the hashtag #HowDoYouPB.
• Click here for even more delicious peanut butter recipes for every occasion!
Kristi Wheeler says
Wow these look really great! My three boys love peanut butter. I was thinking of making a couple of peanut butter desserts for their birthday parties, these I’m sure taste great, but they also are pretty enough to serve at a party! Perfect! Thanks for the great recipe!
mboger@bellsouth.net says
I made these, but parafin works much beter and has a much glossier finish and is a lot prettier.
April Woods says
thanks for the tip!
Christine says
These are really good thanks for the recipe however it would be nice if you put the ingredients closer to the top of the post instead of having to scroll through all the unnecessary reading!!!!
April Woods says
I’m sorry that you find our tips, tricks, and helpful links unnecessary. We have a link at the top of every article that says “Jump to Recipe” – if you click it you will be magically transported directly to the printable recipe. So glad you enjoyed the peanut butter balls though š
Melissa says
Can I use coconut oil in the chocolate chips instead of shortening?
April Woods says
I haven’t tried it, but I think it would work. You could also skip the shortening entirely. It makes it a little easier to dip but isn’t strictly necessary š