Peanut Butter Balls Recipe

Chocolate and peanut butter are a match made in heaven. And it’s what gives these homemade peanut butter balls their heavenly perfection. 

These little bites are perfect for satisfying your sweet tooth and are incredibly easy to make. Below I cover exactly how to make them and the tips and tricks to ensuring your new favorite no-bake dessert is everything you’ve ever dreamed of. 

What You’ll Need for Peanut Butter Balls 

Creamy peanut butter. As the star of the show, creamy peanut butter provides the perfect base for these no-bake treats. It’s important to choose a smooth, high-quality peanut butter like Skippy or Jif to ensure the best flavor and consistency. You can use other nut butters or natural peanut butter, but we’ll cover that later.

Powdered sugar (aka confectioners’ sugar). This ingredient helps sweeten and thicken the peanut butter filling. It changes the mouthfeel and gives the dessert more of a bite, so you won’t just be biting into a ball of peanut butter.

Unsalted butter. If you know me, you know I think everything’s better with butter. Can you replace the butter or leave it out? Sure. But why would you? 

Vanilla extract. A little bit of vanilla extract adds a subtle hint of flavor that complements the peanut butter and chocolate perfectly.

Chocolate chips. Semi-sweet or dark chocolate chips are used for coating the peanut butter balls, providing a rich and decadent outer layer that balances out the sweetness of the peanut butter filling. 

Optional add-ins. Feel free to get creative with your dessert by adding in other ingredients like oats, crushed peanuts, or even small pieces of Reese’s peanut butter cups. You can also drizzle white chocolate on top or add sprinkles for a festive touch! My personal favorite addition is a sprinkle of quality sea salt at the end. 

Now that you’re armed with all the information you need to make the best peanut butter balls, let’s dive into the recipe!

How to Make Easy Peanut Butter Balls 

Prep Time: 20 min

Total Time: 1 hour (including chilling time)

Ingredients

• 1 cup creamy peanut butter
• 1/2 cup unsalted butter, softened
• 3 cups powdered sugar (confectioners’ sugar)
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
• 2 cups semi-sweet chocolate chips
• 1 teaspoon coconut oil
• Optional: sea salt, sprinkles, crushed peanuts, oats, or white chocolate for decoration

Instructions

1. In a large mixing bowl, combine the peanut butter, softened butter, powdered sugar, and vanilla extract. Stir until well combined and smooth.
2. Refrigerate the peanut butter mixture for 30 minutes, or until firm enough to shape into balls.
3. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper or wax paper. Using a small cookie scoop or your hands, shape the peanut butter mixture into 1-inch balls and place them on the prepared baking sheet.
4. Place the balls in the freezer for 15-20 minutes to firm up.
5. In a microwave-safe bowl, combine the chocolate chips and coconut oil. Melt in the microwave in 30-second intervals, stirring in between, until smooth and fully melted.
6. Remove the peanut butter balls from the freezer. Using a fork, dip each ball into the melted chocolate, allowing any excess chocolate to drip off before placing it back on the baking sheet.
7. If desired, sprinkle the peanut butter balls with sea salt, sprinkles, crushed peanuts, or oats, or drizzle with melted white chocolate for decoration.
8. Refrigerate the dipped balls for at least 15-20 minutes or until the chocolate is set.
9. Enjoy your delicious and easy peanut butter balls! Store any leftovers in the refrigerator.

Tips for Making the Best Peanut Butter Balls

Use quality ingredients. It’s important to use high-quality ingredients because it will affect the final taste of these tasty little treats. Opt for a creamy peanut butter like Skippy or Jif. Over the years, I’ve found that these brands have a smooth consistency that works well in this recipe. For the chocolate, use semi-sweet chocolate or dark chocolate chips without any fillers such as added cocoa butter or alkaline. A quality dark chocolate will give you that punch of cacao flavor we all crave.

Chill the peanut butter mixture. Before shaping the peanut butter balls, make sure to refrigerate the mixture for at least 30 minutes. This will make it easier to work with and help the balls hold their shape. If you skip this step… Just don’t skip this step. You’ll thank me later.

Use a small cookie scoop. To ensure even and uniform-sized peanut butter balls, use a small cookie scoop to measure out the filling. It’s a minor thing that won’t affect the taste but will make your final dessert prettier. 

Freeze before dipping. Once the peanut butter balls are shaped, place them in the freezer for about 15-20 minutes before dipping them in the melted chocolate. This will help them hold their shape and prevent them from falling apart in the chocolate.

Add coconut oil to the chocolate. When melting the chocolate chips, add a teaspoon of coconut oil to help thin out the chocolate and make it easier to dip the peanut butter balls. I highly, highly recommend this. It will prevent the chocolate from becoming clumpy and hard to work with. Chocolate is finicky and this ingredient is a life saver!

Substitutions and Variations

Swap your butter. Yes, you can make this recipe without butter or can use a vegan butter if you prefer. Also, if all you have is salted butter, that’s ok to use too. I typically use unsalted butter because the peanut butter is usually salty enough. If you do go the salted butter route, try and find peanut butter without added salt. 

Swap your peanut butter. Whether you’re a die-hard almond butter fan or have an allergy, swapping out your peanut butter for any nut butter is okay. A few of my favorite nut butters include: almond butter and cashew butter. Remember, not all nut butters are created equally. 

Add a crunch. Add a crunch to the outside (or inside!) with additions such as sprinkles, tiny chocolate chips, coconut, or even mashed-up granola!  

Swap dark chocolate for… Pretty much anything you can think of. Try dark chocolate or white chocolate. You could even try ruby chocolate.

Peanut Butter Balls FAQs

What’s the Difference Between Peanut Butter Balls and Buckeyes?

You may have heard of buckeyes, which are a popular candy in the Midwest, especially in Ohio (the Buckeye State!). 

While peanut butter balls and buckeyes are very similar, there’s one key difference: buckeyes are not completely coated in chocolate. Instead, they’re dipped in chocolate and then left with a small circle of peanut butter filling exposed on the top, resembling the nut from the buckeye tree. Peanut butter balls, on the other hand, are completely covered in chocolate. It’s a minor difference, but one worth pointing out 😉

Can I use natural peanut butter in this recipe?

Yes, you can use natural peanut butter. With that said, however, it’s important to note that it may result in a slightly different texture and your balls may not hold together as well. You may need to adjust the amount of powdered sugar (and or butter) to achieve the right consistency.

Can I use almond butter or other nut butter instead of peanut butter?

Absolutely! You can substitute almond butter, cashew butter, or even sunflower seed butter if you have a nut allergy. Just keep in mind that the flavor will be slightly different depending on the type of nut or seed butter you use.

How do I store the peanut butter balls?

Once the balls are dipped in chocolate, and the chocolate has set, store them in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to two weeks. You can also freeze them for up to three months. Just ensure they’re well-wrapped in plastic wrap or stored in a freezer-safe container.

Can I make these peanut butter balls vegan?

Yes! To make vegan peanut butter balls, use dairy-free chocolate chips and substitute a plant-based butter for the unsalted butter in the peanut butter filling.

Have questions or suggestions about making homemade peanut butter balls? Leave them in the comments below. 

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