This Chocolate peanut butter balls recipe is my favorite holiday candy and is so easy to make! They’re like little Reese’s peanut butter cups but in bite-sized ball form. Make a batch or two; they are perfect for gifting, parties, or just treating yourself during the holidays.
The Best Peanut Butter Balls
I love anything with peanut butter. Add in some chocolate, and I am officially obsessed. Peanut Butter Balls take my favorite flavor combination of chocolate and peanut butter, found in my Peanut Butter Bars and Reese’s Peanut Butter Cup Pie, and turn it into a chocolate-covered truffle.
This is Why We Love Chocolate Peanut Butter Balls
- Quick and easy to make treats.
- Uses a handful of simple ingredients.
- Make-ahead recipe and perfect for freezing
- No-bake dessert recipes that require no cooking are great during the hectic holiday season.
- Perfect for a potluck or party, dessert platter, cookie exchange, gift giving, or serving as a snack.
Peanut Butter Balls Ingredients
- Smooth Peanut butter: I used creamy peanut butter (like Jif or Skippy) because I love a smooth texture, but you can use crunchy peanut butter. I do not recommend using natural peanut butter in this recipe–it is too oily, and the balls will not set properly.
- Butter: Soften to room temperature. Let it sit out for about 1 hour (not more). You don’t want it too soft or melted.
- Powdered sugar: Also known as Confectioners sugar. This will hold everything together.
- Vanilla extract
- Chocolate chips: Use your favorite white, milk, dark, or semi-sweet chocolate chips. You can substitute this with candy melts or almond bark and leave out the paraffin wax.
- Paraffin wax: (you only need the wax if you use chocolate chips.)
- Sprinkles
See the recipe card for full information on ingredients and quantities.
How to Make Peanut Butter Balls
- Make The Middle Mixture: Mix together the peanut butter, butter, powdered sugar and vanilla extract (Image 1). Roll the peanut butter mixture into balls. (Image 2)
- Melt The Chocolate: Bring the water to a rolling boil, then add the chocolate chips and wax. Stir until smooth.
Pro Tip: If you use candy melts, leave out the wax and follow the directions on the package (I usually will melt the chocolate in the microwave when using candy melts or almond bark) - Dip and Decorate: Dip each peanut butter ball into melted chocolate to cover (Image 3) and decorate with sprinkles or a drizzle of white chocolate.
- Set And Serve: Place in the freezer to harden the chocolate coating for about 30 minutes (Image 4). Serve and enjoy!
Tips & Variations
- If the balls are not holding together well, add a bit more confectioner sugar (powdered sugar). Add one tablespoon at a time until the desired consistency is reached.
- If your dough becomes too sticky to roll, just put it in the refrigerator for a few minutes. It is much easier to work with the dough when it is cool. (You may even want to consider putting the dough in the refrigerator for a few minutes before forming balls).
- When dipping the balls into the melted chocolate,use a fork and gently tap any excess chocolate on the side of the bowl. I like to use a toothpick to remove the excess melted chocolate from the bottom of the fork and then gently push the ball onto the prepared baking sheet.
- I like to use this cookie scoop to keep the balls uniform in size.
- Make With Mix-Ins: You can make no-bake peanut butter balls with oats, Rice Krispies, graham crackers, or mix mini chocolate chips into the peanut butter batter.
- Decorate Your Desserts: You can decorate these bites with fun and festive colors after you dip them in chocolate. Try using colorful sprinkles, sanding sugar, crushed pretzel pieces, contrasting colored chocolate drizzle, or a sprinkle of sea salt.
How to Store Peanut Butter Balls
- To Store: The best way to store peanut butter balls is in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 2 weeks. I recommend you place a layer of wax or parchment paper between them.
- To Freeze: You can freeze peanut butter balls by chilling them until firm, then layer them in an airtight container with wax or parchment paper in between. Thaw in the fridge or at room temp for 10-15 minutes and enjoy within 3 months.
More Peanut Butter and Chocolate Recipes
- Buckeye Bars
- Chocolate Peanut Butter Dessert Cups
- Peanut Butter Cornflake Cookies
- Homemade Peanut Butter Cups
- Monster Cookie Energy Balls
If you tried this No Bake Peanut Butter Balls Recipe or any other recipe on my website, please leave a 🌟 star rating and let me know how it went in the 📝 comments below. Thanks for visiting!!!
Chocolate Peanut Butter Balls Recipe
Serves — 25
Prep Time 20 minutes
Total Time 20 minutes
Video
Ingredients
- 1½ cups chunky or creamy peanut butter
- ½ cup butter softened
- 2 cups powdered sugar
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 12 oz bag of chocolate chips
- 2 tablespoons paraffin wax grated (You can substitute this with Candy Melts – then you would leave out the paraffin wax)
- sprinkles optional
Instructions
- In a large bowl add peanut butter, butter, powdered sugar and vanilla extract. Mix to combine.1½ cups chunky or creamy peanut butter, ½ cup butter, 2 cups powdered sugar, 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- Form into 25 balls. Using a double boiler bring water to a rolling boil and add chocolate chips and wax. Stir until smooth.note: if you use the candy melts, leave out the wax and follow the directions on the package)12 oz bag of chocolate chips, 2 tablespoons paraffin wax
- Using a spoon dip each peanut butter ball into chocolate to cover. Place dipped balls on a rimmed sheet pan lined with wax or parchment paper.
- Sprinkle with holiday themed sprinkles or drizzle with white chocolate (optional)sprinkles
- Place in freezer to harden about 30 minutes.
Jenn’s Notes
Storage:
- To Store: Peanut butter balls can stored in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 2 weeks.
- To Freeze: You can freeze them in a freezer-safe container for up to 3 months.
- Do not use natural peanut butter in this recipe–it is too oily and the balls will not set properly. I think Jif or Skippy works great!
- If the balls are not holding together well, add a little more confectioner sugar (powdered sugar). Add one tablespoon at a time until the desired consistency is reached.
- If your dough becomes too sticky to roll, just put it in the refrigerator for a few minutes. It is much easier to work with the dough when it is cool. (You may even want to consider putting the dough in the refrigerator for a few minutes before you begin forming balls).
- When dipping the balls into the melted chocolate, let the excess chocolate drip off for just a moment before placing on wax paper or parchment paper.
- I like to use this cookie scoop to keep the balls uniform in size.
Nutrition Info
Calories: 138kcal | Carbohydrates: 18g | Fat: 6g | Saturated Fat: 4g | Cholesterol: 11mg | Sodium: 41mg | Sugar: 17g | Vitamin A: 145IU | Vitamin C: 0.1mg | Calcium: 17mg | Iron: 0.2mg
How many is considered one serving? I need to watch carbohydrates.
Thanks for wasting my time, energy and money. If you think some peanut bitters won’t work, list a brand to use. If you and your followers don’t think the candy melts are the way to go, don’t recommend using them.
What was supposed to take an hour, consumed the majority of my morning… For nothing.
I’m a little disappointed. My peanut butter mix is sticky and not wanting to make into a ball. I added a tablespoon of powdered sugar but that didn’t help. I really wanted these to work!
I was planning on using almond bark as well but I can’t even get the mix to make a ball! Do you have a solution for this?
I used Jif brand peanut butter.
Hey!! I just wanted to update. After I put the dough in the fridge for about an hour, it was manageable to make into balls. Jenn says this in the first part of the post. Once I made my balls I put them in the freezer forabout 2 hours. They were no problem to dip in the chocolate at the time, and I used Almond Bark which worked beautifully.
They were such a hit!! Omgosh sooo delicious!
So yes, they are a little difficult to work with, but very worth it in the end.
Thanks Jenn for a great recipe!
Thanks SO much for your comment – always helpful to hear what is working and not working!
Add shortening to the chocolate
SO sorry they didn’t work out for you.
Can you use Almond Bark instead? Also, your video shows 1/4 cup butter, but the recipe calls for 1/2 Cup. Just wanted to make sure what amount to use.
I was wondering if we could use almond bark too.
I haven’t tried Almond Bark before – but I think it would work.
Sorry about the error in the video. It should be 1/2 cup as stated in the recipe.
What happens if I leave out the parrafin wax but use regular chocolate? Wax doesn’t sound edible!
It is totally edible! You can try it, but your chocolate will probably be on the lumpy side when you dip it! (Use candy melts if you are leaving out the wax)
For those who do not like to use the Paraffin wax, you can substitute 2 Tbsp of Crisco shortening.
In the written part you say 2 tablespoons of paraffin, but in the recipe you day 1. How many is it?
So sorry – thanks for catching it – it should be 2 tablespoons. I just fixed it in the post.
these balls left me irritated…i had to freeze the balls before dipping into chocolate, but softened so darn fast…and i dont think the candy melts are the way to go for these…the melts are to thick so once you get the ball into the chocolate it was so thick that the balls started to flatten when i tried to roll them around to get coated…My kids liked them but they didnt turn out pretty so i hope they sell at the bake sale tomorrow
Oh man… so sorry they didn’t work out well for you!
could it have been the brand of peanut butter? some are oily.
Wholeheartedly agree with this review. They need to be put in the freezer before you have any chance of making a ball out of the peanut butter mix. In addition, I had to add a little vegetable oil to the candy melts or it was thick and messy. Best tasting poorly written recipe though!
Do you have the recipe for the no-bake cookies that you use peanut butter and oatmeal in them
These: https://princesspinkygirl.com/no-bake-peanut-butter-oatmeal-bars/
or these: https://princesspinkygirl.com/no-bake-monster-cookie-oatmeal-energy-balls/
I have that one.
2 c granulated sugar
1/4 c. Cocoa powder
1/2 c. Butter or margarine ( can use salted or unsalted) if using unsalted, add a pinch of salt to the recipe.
3 c. Quick cooking oats ( not instant)
1/2 c. Peanut butter ( smooth or crunchy)
1 tsp. Vanilla extract
Combine sugar, cocoa powder, butter and milk to a medium to large saucepan ( I normally use my Dutch oven). Bring the mixture to a full rolling boil on high heat, stirring constantly to keep it from scorching. Boil for 2 minutes and remove from heat. Stir in the peanut butter and the oats and vanilla extract. Drop by spoonfuls onto wax or parchment paper or silicone mat. Allow to cool and enjoy.
how much milk for no bake cookies
In Ohio we call these Buckeyes
Love this recipe! My husband is a diabetic. Do you have any recipes for them!
I’m pretty sure I couldn’t love these more if I tried! Chocolate-y peanutbuttery amazingness right here!