Easy peanut butter balls made with creamy peanut butter and powdered sugar, dipped in a sweet chocolate coating for a simple holiday treat.
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Chocolate Peanut Butter Balls Recipe
If you love Reese’s peanut butter bars or my rich chocolate peanut butter fudge, you will love these chocolate peanut butter balls! They are basically a creamy peanut butter truffle covered in chocolate. Similar to a buckeye recipe and so hard to resist!
These peanut butter balls are chocolate covered and irresistible just like my peanut butter blossoms! If you love the combination of peanut butter and chocolate in holiday cookies and treats, you will love these truffles.
Ingredient Notes
Find the full printable recipe with specific measurements below.
- Peanut butter: I prefer creamy smooth peanut butter from Skippy or Jif. The natural peanut butter that is drippy won’t work in this recipe.
- Butter: Use unsalted butter. I let it sit out on the counter for a bit to soften and come to room temperature.
- Vanilla extract: This adds a delicious boost of pure vanilla flavor.
- Powdered sugar: Also known as confectioners’ sugar. This helps sweeten the balls and creates an extra creamy texture.
- Chocolate: High quality semi-sweet chocolate melting wafers work best (like Ghirardelli).
How to Make Peanut Butter Balls
Start by mixing together peanut butter, butter and vanilla with an electric mixer. Mix in 1 cup of powdered sugar gradually then use hands to mix in the remaining 3/4 cup powdered sugar. Shape into 1-inch balls and place in the freezer for 15 minutes to harden.
Next melt the chocolate until smooth (in a double boiler or microwave 60 seconds). Remove from freezer, then dip individually into chocolate until evenly coated. Place back on parchment paper or wax paper.
Immediately add toppings like sea salt, chopped nuts or sprinkles. Then place truffles in the fridge to chill for 10 minutes. Enjoy!
Tips for the Best Peanut Butter Balls
- Use high quality chocolate. I’ve found that Ghirardelli melting wafers work best. You could use chopped dark chocolate, white chocolate, candy melts or even almond bark.
- Nut butter. Any nut butter works, almond butter, cashew butter or crunchy peanut butter.
- Crispy: Make peanut butter balls with Rice Krispies! Just mix some Rice Krispies cereal in with the peanut butter filling for a crispy texture.
- Chill before coating with chocolate. This helps the chocolate-covered peanut butter balls hold their shape and prevents these bite-sized treats from melting.
- Use a fork for dipping. Place the peanut butter ball on your fork, then dip in chocolate. Tap the fork on the side of the bowl to remove any excess chocolate.
- Immediately add toppings. The warm chocolate dries fast, so immediately sprinkle on toppings while it’s still wet. If drizzling with chocolate like I do in chocolate covered coconut balls, that can be added after they set.