Chocolate Covered Peanut Butter Balls

Whip up the best no-bake dessert that tastes like Reese’s Peanut Butter Cups with these decadent Chocolate Covered Peanut Butter Balls. Using just five ingredients, these creamy peanut butter truffles, coated in rich dark chocolate, are the perfect party treats for holidays or any special occasion.

These easy peanut butter balls are a great recipe to make when you want to give a homemade gift to someone. They are so beautiful that they look like a professional chocolatier made them. And they taste just as good, too! The sweet, fluffy peanut butter filling is encased in rich dark chocolate and topped with a sweet peanut butter glaze. They are the ultimate peanut butter dessert! 

Chocolate-covered peanut butter balls are the perfect things to give as gifts, serve at parties, or sell at a bake sale. They taste perfect any time of year! These five-ingredient peanut butter balls are so easy to make that you’ll make them a new family tradition. Turn on some music, grab the mixer, and let’s get baking! 

Why You’ll Love Chocolate Covered Peanut Butter Balls

• Simple Ingredients. This easy recipe uses ingredients that you probably already have in your pantry. 
• No baking is required. These no-bake peanut butter balls are ready in 45 minutes. 
• Easy to change. Use sunflower seed butter or other type of nut or seed butter. There are so many ways to change this recipe. 
• Tastes like candy. They have the same flavor as Reese’s cup candies. 

Ingredients

The full printable recipe card with measurements and instructions is found at the bottom of the post.

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There are two parts to this easy peanut butter balls recipe – the truffles and the peanut butter glaze. Here is what you’ll need for each part. 

Truffles

• Creamy Peanut Butter: Either natural peanut butter or processed peanut butter will taste perfect; make sure it’s creamy. 
• Unsalted Butter: In order to control how salty the truffles taste, use unsalted butter and make sure it’s softened so it’s easier to mix. 
• Powdered Sugar: This is the best thing to sweeten the balls with because it makes the filling extra fluffy. 
• Vanilla Extract: This gives the filling a deeper flavor. 
• Ghiradelli Dark Chocolate Melting Wafers: This is the candy coating; you can use your favorite flavor or variety of chocolate. 

Optional Peanut Butter Drizzle 

• Ghiradelli Vanilla Melting Wafers: This sweetens the glaze and makes it harden as it cools. 
• Creamy Peanut Butter: This is essential if you want it to taste like peanut butter.   

How to Make Chocolate Covered Peanut Butter Balls

• Step One: Line a large baking tray with parchment paper and set it aside.
• Step Two: In a large mixing bowl, using a hand mixer, beat the peanut butter and softened butter until smooth and well blended.

• Step Three: Add in the vanilla extract and gradually add in the powdered sugar a little at a time; beat together until well combined. The mixture will be soft, so place the bowl into the refrigerator to chill for 20 minutes to firm it up.

• Step Four: Once chilled, use a 1 ½ inch cookie scoop to mold into balls. Roll them in your clean hands until even and round. Place on the prepared baking sheet.
• Step Five: Place the baking sheet in the refrigerator to chill for another 20 minutes.
• Step Six: Prepare a double boiler over low heat to melt the dark chocolate melting wafers. Stir occasionally until fully melted and smooth. You can also use a microwave to melt the chocolate instead on low at 30 second intervals.
• Step Seven: Use a fork to dip each of the chilled balls, one at a time, into the melted chocolate. Lift the ball out using the fork and tap it against the side to shake off any excess.

• Step Eight: Place the coated ball back onto the prepared baking tray and finish coating the rest of the balls. Place the baking sheet back in the fridge so the chocolate coating can set, about 5 minutes.
• Step Nine: Using a clean double boiler, melt the vanilla wafers and peanut butter together over low heat. Stir occasionally until fully melted.
• Step Ten: Remove the baking sheet from the fridge. Drizzle the melted peanut butter mixture over the balls using a fork or a piping bag.
• Step Eleven: Refrigerate until ready to eat.

Equipment Needed

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• Mixing Bowls: You’ll use one bowl for mixing all the ingredients and another microwave-safe bowl to melt the chocolate. 
• Hand Mixer: Either a hand mixer or stand mixer is the best way to mix everything together easily. 
• Baking Tray: This should be large enough to hold all of the peanut butter balls so they can be set.  
• Double Boiler: This is optional because you can melt the chocolate in the microwave, too. 
• Piping Bag: Another optional tool, but it makes it really easy to drizzle the peanut butter glaze on top.  

What to Serve with Chocolate Covered Peanut Butter Balls

The creamy peanut butter filling makes these little bites one of the best snacks or desserts. Serve them with other peanut butter treats like these. 

• Peanut Butter Cookies 
• Peanut Butter Pie 
• Peanut Butter Bars
• Chocolate Peanut Butter Whoopie Pies 
• No-Bake Chocolate Peanut Butter Balls 

Variations and Substitutions

• For firmer peanut butter balls, mix in an extra ½-¾ cup of powdered sugar. Keep in mind that it will make it much sweeter. You can alternatively mix in ½-¾ cup of heat-treated flour. This will change the flavor and consistency a little bit and make it closer to cookie dough.
• Add candy or nuts. Mix in a little bit of chopped nuts, mini chocolate chips, toffee bits, Reese’s pieces, graham cracker crumbs, or even Rice Krispies cereal for additional fun flavors and textures. Easily make this your own!
• For the drizzle, you do not need to mix the peanut butter with the vanilla melting wafers. You can melt only peanut butter if desired or even drizzle the tops with leftover dark chocolate melting wafers. I find that mixing the peanut butter with the melting wafers is better because it will allow it to harden, which makes storing leftovers much easier.
• Top it with chopped nuts, sprinkles, or even finishing salt if desired.
• Use almond butter or cashew butter instead of peanut butter 
• Instead of dark chocolate, use semi-sweet chocolate chips. 
• Use coconut oil instead of butter. 

Storage Instructions 

Store leftovers refrigerated in an airtight container for up to 2 weeks.

You can also freeze them in a freezer-safe airtight container for up to 3 months.

Before you freeze them, the coating must be completely set, and the peanut butter balls must be at room temperature. If they are too warm, they will get stuck together.

Another way to prevent them from sticking together is to place a sheet of parchment paper or wax paper in between the layers. Then, thaw the chocolate peanut butter balls in the refrigerator before eating them. 

Chocolate Covered Peanut Butter Balls Tips and Tricks

• These peanut butter balls are sticky to roll, so make sure to chill them long enough for them to firm up. It will be easier to handle, but you should still work quickly.
• Chill the balls again after rolling, as it will soften again from being in your hands. Chilling will allow it to firm back up so that it can keep its shape when dipping into the melted wafers.
• Make sure to top it immediately after dipping the balls in the melts and placing them onto the baking sheet before the chocolate sets.

How To Decorate For the Holidays

Decorating the peanut butter balls for the holidays is really easy. All you have to do is add some red and green sprinkles. Or, make a vanilla glaze and make half of it red and half of it green, adding some red and green swirls on top. 

What Is The Best Peanut Butter To Use? 

It’s best to use creamy peanut butter in the filling. This is because if you used crunchy peanut butter, the sharp bits of peanuts would distract from the creamy and fluffy peanut butter filling. 

Can You Use Chocolate Chips For Dipping? 

Yes, you can use chocolate chips instead of chocolate wafers. In fact, you can also use almond bark, candy melts, or premium chocolate suited for melting. Any of these options will give it a smooth chocolate coating. 

Why Are My Peanut Butter Balls Soft?

The most common reason your peanut butter balls are so soft is that you didn’t add enough powdered sugar. The powdered sugar helps the filling become firm and holds it together better. You can also try adding a little more butter. 

What Is The Difference Between Buckeyes and Peanut Butter Balls? 

Buckeye candies look like the Buckeye nuts that are native to Ohio. Instead of coating the entire peanut butter ball in chocolate, there is a spot at the top that is left uncovered. This is what makes them look like the nuts. That’s honestly the most significant difference between them. 

Can I Make Peanut Butter Cups Instead of Balls?

Yes, this recipe will make peanut butter cups, too! To make peanut butter cups, line a cupcake tin with cupcake liners. Then, pour a layer of melted chocolate, add a layer of peanut butter filling, and top with more chocolate. Let them chill and set. 

FAQ

Christmas Candy Recipes        

These little peanut butter balls are the perfect addition to Christmas candy dishes. Here are some more holiday treats you should make next: 

• Crockpot Candied Nuts
• Double Chocolate Meringue Cookies
• Frito Candy
• Peppermint Crockpot Candy
• Pecan Pie Balls
• Buddy the Elf Christmas Crack

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