Peanut Butter Balls are one of those treasured Christmas cookie recipes that will end up being a family tradition. This recipe is our favorite with a creamy peanut butter filling (that get a crunch from rice krispies) wrapped in a chocolate coating.
Similar to buckeyes but with a delicious crunch, dip them in chocolate as you would a chocolate truffle or even add a few sprinkles on top. You’ll definitely want to add this recipe to your Christmas Cookie Favorites!
Easy No Bake Treats
Fudge and candies like Oreo Truffles and toffee are a favorite around here. Of course, we love to bake traditional favorites like chocolate crinkle cookies or shortbread cookies, but filling in your holiday baking with no-bake favorites will free up the oven!
Tips For Peanut Butter Balls
- The dough will be soft and sticky and it must be chilled before rolling.
- If it’s still too sticky, add more powdered sugar.
- Melt chocolate in a double boiler for best results. (If you don’t have a double boiler, you can use a bowl and a saucepan. See below for directions)
- Do not get water in your chocolate or it will seize up.
- Dough can be made days ahead of time and refrigerated.
How to Make Peanut Butter Balls
In just a few easy steps these sweet morsels will be ready to freeze… or sample!
- Melt butter and peanut butter together in a saucepan on med/low heat.
- Remove from heat and stir in the powdered sugar, rice krispies, graham crumbs. Roll into 1-inch balls and chill.
- Dip Peanut Butter Balls in melted chocolate, according to recipe directions below! Chill and serve.
How to Dip Peanut Butter Balls
Melt Chocolate
Double Boiler is my preferred method as the chocolate is smooth and it says melted longer.
- If you don’t have a double boiler, place a glass bowl in a pot with water. Ensure the water is not touching the bowl and allow the water to simmer. The steam will heat the bowl melting the chocolate perfectly).
Microwave melting is another option.
- Place chocolate in a microwaveable bowl with coconut oil or butter.
- Melt on 60% power stirring every 20-30 seconds.
- Remove when chips are almost, but not entirely melted, and stir until lumps disappear.
To Dip
Make sure your dough is cold! The best way to dip these peanut butter balls in chocolate is to use a fork (unless you have these fancy dipping tools, of course). If you don’t have a slotted spoon, just balance peanut butter balls on a fork and dip, or, use two toothpicks, skewers or chopsticks.
Be sure to allow any excess to drip off and place on a parchment lined pan.
Other Toppings
You can fancy up this candy to make a super holiday treasure!
- Drizzle with white chocolate or peanut butter chips.
- Get creative and use food coloring to dye melted white chocolate red and green! Using a piping bag, create pretty designs like holly, berries, or candy cane stripes.
- After dipping, sprinkle each candy with pretty sprinkles, nonpareils, coarse salt or crushed Oreo crumbs. Anything that goes with chocolate and peanut butter is an option!
How to Store Them
These delicious no-bake delights can be stored at room temperature on the counter, especially if you used shelf-stable peanut butter. If they get melty looking, just pop them back in the fridge to firm them up!
- Fridge: Store for up to two weeks in the refrigerator in an airtight container.
- Freezer: These are great make-ahead treats; they can be frozen in tins or Tupperware for up to 6 months. Line the container with wax paper first, and make sure to put a sheet between layers, as well.
Peanut Butter Balls
Ingredients
- 2 cups peanut butter creamy or chunky
- ½ cup butter
- 2 cups powdered sugar
- 2 cups Rice Krispie cereal
- ⅓ cup graham crumbs
- 2 cups semisweet chocolate chips
- 1 tablespoon coconut oil
Instructions
- Combine peanut butter and butter in a saucepan and melt over medium heat.
- Stir in powdered sugar, Rice Krispies and graham crumbs.
- Roll into 1" balls and place on a baking sheet. Refrigerate at least 2 hours.
- Melt chocolate chips at 50% power in the microwave until almost smooth. Stir in coconut oil.
- Dip peanut butter balls into the chocolate mixture allowing excess to drip off. Place on a parchment lined pan and cool completely.
Nutrition Information
Nutrition information provided is an estimate and will vary based on cooking methods and brands of ingredients used.
Course Cookies, Dessert
Cuisine American© SpendWithPennies.com. Content and photographs are copyright protected. Sharing of this recipe is both encouraged and appreciated. Copying and/or pasting full recipes to any social media is strictly prohibited. Please view my photo use policy here.
Favorite No-Bake Cookies & Desserts
- No-Bake Oatmeal Cookies – deliciously chewy & chocolatey!
- Peanut Butter Cornflake Cookies – an easy sweet treat!
- Chocolate Macaroons – ready in under 15 mins
- Peanut Butter Lasagna – light & rich at the same time!
- Chocolate Cheesecake Cherries – so easy & delicious
Peanut Butter Balls
Ingredients
- 2 cups peanut butter creamy or chunky
- ½ cup butter
- 2 cups powdered sugar
- 2 cups Rice Krispie cereal
- ⅓ cup graham crumbs
- 2 cups semisweet chocolate chips
- 1 tablespoon coconut oil
Instructions
- Combine peanut butter and butter in a saucepan and melt over medium heat.
- Stir in powdered sugar, Rice Krispies and graham crumbs.
- Roll into 1" balls and place on a baking sheet. Refrigerate at least 2 hours.
- Melt chocolate chips at 50% power in the microwave until almost smooth. Stir in coconut oil.
- Dip peanut butter balls into the chocolate mixture allowing excess to drip off. Place on a parchment lined pan and cool completely.
Nutrition Information
Nutrition information provided is an estimate and will vary based on cooking methods and brands of ingredients used.
Course Cookies, Dessert Cuisine American© SpendWithPennies.com. Content and photographs are copyright protected. Sharing of this recipe is both encouraged and appreciated. Copying and/or pasting full recipes to any social media is strictly prohibited. Please view my photo use policy here.
the peanut butter balls recipe is easy and so delicious. use the microwave option to melt the chocolate it is the easiest way.
Hello, I would like to try the recipe but don’t have a double boiler. I see you have substitute directions, but I need further explanation. “If you don’t have a double boiler, place a glass bowl in a pot with water. Ensure the water is not touching the bowl and allow the water to simmer.” I don’t understand how to place the bowl in the water without the water touching the bowl. I’ve read it a hundred times and still can’t make heads or tails of it lol. Help is appreciated!
Sorry for the confusion Lea! You want to get a big pot of water simmering and then place a bowl over top of the pot. The bowl will be bigger than the pot so it rests on top and just gets the heat from the steam, not the direct contact. I hope this helps!
If you like peanut butter and crispy texture, you will love these. I made them with chocolate almond bark, & crushed peanuts on top. Yum
Hi,
I am making these yummy treats.
I didn’t realized I was to take off the heat before adding the remaining ingredients. I read the instructions on the website where it mentioned in #2 to remove from heat. On my printed copy it doesn’t indicate in #2 but on the website it does.
Thank you for sharing the recipe.
Had the same issue and had to wait quite a while before rolling. The later ones worked better, the first set looked way more like “haystacks”. Also, doubled the recipe, as I was making to go in gifts, and this made WAAAYYYY more than 48 !!(At last count I had 112 and they weren’t small =D)
I use crushed ritz crackers in place of the Graham crumbs luv the bit of saltiness it gives tbem.also i use chocolate bark if it needs thinning use only lard.
Yummy idea!
What to make them pb cookies yum
Hi can you use natural peanut butter?
I haven’t tried this with natural peanut butter so I can’t say for sure if it would set up the same way. Let us know how it works out for you if you try it!
Love these receipes!!!
Q: can I make it without using graham crumbs?
Hi Lulu, we have only made this recipe as listed. The graham crumbs help the peanut butter balls to bind together. You could substitute them for a similar type of cookie though. Let us know how it turns out for you!
I would love to see more of your recipes
Hi Lidia, to receive our newsletters, you can sign up here or scroll down to the bottom of the post and you will see a green signup box. Then you’ll receive new recipes right to your inbox!
Looks delicious
How many peanut butter balls your nutrition information cover?
That is for 1 peanut butter ball.
Thanks!! :)
Do you refrigerate the dough before making the balls and refrigerate the balls before dipping them?
Can I make the dough the day before?
You can refrigerate before making balls to make it easier, keep in mind it can harden if refrigerated for too long. A day or two ahead is great.
Thank you!
Do you use the same amount of butter (1 TB) when melting the chocolate for the coating?
Yes, you would use 1 tablespoon butter in place of coconut oil.
MAking the balls was easy but when tried get choc ops proper consistency to dip…get it. Had no coconut oil so used butter and butter nd butter, then some crisp,, then some milk…it’s still the same consistency which is simply way to thick to dip.p
To thin the chocolate, I’d suggest adding more butter (or coconut oil) rather than milk. Hope that helps Tom.
How do you make the peanut butter balls what is the recipe
Hi Anna, the recipe is towards the bottom of the post, you can scroll down to view it or select the jump to recipe button at the top. Have fun baking!
I always eat these when people make them but never tried it myself. Followed your recipe today and they are yummy! So easy. I just made sure the PB mixture was cold before I rolled into balls. Perfect!
Yummy