Peanut Butter Balls are an easy no-bake treat made with creamy peanut butter, icing sugar, and a rich dark chocolate coating. They're perfect for holidays, parties, or a quick treat.
Easy Peanut Butter Balls (No-Bake Holiday Treat)
Add the icing sugar and mix with a spatula, gradually, until the mixture is well combined. You mix, roll, chill, dip, and suddenly you have a tray of peanut butter balls that look like you spent much more time than you did.
What makes them so good is that sweet-and-salty balance: the peanut butter center stays soft, and the chocolate adds that snap on the outside. They also store beautifully in the fridge, which makes them ideal for gifting and holiday prep.
Why You'll Love This Recipe
- Easy to Make: Peanut butter balls are super easy to make. You only need a few ingredients and basic kitchen skills, so anyone can whip up this tasty treat!
- No-Bake Recipe: These treats don't need baking, so you'll spend less time in the kitchen and won't have to heat up your oven.
Ingredients
You'll find the exact measurements in the recipe card, but here's a closer look at a few of the ingredients and why I use them.
- Peanut Butter Base: I always reach for creamy peanut butter because it gives the smoothest, most classic texture, and I add unsalted butter to make the filling rich and easy to mix.
- Sweetness & Flavor: I use icing sugar because it thickens everything so the mixture rolls into neat balls without sticking, and vanilla extract adds that warm, bakery-style taste I love.
- Balance: I never skip the pinch of salt; it makes the peanut butter taste deeper and keeps the sweetness from feeling one-note.
- Chocolate Coating: I like dark chocolate for the best contrast with the sweet center, and a little vegetable oil helps it melt more smoothly, so the balls coat evenly and set with a nicer finish.
How to Make Peanut Butter Balls
You can find the complete printable recipe with measurements below, but for now, here's a quick overview of how it goes:
1. In a large bowl, mix the softened butter, peanut butter, vanilla, and salt with a hand mixer until smooth.
2. Add the icing sugar and mix with a spatula; then, until the mixture is well combined.
3. Use a small cookie scoop to take portions of the mixture and roll them into 1-inch balls.
4. Place the peanut butter balls on a parchment-lined cutting board and refrigerate for 30 minutes.
5. In a microwave-safe bowl, mix the dark chocolate and vegetable oil. Microwave in 30-second bursts, stirring each time; meanwhile, until the chocolate is fully melted.
6. Dip each chilled peanut butter ball into the melted chocolate, then coat it completely.
7. Use a fork to let any extra chocolate drip off, then put the coated ball back on the parchment-lined baking sheet.
8. Drizzle melted chocolate over the coated balls, then refrigerate for 30 minutes.
My Tips for Recipe Success
Common Mistake to Avoid: I don't skip the chilling step; otherwise, if the balls aren't firm, they can soften in the warm chocolate and turn messy when dipping.
Storage: I keep peanut butter balls in an airtight container in the fridge; that way, with parchment between layers, they stay neat and don't stick together.
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Recipe
Peanut Butter Balls
Ingredients
For Peanut Butter Balls:
- 90 g Unsalted Butter
- 250 g Peanut Butter
- 300 g Powdered Sugar
- 1 teaspoon Vanilla Extract
- ¼ teaspoon Salt
For Coating:
- 200 g Dark Chocolate
- 1 tablespoon Vegetable Oil
Instructions
- In a large mixing bowl, combine the softened unsalted butter, peanut butter, vanilla extract, and salt. Mix with a hand mixer until well blended and smooth.
- Add the powdered sugar, mixing well with a spatula until fully incorporated and the mixture is smooth and stiff.
- Using a small cookie scoop, scoop out small portions of the mixture and roll them into balls (about 1 inch in diameter).
- Place the peanut butter balls on a cutting board lined with parchment paper.
- Once all the balls are formed, chill them in the refrigerator for about 30 minutes to firm up.
- In a microwave-safe bowl, combine the dark chocolate and vegetable oil. Microwave in 30-second intervals, stirring after each interval, until the chocolate is completely melted and smooth.
- Using a fork, dip each chilled peanut butter ball into the melted chocolate, ensuring it is fully coated.
- Allow any excess chocolate to drip off, then place the coated ball back onto the parchment-lined baking sheet.
- Drizzle melted chocolate on top of the coated balls.
- Once all the balls are coated, return the baking sheet to the refrigerator and chill until the chocolate is completely set (about 30 minutes).
- Once the chocolate is set, the peanut butter balls are ready to be enjoyed!
Notes
Nutrition
Nutritional information is based on third-party calculations and should be considered an estimate only. Actual nutritional content will vary based upon brands used, measuring methods, cooking method, portion sizes, and more.
Sandra says
The perfect balance of creamy peanut butter and sweet chocolate.