This no-bake Peanut Butter Balls recipe makes the perfect little treats! You’ll love the sweet and salty, crispy and creamy combination!
Peanut butter desserts are always popular and even more so during the holidays along with cookies, pies, and homemade candy.
We’ve been making these peanut butter truffles for years and I even make them as bars when I don’t have the time to dip each one. We often have these at Christmas but they can be made any time of the year and decorated specifically for each occasion.
What You’ll Find In This Post About Making Peanut Butter Balls
Ingredients Needed
One of the best things about this recipe is that you only need a few ingredients! It’s all stuff that you can keep on hand so that you can make these whenever you want.
- Creamy: The cream part of these truffles comes from a combination of creamy peanut butter, marshmallow cream, and a little vanilla extract for added flavor. You don’t need sugar for this recipe since the marshmallow cream is sweetened. We recommend using creamy Jif or Skippy for this recipe.
- Crunchy: The crunchy part comes from Rice Krispies. You could also use Cocoa Pebbles, rolled oats, or chopped nuts.
- Coating: The balls are coated with a combination of melted semi-sweet chocolate chips and butterscotch chips with a little shortening to make the coating easier to use. You can also use only chocolate chips if you prefer.
How To Make Peanut Butter Balls
Making peanut butter balls is easy! Mix together the filling ingredients, roll them into balls, and coat them in chocolate. Kids love helping with this recipe. They can roll the balls, drop them into the melted chocolate, and add sprinkles.
- Mix: First mix together the peanut butter, marshmallow cream, and vanilla. Then, stir in the Rice Krispies until combined.
- Roll: Use a dough scoop to make uniform-sized balls and then use your hands to roll them into smooth, tightly formed balls.
- Coat: Melt the semi-sweet chocolate chips, butterscotch chips, and shortening. Then, coat the balls and place them on parchment paper to harden.
Topping Ideas
You can add different toppings and decorations depending on the holiday, season, or event. Or you can skip the toppings and just enjoy them with the chocolate coating. Here are a few toppings ideas:
- Candy Melts: Drizzle colorful candy melts across the tops of the coated balls. For example, you can use red and green for Christmas, yellow and orange for Thanksgiving, and white for any day.
- Sprinkles: Use sprinkles for a fun pop of color.
- Nuts: Sprinkle each truffle with chopped nuts before the chocolate hardens.
- Candy: You can top them with crushed candy canes for a peppermint flavor.
Frequently Asked Questions About Peanut Butter Balls
Yes, you can store peanut butter balls in an airtight container in the freezer for 1-2 months.
They are made with creamy peanut butter, marshmallow cream, and crispy rice cereal dipped in melted chocolate chips.
Yes, you can add maple flavoring, almond extract, or coconut extract instead of vanilla extract.
Want more truffle recipes? Try these next:
- Candy Bar Pretzel Bites are made with square pretzels and mini candy bars that are dipped in a vanilla almond bark!
- Homemade Chocolate Truffles are the best gift! These truffles have a thin chocolate coating and smooth, melt-in-your-mouth chocolate inside!
- Oreo Balls are an irresistible treat. Let the kids help roll the balls and add any candy coating and sprinkles you want.
- Caramel Pretzel Bites have soft caramels sandwiched between crunchy pretzel squares. They are dipped in vanilla almond bark.
Peanut Butter Balls
Video
Equipment
Ingredients
- 1 cup creamy peanut butter
- 7 oz marshmallow cream
- 1 teaspoon vanilla
- 1 ½ cups rice krispies
- ¾ cup semi-sweet chocolate chips
- ¾ cups butterscotch chips
- 2 teaspoon shortening
Instructions
- Put creamy peanut butter and marshmallow cream in a bowl. Mix together until combined.
- Stir in the rice krispies.
- Scoop the dough using a #60 dough scoop (about 1 tablespoon) and roll it into balls. Place on parchment paper and set aside.
- Put chocolate chips, butterscotch chips, and shortening in a microwave-safe bowl. Melt in the microwave on high for 45-seconds. Stir until smooth. If needed, microwave for 15-second intervals and stir after each interval. Dip the peanut butter balls into the melted chocolate and place them on parchment paper to harden.
- Decorate with candy melts and sprinkles if desired.
Rebecca says
These are so good!!!