Easy Peanut Butter Balls

These deliciously easy Peanut Butter Balls are salty, sweet, and dipped in chocolate! Think homemade Reese’s cups, but dare I say…better.

But that’s not even the best part…you don’t have to bake a thing, and they require just a few simple ingredients. So…do I have your attention now? 😂

On any random day of the week, we may have these peanut butter balls in our freezer. But especially during the holidays. They’re perfect for cookie swaps, office parties, homemade food gifts, or any time you need the simplest little dessert.

I know you’re here for these peanut butter balls, but let’s not forget about this easy Oreo dip, Butterfinger dip, or our amazing Christmas sugar cookies.

Pin it to your favorite desserts board! ⤵️

Jump to:

• Why You’ll Love These Easy Peanut Butter Balls
• Ingredients
• How to Make Peanut Butter Balls
• Variations Ideas
• Equipment
• Storage
• Top tips
• Easy Peanut Butter Balls Recipe

Why You’ll Love These Easy Peanut Butter Balls

• Most people with a pulse love chocolate-covered peanut butter balls. They’re rich, sweet, slightly salty, and chocolatey. They taste like peanut butter cups, only smoother.
• There’s absolutely no baking. That means you can whip up a dozen (or 3) while you’ve got something baking in the oven. How easy and convenient is that?
• There are only three ingredients if you keep this recipe as simple as possible. And only five if you dip them in chocolate. And I bet you’ll want to dip them in chocolate.
• Some treats can become mushy and unappetizing after freezing. But that’s not the case with these ones. They taste just as good frozen as they do fresh.
• They’re completely customizable! Want to keep it rustic and homey? Go plain, they’re still good. Or make a good impression on the in-laws by adding sprinkles, crushed candies, or white chocolate, nuts, rice cereal, etc.

Ingredients

• Peanut butter – this recipe works with creamy or crunchy peanut butter.
• Powdered sugar
• Butter
• Semi-sweet chocolate chips (optional)
• Coconut oil or shortening (optional) – for melting the chocolate.

See the recipe card for quantities.

How to Make Peanut Butter Balls

The first thing you need to do is grab a large mixing bowl and add the peanut butter, butter, and powdered sugar.

Using a rubber spatula or large spoon, stir to combine the ingredients.

Now, it’s time to form the peanut butter balls. Use your hand, a melon baller, or a teaspoon to grab enough of the peanut butter ball mixture to make 1-inch peanut butter balls.

Roll the mixture in your hands to form balls. The mixture should be firm but pliable. It shouldn’t fall apart when you try to form it.

Once you form all of the balls, they should look something like the picture below. Then, place them in the refrigerator for 15 to 30 minutes.

Melt the chocolate chips and shortening in the microwave in 20-second intervals, stirring after each interval, until completely melted.

You can get creative! Dip some of the peanut butter balls halfway into the melted chocolate. Then place them back on the baking sheet with parchment. Drizzle the chocolate on top of some of them. Have fun with the chocolate. Leave some without it. Sprinkle crushed Oreos on others.

Then freeze for 15 minutes to allow the chocolate to set. Enjoy!

Hint: If the mixture is too wet, add some more powdered sugar. If it’s too dry, add more butter.

Variations Ideas

• Sprinkles or edible decorations
• White chocolate
• Crunchy peanut butter
• Rice cereal
• Nuts
• Holiday theme
• Peanut butter ball on a stick

Equipment

A melon baller isn’t necessary, but it does make it easier to scoop out an identical amount of the mixture, ensuring each ball is roughly the same size.

Storage

You can store peanut butter balls in an air-tight container on the counter for a few days. Or you can store them in the refrigerator for two weeks. And they’ll last a couple of months in the freezer.

Top tips

We like to chill the mixture before rolling, as it firms up, making it much easier to roll into balls. About 20 to 30 minutes in the fridge does the trick.