Chocolate lovers rejoice! This recipe for chocolate-covered peanut butter balls is simply the best and sure to satisfy your holiday sweet tooth.
Welcome To The Holiday Treat Blog Hop
If you love holiday sweets as much as I do, then you’re in for a treat! I’m excited to join 15 friends to share a few of our favorite holiday recipes with you.
It is my third year hosting this holiday treat blog hop, and this year is the biggest yet. When I say you don’t want to miss out on a single recipe, I mean it. Yuuuuum!
The previous holiday treat hops included some equally mouthwatering recipes too! If you have time, swing by to read last year’s post and my first holiday treat hop.
There you’ll find 16 more Christmas recipes to satisfy your sweet tooth, including my double chocolate chip peppermint cookies and dipped shortbread cookies.
Hmm….can you tell I have a thing for chocolate?
For those of you joining me from Brendt at She Gave It A Go, thank you so much for stopping by! Her holiday punch looks so festive, doesn’t it? It would be perfect for a Christmas brunch or a fun get-together with your friends.
Each recipe for today’s hop is linked below. Just click on a link to go to the post. And don’t forget to pin each one to save it for later! I hope you enjoy trying all the treats as much as we enjoyed sharing them with you.
Now, on to my recipe! Here’s everything you need to make the best chocolate-covered peanut butter balls.
The Best Chocolate-Covered Peanut Butter Balls
If you ask me, there’s no better combination than chocolate and peanut butter. When it comes to sweet treats, it’s arguably my favorite.
This recipe came from an old cookbook that my 3rd-grade classmates and I gifted to our parents back in 1991. I’ve been making it for years, and it’s always been a favorite at our family Christmas celebrations.
If a recipe has stood the test for 30+ years, it has to be good, right? So, I figured it was past time I shared it with all of you.
Ingredients for Chocolate-Covered Peanut Butter Balls
- 1 cup creamy peanut butter
- 1/4 cup unsalted butter, softened
- 2 cups confectioners’ sugar
- 2 cups crisp rice cereal
- 16 ounces milk chocolate chips or chocolate candy melts
- 1/4 cup finely chopped roasted salted peanuts (optional)
How To Prepare Chocolate-Covered Peanut Butter Balls
First, in a large mixing bowl, beat the creamy peanut butter and butter with a mixer at medium speed until it’s smooth.
Next, slowly beat in the confectioners’ sugar. I recommend only mixing in one cup at a time. (Unless you want an explosion of sugar all over your kitchen!)
Then, gently stir in your crisp rice cereal. I used the generic store brand, but a name brand like Rice Krispies would work, too.
Next, roll your peanut butter mixture into 1-inch balls and place them on a baking sheet lined with wax or parchment paper.
*Note: I used a medium cookie scoop to ensure the balls were uniform, but you can skip the scoop and only use your hands if you prefer.
Once you’ve placed all the peanut butter balls on a baking sheet, it’s time to melt your chocolate.
Melt the chocolate in the microwave in a small glass mixing bowl in 10-15 second increments, and stir as needed until fully melted. Or you can melt it on the stove using a double-broiler.
Next, use a fork to dip each peanut butter ball in the melted chocolate coating. Let the excess drip off, and gently place each one on the prepared baking sheet.
Sprinkle with chopped peanuts, if desired. Then place in the fridge for 15-20 minutes, or until the chocolate coating is firm.
Once chilled, remove the chocolate-covered peanut butter balls from the pan and store them in an airtight food storage container for up to 1 week.
This recipe makes about 30 chocolate-covered peanut butter balls, but can easily be doubled (or tripled!) if you’d like to make some to share with friends or to give as gifts.
They disappeared quickly in our house, and I’m sure they will quickly become a favorite with your family, too!
More Holiday Treats
Thanks again for stopping by! Don’t forget to pin this recipe to save it for later, and if you try it, I’d love for your to rate it on the recipe card at the bottom of this post; so other readers know what you think.
Next, stop by my friend Jennifer at Cottage On Bunker Hill to get her recipe for double chocolate oreo bark and see all the delicious holiday treat recipes linked below.
Enjoy!
Christmas Cookies and Holiday Treats
Are you looking to add some new recipes to your holiday rotation this year? Click on the links below to go to each post and see more.
Midwest Life And Style – Peanut Butter Balls | Cottage On Bunker Hill – Double Chocolate Oreo Bark | White Lilac Farmhouse – No Bake Christmas Cookies | Cottage In The Mitten – Holiday Peanut Butter Cookies
My Family Thyme – Eggnog Snickerdoodle Cookies | Eleanor Rose Home – Christmas Monster Cookies | Pasha Is Home – Christmas Fudge | Tatertots And Jello – Holiday Dipped Oreo Cookies
The Ponds Farmhouse – Dark Chocolate Pomegranate Bark | Vintage Home Designs – Cranberry Orange Shortbread Cookies | Our Tiny Nest – Pistachio Thumbprint Cookies | Bricks ‘n Blooms – Tiger Butter Fudge
The Tattered Pew – Daddy’s Molasses Cookies | Open Doors Open Hearts – Cinnamon Sugar Pecans | WM Design House – Cinnamon Popcorn | She Gave It A Go – Holiday Punch
Recipe for The Best Chocolate-Covered Peanut Butter Balls
The Best Chocolate-Covered Peanut Butter Balls
Ingredients
- 1 cup creamy peanut butter
- ¼ cup unsalted butter, softened
- 2 cups confectioners' sugar
- 2 cups crisp rice cereal
- 16 ounces milk chocolate chips or chocolate candy melts
- ¼ cup finely chopped roasted salted peanuts (optional)
Instructions
- In a large bowl, beat peanut butter and butter with a mixer at medium speed until smooth.
- Slowly beat in confectioners' sugar. Then stir in ceral.
- Roll mixture into 1-inch balls and place on a baking sheet lined with wax paper or parchment paper.
- Melt chocolate according to directions on the package.
- Use a fork to dip each ball in the melted chocolate coating. Let excess drip off, and gently place each peanut butter ball on the prepared pan.
- Sprinkle with chopped peanuts, if desired. Place in fridge for 15-20 minutes, or until the chocolate coating is firm.
- Remove from the pan and store in an airtight food storage container for up to 1 week.
I would love to see what you make! If you try any of my recipes, be sure to tag me in your photos!
IG: @midwestlifeandstyle + #midwestlifeandstyle
Michelle | Thistle Key Lane says
My family is full of peanut butter junkies, so this is going to be a very popular recipe! Pinning!
midwestlifeandstyle says
My family is full of pb junkies too. I hope you all enjoy this recipe!
Lynne Zemaitis says
Yum! Chocolate and peanut butter is my favorite combination! These look so delicious and I can’t wait to make these this upcoming weekend. Thank you so much for putting this fun hop together. I am so happy to join in. Merry Christmas, my friend!
midwestlifeandstyle says
I hope you enjoy them, Lynne. And thank you so much for joining. I look forward to hearing what you think. And I can’t wait to try your cookie recipe too, Yum!!! Merry Christmas!
Heidi says
You had me at chocolate, peanut butter, and Rice Krispies!!! These look incredible Jen, definitely adding this recipe to my recipe box. Pinned!!!
midwestlifeandstyle says
Thank you, Heidi. I hope you enjoy them as much as my family does!
Jennifer Howard says
The peanut butter addict in the next room will love these!!! Looks so good Jen! Thanks for putting this together!
midwestlifeandstyle says
They are so darn good. I hope you all enjoy them! And thank you for joining me. It was a lot of fun!
jennifer s. hadfield says
These look so good, Jen! I pinned them to my recipe board. Thanks for letting me join in this fun hop!
xoxo
midwestlifeandstyle says
Thank you, Jen. I’m so happy you could join and I can’t wait to make you cute dipped oreos.
Cindy@CountyRoad407 says
I used to think these type of ball cookies were so hard. So glad you posted this. I’m looking forward to trying this out. My gluten free girl that adores peanut butter will love them!
midwestlifeandstyle says
Thank you, Cindy. I know that the name brand Rice Krispies isn’t gluten-free, but there are some brands of riced cereal that are. I hope you enjoy them. I can’t wait to hear what you think!
Kim says
You know I love chocolate and peanut butter and these are a must try! I have never had them but they look delicious! Thanks so much for gathering us today! Merry Christmas! Pinned!
midwestlifeandstyle says
Thank you, Kim. Fair warning…they’re so good you won’t be able to eat just one! So glad you could join. I can’t wait to try each of the yummy-looking recipes!
Rachel Harper says
Jen
These look delicious. I used to make these for my daddy every Christmas. He loved them.
midwestlifeandstyle says
That’s so special, Rachel. They are delish. It’s hard not to love them!
Wendy McMonigle says
Jen, How did you know I love peanut butter? 🙂 I cannot wait to try these. Your recipe looks divine. Thank you for including me in your hop today.
midwestlifeandstyle says
Peanut butter is the BEST! Especially when combined with chocolate. I hope you enjoy them, Wendy!
Kelly Radcliff says
Jen first of all thanks for hosting such a fun group! And second, peanut butter and chocolate are a favorite combo of mine. So excited to try your recipe! Pinned!
midwestlifeandstyle says
Thank you, Kelly. It’s such an easy recipe. I bet your girls might even like to help you make them. I hope you get a chance to try them. Thank you for joining today’s hop!
Rachel says
These look AMAZING! What a fun hop this is!!
midwestlifeandstyle says
Thank you, Rachel!
stacy says
I love anything with chocolate and peanut butter. These look so good!
midwestlifeandstyle says
Thank you, Stacy. It is one of my favorite holiday treats. Soooo good!
Tammy says
Jen, I am making these for the holiday! I just printed it. I love chocolate peanut butter balls. Your recipe looks so delicious. Pinned it too!
midwestlifeandstyle says
I hope you love them as much as I do. I can’t wait to hear what you think!
Brendt Blanks says
YUMMY! My favorite combination, Jen, I’ll definitely be making these.
Thank you for such an amazing blog hop; I appreciate your organizing it all.
So grateful for you my friend.
xoxo,
Brendt
midwestlifeandstyle says
Thank you, Brendt. I’m so thankful for you too, friend. Your kind words are always appreciated and I’m so glad you could join us today. Cheers!
Aliya says
Jen! I’m Ohio we do this but we leave a little bit of the peanut butter goodness still visible and can it a buckeye, since we’re the buckeye state. PS I absolutely love snuggling with peanut butter and chocolate!!! I’m a peanut butter junkie haha Thanks for organizing this hop!!
midwestlifeandstyle says
Yes! I think the recipes are very similar. Although, if I called them buckets around these parts, my Husker friends might have something to say about it. 😉 Glad you could join us today!
Nicolle says
Jen these look delish! Peanut butter and chocolate are my favorite combo! I’ve pinned your recipe and can’t wait to try these! Thank you for putting this together <3
midwestlifeandstyle says
It’s my fave too! So darn good. I hope you enjoy them, Nicolle!