Peanut Butter Balls

These no bake Peanut Butter Balls are so easy to make! For a fun twist, try dipping them in white and dark chocolate. They’re a crowd favorite and always disappear first at parties, so make a double batch!

Jump to:

• Peanut Butter Balls Recipe
• Why You'll Love This No Bake Treat
• Peanut Butter Balls vs. Buckeyes
• Main Ingredients
• How To Make Peanut Butter Balls
• Holiday Versions
• Storage Recommendations
• Tips and Tricks
• FAQs
• More Peanut Butter Candies
• Recipe

Peanut Butter Balls Recipe

Chocolate and peanut butter are a match made in dessert heaven, and I never get tired of creating treats with this classic combo. 

These easy peanut butter balls are a family favorite in our house. I’ve been making them for years, and every batch is packed with love and sweet memories.

Whether you call them buckeyes or peanut butter balls, they're a dessert staple in many households for good reason! They're easy to make, fun to share, and absolutely delicious.

During the holidays, I enjoy turning them into Reese's Christmas trees. Our family tradition is to create a new shape for every holiday throughout the year. Everyone enjoys these chocolate covered goodies, regardless of their shape.

Why You'll Love This No Bake Treat

• These easy, no-bake truffles are the perfect combination of creamy peanut butter and rich chocolate.
• No baking is required, so these treats come together in minutes.
• This dessert works for every occasion. Try them for Valentine's Day, Christmas, Halloween, or a random Tuesday.
• You can serve the balls plain, decorate them with sprinkles, or drizzle them with contrasting chocolate for a festive touch.
• Use candy molds, cookie cutters, or colored chocolate to create them in any shape or color.

Looking for more chocolate and peanut butter treats? Try these peanut butter cup cookies or these peanut butter truffle brownies.

Peanut Butter Balls vs. Buckeyes

You might recognize these peanut butter balls as buckeyes. Buckeyes are a well-loved candy in Ohio, as the Buckeye tree is the state tree.

Buckeye balls are partially dipped in chocolate, leaving the tops uncovered to resemble the nuts from the tree. In contrast, peanut butter balls are fully dipped in chocolate.

Main Ingredients

You only need simple ingredients and dipping chocolate to make these classic holiday treats.

• Unsalted Butter: Set it out beforehand so it has time to soften.
• Creamy Peanut Butter: I recommend using a no-stir peanut butter so the truffle dough thickens. Crunchy peanut butter gives the truffles a nice crunch.
• Marshmallow Cream: This is my secret ingredient for making the dough fluffier. Another name for it is fluff, which can be found in the baking aisles of most grocery stores.
• Powdered Sugar: Provides sweetness and the correct consistency in the dough.
• Candy Melting Wafers: A chocolate coating adds a fun touch to homemade candies. I love Ghirardelli for its smooth melting and great taste. You can use chocolate chips or almond bark. Coconut oil, butter, or shortening can thin the mixture for dipping.

BruCrew Tip: I dipped half the peanut butter balls in dark chocolate with chocolate sprinkles for Christmas. Then, the rest were decorated with white chocolate and gold sprinkles for New Year’s Eve.

How To Make Peanut Butter Balls

1. Beat the softened butter, regular peanut butter, vanilla extract, and salt in a large bowl until creamy. Add the marshmallow fluff and mix again.
2. Slowly add the confectioners' sugar and mix until a soft dough forms. Scrape the sides of the bowl often.
3. Roll the peanut butter mixture into balls and put them on a wax paper lined baking sheet. Refrigerate the balls for at least 60 minutes.
4. Melt the chocolate candy coating according to the package directions.
5. Use a toothpick to each one into the chocolate. Tap it gently on the edge of the bowl to remove excess chocolate, then place the dipped ball on the cookie sheet.
6. Gently twist the toothpick out and cover the hole with some melted chocolate.

Creative Options

• Sprinkles: Add your choice of sprinkles before the chocolate can harden.
• Chocolate Drizzles: Reheat the excess chocolate and spoon it into a small baggie. Cut one corner off, then drizzle over the tops of the truffles.

Holiday Versions

• Easter - Amish Peanut Butter Eggs and Peanut Butter Easter Bunny
• Halloween - Halloween Eyeballs and Monster Ball recipe
• Thanksgiving - Peanut Butter Pumpkins
• Christmas - Reindeer Balls

Storage Recommendations

On the Counter: Store these truffles in an airtight container at room temperature for 1-2 days.

In the Fridge: Keep the chocolate peanut butter balls in an airtight container for 2 weeks.

In the Freezer: Place the dipped truffles in a single layer on a parchment-lined tray and freeze for 20 minutes. Once firm, transfer them to a freezer-safe bag or container and then freeze them for 2-3 months. Thaw in the fridge overnight before serving.

Tips and Tricks

• Refrigerate the truffles before dipping them in melted chocolate. This helps them hold their shape and stay on the toothpicks better.
• Avoid freezing the balls, as frozen truffles and warm chocolate can cause cracks in the chocolate coating.
• Candy melts harden fast, so dip and decorate without hesitation. I like using the Wilton melting pot and EZ thin dipping aid to warm and smooth the chocolate.
• If you like texture, add crushed pretzels, graham cracker crumbs, or Rice Krispies cereal for a twist on the classic.
• Decorate the truffles with sprinkles, candies, or a drizzle of chocolate to make them festive for holidays or events.

FAQs

More Peanut Butter Candies

• Buckeye Pretzels
• Peanut Butter Cookie Truffles
• Reese's Bark
• Peanut Butter Cups
• White Chocolate Peanut Butter Fudge

Do you love a recipe you tried from Inside BruCrew Life? 

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This post was first published in December 2014. It was updated and then republished in December 2024.