4-ingredient Peanut Butter Balls

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This Chocolate Peanut Butter Balls recipe is my favorite candy for the Holidays and so incredibly Easy to make! These are like little Reese’s Peanut Butter cups, but in ball form.

I’m pretty much a peanut butter fanatic and love making desserts using peanut butter including out Reese’s Cookies, Chocolate Peanut Butter Pie Cups, No-Bake Chocolate Peanut Butter Pie. If you love peanut butter like I do, you definitely want to check these out.

Chocolate Peanut Butter Balls

How To Make Peanut Butter Balls

These are a must for our Holiday cookie plates and the most requested. They are so simple to make and the kids can make these all by themselves. They might need a little bit of help on the dipping part, or things could get a bit messy.

Ingredients you will need…

  • Creamy Peanut Butter
  • Powdered Sugar
  • Butter
  • Semi-sweet Chocolate Chips
  • (optional) Vegetable Shortening or Coconut Oil 

Ingredients

First, you make the peanut butter dough…

Peanut Butter Filling

Then you form the dough into balls…

Forming the Peanut Butter Dough Balls

Next, you dip the balls into the melted chocolate…

Process

Dipping the Dough in Chocolate

Now the dangerous part. Try…just try to eat one. It’s incredibly difficult because these are melt in your mouth delicious!

NO-Bake Chocolate Peanut Butter Buckeyes

Add Christmas sprinkles on top of the peanut butter balls for a festive Holiday look. It’s become a family tradition to make these for holidays and parties. These are are so great because it’s a quick and easy no-bake treat when your making a gazillion other goodies. It’s a guaranteed winner for the Christmas cookie tray.

Christmas Chocolate Peanut Butter Candy

Can You Freeze Peanut Butter Balls?

Yes! These will freeze perfectly. Make sure the balls are completely set (hardened back up) and line them in a tupperware container. Add a piece of wax or parchment paper on top and repeat until full. Seal the top.

How long do They last?

You can store in the freezer for up to 1 month.

You can also drizzle extra melted chocolate on top for a different look.

Peanut Butter Balls

Peanut Butter Ball Tips:

  • You can use any nut butters for this recipe. Almond butter, cashew butter, etc…
  • Make sure the balls are chilled before dipping.
  • We love these Chocolate Dipping Tools, but you can always use a fork for dipping. A toothpick will also work. Expect a bit of a mess, but it will work.
  • You can melt the chocolate in the microwave in 30- second increments, or over a double boiler.
  • You can use chunky peanut butter instead of creamy if you prefer. We also like to add in Rice Krispies sometimes for some texture.
  • Add any type of holiday sprinkles, chopped peanuts, sea salt or whatever you prefer. It’s all good!
Peanut Butter Balls
5 from 290 votes

4-ingredient Peanut Butter Balls

These Chocolate Peanut Butter Balls are my favorite candy for the Holidays and so incredibly Easy to make with just 4-ingredients!
Servings: 24
Prep: 30 minutes
Cook: 5 minutes

Ingredients
  

Instructions

  • Mix the peanut butter and softened butter together in a mixing bowl. Gradually stir in powdered sugar until fully combined. Cover and place in the fridge for about 15 minutes to firm up.
  • Using your hands, shape the dough into 1-inch balls. Place the balls on a baking sheet, cover and refrigerate for at least 20 minutes (this will hold it's shape for dipping).
  • Melt the chocolate chips according to package instructions.
  • Using a fork, dip the peanut butter balls one at a time into the melted chocolate. Allow the excess chocolate to fall off. Place the chocolate balls onto wax paper, cover and refrigerate until ready to serve.

Last Step:

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Nutrition

Serving: 24g | Calories: 107kcal | Carbohydrates: 10g | Protein: 2g | Fat: 7g | Saturated Fat: 3g | Cholesterol: 4mg | Sodium: 38mg | Potassium: 77mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 8g | Vitamin A: 48IU | Calcium: 7mg | Iron: 1mg

Categories:

Once you try this recipe for chocolate covered peanut butter balls, it will be your go to recipe! It’s SO GOOD!

Chocolate Peanut Butter Balls

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225 comments on “4-ingredient Peanut Butter Balls”

  1. Ga Lil’Bit

    5 stars
    Love these peanut butter balls and so does my daughter so it is a must have during the holidays. They are so quick & easy to make and disappear fast so you may want to double or triple the recipe like we do.

    1. Hi Connie. Yes you can use melting wafers if you prefer and just follow the directions on the package.

  2. Vegetable oil or coconut oil optional. If I add when do I add and what effect does this have on the recipe?

    1. Hi John. You could use either as a substitute for the butter. It will change the taste slightly.

  3. 5 stars
    I LOVE PEANUT BUTTER. This was very easy to make and tastes delicious. Had fun making this with my kids. Thank you for sharing.

  4. 5 stars
    I’ve made the recipe once. It is easy peasy. I loved them and my little granddaughter loves, loves, loves them!! I’m making a double batch today. They are absolutely delicious!!

  5. Patricia smart

    I love all these new recipes.‍I am sharing with our fire department. They are really good.

  6. 5 stars
    Made these today, and they are quickly disappearing. Made exactly as recipe states and they are delicious. This is the 3rd recipe I’ve tried and I won’t look any further because these are absolutely PERFECT!!!!

  7. May the ‘Hand of the Lord’ forever REST upon the Hearts of you and your family… especially your beautiful sons that they grow up to be GODLY Men
    who have a Heart for GOD our Father and to be Ardent Lovers of GOD even after the Heart of JESUS our Father’s Holy Son. Amen & Amen
    You and your sons are BEAUTIFUL!!!

  8. I added a little paraffin wax to the chocolate. It makes eating much less messy since the chocolate doesn’t melt so easily.

    1. Patty Gittermann

      I also add grated paraffin! It thins down the chocolate and it doesn’t cool off as quick.

  9. In Ohio we leave a small area uncovered on the peanut butter ball and call them Buckeyes (ie, the eye of a buck deer)

    1. Yeah that’s not what they mean when they call them a buckeye. They look like a buckeye nut from a buckeye tree…

    2. I thought it was like the buckeyes that fall of tress and used as a good luck charm. Because that’s what they look like

    3. But where does the buckeye nut get its name? Possibly because it looks like the eye of a buck deer?

    4. Karen is exactly right and everyone loves our Buckeye candy. PLEASE HOWEVER, DO NOT EVER TRY TO EAT A REAL BUCKEYE NUT!!! THEY ARE POISONOUS.

    5. There seems to be some controversy about where buckeyes got their name, so I searched on the internet and found this:
      britannica › plant › buckeye
      buckeye | tree | Britannica
      buckeye, any of about six species of North American trees and shrubs in the genus Aesculus of the soapberry family (Sapindaceae). The name refers to the resemblance of the nutlike seed, which has a pale patch on a shiny red-brown surface, to the eye of a deer. Like many of the related Eurasian horse chestnuts (also of the genus Aesculus), a number of buckeye species are valued as ornamental …
      So, Karen dear, you are correct! I always wondered and I’m glad you shared.

    1. Karen Roskie Mead

      Ohio is known as the buckeye state, for their buckeye trees.
      This is what a buckeye looks like, and why the cookie was named this way. It has nothing to do with an “eye of of a deer buck”.

  10. 5 stars
    I love your recipes! These were great! Next time I’ll thin the chocolate a bit with shortening to make it easier to dip. Definitely a keeper!

  11. Unsweetened Sue

    A couple of days ago, I made these. I used Nestle dark chocolate chips for the coating. They taste divine and look great, too.

  12. 5 stars
    These were so easy to make! After spending all day on peanut butter fudge yesterday, this was a vacation, and they taste just like my grandmothers but with half the work. I LOVE this recipe.

  13. Add butterscotch chips with the choc chips. Yum yum. I like them better that way, also add the rice krispies. Thank you.

    1. I’ve been doing these for over 50 yrs. It’s a recipe my mother gave me. I’ve always used paraffin in the chocolate to make them shiny . Gonna use crisco this year

    1. Add egual amount of butterscotch chips with the chocolate chips and add rice
      krispies, awesome yum yum.

    1. I followed this recipe but the peanut butter, butter, and confectioners sugar didn’t firm up that great in the refrigerator. I had it in the refrigerator for 30 minutes. It was a little too sticky and didn’t make the quantity of 24. It only made 14 peanut butter balls. Why would the mixture be so sticky? Thanks

  14. I really like your recipes. I was wondering if you had any goods that are sugar free. My husband is diabetic and I feel bad he can’t have what I make. It would be great for all of us.

    1. Deborah, you can use any sugar substitutes like Stevia, Monk fruit extract and others in any of our recipes. Just follow the directions on the package for the proper ratio.

    2. Patrice Fader

      Unsweetened peanut butter, powered sugar substitute, etc. All the regular things can be swapped out for diabetic friendly ingredients.

  15. Do they have to be kept refrigerated? I made homemade peanut butter cups once and they just kept melting.

    1. Hey Amy. You can store for a few days in an airtight container at room temp or refrigerate for up to a week.

    1. I always add a little paraffin to my chocolate when melting the chocolate chips

  16. CAROLYN STEIN

    We make these in Ohio but with a twist. When covering with chocolate, leave a small circle of the peanut butter showing. They are called Buckeyes! They look very similar to the nut of the Buckeye tree and we are the Buckeye state!

  17. 5 stars
    These are far the best recipe for peanut butter balls.
    My grand daughter loves them and they are so easy to make, she loves helping me make them. 
    I changed it up just a bit by adding a teaspoon of vanilla extract in it with a little extra powdered sugar.
    Both ways are delicious!
    Thank you for a great recipe, I will keep it forever and generations to come.

  18. 5 stars
    This is an easy go-to recipe for a quick treat or gift. I’m gonna try this with Cookie Butter next time. Mmmm.

  19. 5 stars
    I have been making Peanut Butter Balls for years, but my recipe calls Rice Krispies in the balls and then we cover them with melted almond bark instead of melted chocolate chips. They are a huge hit, everyone loves them – even my son who has aversions to a lot of foods.

  20. 5 stars
    It was delicious, Jill! Thanks so very much for sharing it with all of us. It’s a new family favorite!

  21. 5 stars
    I tried to make this with bakers chocolate and monkfruit in the raw for a keto option for the topping, but the sweetener will not dissolve making the chocolate crystally. First time using monkfruit. Any suggestions?

    1. Make sure you powder the monk fruit. Since it’s not refined sugar it doesn’t have the same melting properties. Also the ratio is less since it is sweeter than refined sugar. I would recommend using about half the amount of monk fruit and try that.

    2. If you have a blender, try blending the dry monk fruit until powdery, let it sit several minutes before taking off the lid and that should help keep it from crystalizing.

    3. I used the swerve confectioners sugar, since it’s the same as powdered sugar. I used less since it’s super sweet but super easy and definitely Keri friendly. I also used powdered peanut butter and added water, butter, and the sweetener since it’s less calories and carbs than regular peanut butter.

  22. A few things….. I omit the butter. It really serves no purpose. Add the coconut oil to the peanut butter before the powered sugar. Add a dash of vanilla too. This is a TINY batch. If you’re making these for a large family gathering or as gifts, multiply it. At least double, probably more like quadruple.

  23. 5 stars
    Wow! These are absolutely amazing! I actually used Jif Honey Creamy Natural and talk about peanut butter meltaway! Will definitely be making again.

  24. Chareace Trypus

    5 stars
    This is awsome I love peanut butter so what you make n it’s easy great job n will in handy

  25. Debbie Grantham

    5 stars
    Making these for years.  Last year I bought one of  these dipping tools.  Worth the money because it saves time. Great recipe.  Other suggestion is to use quality chocolate.

  26. 5 stars
    Love these! Been making them for years for outdoor bbq’s, & all occasions, but I like to change it up as well & use chunky pnut butter. Plus I sometimes like to use use dark choc. As I love dark choc. Looking forward to making the keto version this time as that sounds great as well.
    Love these & how quick & easy they are to make!! Thank you for sharing. Waa a great reminder to make soon!!❤

  27. I made it keto friendly by replacing the powdered sugar to swerve confectioners replacement  and used Lily’s chocolate chips (made with stevia) for dipping- kids could not tell the difference and a perfect “sweet treat” for when I’m craving carbs!

    1. 5 stars
      Thank you for that idea ! I’m new to keto and wouldn’t have thought of it !!!! So excited because I almost splurged and made these because I love them but I’m going to make it this way instead!

  28. Cindy Coffman

    5 stars
    I quadrupled the recipe as these always disappear before Christmas so this time to make sure I made several batches and hid them all over the house. Last year I froze them thinking that my dear family would leave them alone but no wasnt the case!! I went to get them out and found like 3 left in the container!! This year I also had them help me roll the balls showing how much tedious work that is not to mention dipping and rolling them in the chocolate they did not steal them away.

  29. Susan Carnahan

    5 stars
    Hi there, I made your peanut butter balls this morning, exactly like the recipe you 
    Make and I did not …go rogue – did exactly what you said and oh my goodness, so
    Very good! I looked on Pinterest and  am so glad that yours popped up!  Now I 
    Have something extra for our quiet Christmas for 2 of 2020 and Congratulations
    On having 3 sons! You are so lucky and it looks as if you put a lot into having a happy family. Merry Christmas, thank you for the easy recipe! So good,
    Susan

  30. Christine M Billings

    5 stars
    I usually make peanut butter cups. But, this recipe was so simple with only a few ingredients, i thought i would give it a try. I am so glad I did. They were so yummy! I sprinkled heath bar crumbs on some of them, and crushed salted pretzels on some others. Absolutely delicious. I now have a new favorite go to candy!

  31. 5 stars
    For the life of me, it won’t let me print the recipe. Oh well. Good proportion of ingredients, though!

    1. I’m not seeing any issues with the printing. Might want to try again and might have been a connection issue.

  32. Eliane lalonde

    I made those peanut butter balls…simply delicious! I added a little curry in my chocolate so yummy!

  33. 5 stars
    Absolutely the best! Have been asked for the recipe and/or to make more several times from family and friends.

  34. I doubled the recipe and added 1 tsp. of vanilla. I also dipped them in dark/semi sweet chocolate mixed, and then did a white chocolate drizzle. They are beautiful, and delicious! Thanks for the recipe

  35. Linda S. Salisbury

    I would not use choc. chips to dip. I would use the candy for molds. too much paraffin was will defiantly plug up your system.. the candy for molds will harden in minutes in the freezer… Gonna make some of these… thanks or the reminder… forgot about these… be blessed…

    1. Candy Mold chocolate has a ton of wax. That’s why it hardens so much without the need to temper. Chocolate chips will harden..to a point but may need refrigeration to keep from sweating and becoming soft.

  36. I have been making these for years.  A little different recipe though.  2 cups peanut butter, 2 cups graham cracker crumbs, 2 cups powdered sugar and 1/4 cup butter.   I also add a tablespoon of butter crisco to the chocolate and it gives them a nice shiny sheen.  Haven’t had a complaint yet!

  37. I have been making these for years.  A little different recipe though.  2 cups peanut butter, 2 cups graham cracker crumbs, 2 cups powdered sugar and 1/4 cup butter.   I also add a tablespoon of butter crisco to the chocolate and it gives them a nice shiny sheen.  Haven’t had a complaint yet!

  38. 5 stars
    I just made these for the first time. They are yummy! But it only made about 20 peanut butter balls so I’ll make more in the morning. I have 8 people for Christmas Eve and I don’t think 20 will be enough! So I suggest you double the recipe.

    1. Yeah, I doubled the recipe when I saw how little ingredients there were! Doubling made 32 balls 🙂

  39. I used to make my son peanut butter candy – 1/3 peanut butter, 1/3 dried milk, and 1/3 honey – seems like this would also work for the insides. My experience with dipping things in melted chocolate is that you need to add either lard or coconut oil to thin it out somewhat – I’ve gone back to using chocolate almond bark.

  40. Ok so after making them and letting the chocolate harden, how do you store them until ready to use? In the fridge? Or on the counter in a container? Thanks 

  41. I’ve always cut the powdered sugar with some Whole Wheat Flour…less sweet and more like a Reese’s. First time I’ve shared this secret. People have asked and asked why mine are so so close to a Real PB cup and now you all know

  42. I made these this year for Thanksgiving. I used dark chocolate and sprinkled sea salt on top. They were so delicious and were a big hit. I am making them tonight for a Christmas party tomorrow. Thanks so much for the recipe.

  43. Donna Lingerfelt

    5 stars
    I Love any recipes with Peanut butter too!! And then u add Chocolate Wow.. and then someone added Cream Cheese instead of butter even more Wow!! :))

  44. Just wondering why you have to use sugar in these. seems the peanut butter and the butter would be enough and then just cover them with chocolate.

  45. Funny……made these since I was a little girl and I’m almost 60. Yes! Buckeyes, for sure! We have hosted overnight guests from all over the US and internationally. One of our favorite gifts to give is a small box of Buckeyes. If you aren’t from Ohio or know someone who is you are likely unfamiliar with these delicious morsels. We even had one guest tell us that Buckeyes are poisonous and didn’t want to eat them! (Real buckeyes are.) These are sooo delish!

  46. Lucille madden

    5 stars
    this is by far the best recipe yet last year i made them to sweet but this recipe sounds amazing.

  47. I would like to make the peanut butter balls but it doesn’t say how much of each ingredient to use unless I missed it could you let me know thanks

    1. Hi Kathy, scroll down to the recipe box where you will get the full recipe and you can also print it. Thanks.

  48. Valerie Nazelrod

    This also works great with milk chocolate chips, too. You can put jelly in center, cherry or strawberry. I even like a bit of peppermint candy cane inside.

  49. elmer a goetz

    I’m on my way to the store now for the chocolate chips. Now I know what i’ll be doing this afternoon.

  50. Suzanne Wheelock

    You can do this in an 8×8 or 9×9 pan. Pat the peanut butter mixture on bottom of lightly greased pan. Chill 
    Chill and pour chocolate over top!! Chill again
    & cut into squares   Very easy!!  Enjoy 

    1. We make sure the peanut butter mixture is dry enough to roll into balls, then freeze them. Two or three of us roll balls, one or two place round toothpicks in them, two shave wax, one melts chocolate chips. We use several jelly roll pans lined with wax paper. It’s like a production line. Everyone loves them gets to take some home. We make the balls rather small so you can pop one in your mouth. As soon as the chocolate/wax hardens, they are packaged and ready for the freezer. 

  51. Rebecca Tutuola

    If you would like this to look better try making candy buckeyes. We in the buckeye state have been making these forever. Go bucks!

  52. 5 stars
    I also make Coconut and chocolate balls just use coconut and or coco in place of peanut butter, and adjust the recipe accordingly. Dip the chocolate balls in white choc or what ever of your choice. The chocolate will need more butter than the others. I dont use butter in the peanut butter recipe.

  53. Cheryl Robson

    Hi if I don’t use peanut butter as I would like different flavours , what would I use instead .  Years ago my mom made chocolates at Christmas but some were mint, chocolate, orange, strawberry , vanilla, lemon and so on.  We ate them frozen lol straight out of freezer! 

    1. My mom made the same thing and they were wonderful! I don’t know if there would be an ingredient to replace the peanut butter…maybe just the butter and powdered sugar with food coloring and extract for flavor??? 

  54. gladys hinerman

    I also add about one quarter cup of very fine crumbled graham cracker crumbs to hold them together better.

    1. Sorry, meant to say my recipe makes around 100 small balls.  I also add the paraffin wax to the chocolate. It makes them shiny!!

  55. If you use a toothpick and only dip them most of the way, leaving a small circle of peanut butter showing, they look like buckeyes!  I’ve been making these for years.  I also add paraffin wax to the melted chocolate to keep the chocolate from melting in your fingers.

    1. 5 stars
      Buckeyes have exposed peanut butter at the top, know it all. I was born and raised in Ohio. Google what a real buckeye looks like, then Google chocolate & peanut butter buckeyes and you’ll see the resemblance. Then go back and look at this recipe photo…PEANUT BUTTER BALLS.  Not the same. Similar, but different.

  56. I use a recipe for these my BFF gave me over 30 years ago. I add a block & a half of of parafin wax melted with the chocolate. Also use tooth picks in them to dip. No messy fingers lol

  57. You have to add a little bit of paraffin wax to chocolate chips to make sure it sticks and hardens to peanut butter balls. And I dip mine using tooth pucks or wooden skewers. 

    1. If you use Chocolate Almond Bark their is no need to use paraffin wax. It’s easier to dip them if you freeze them for a couple of hours or even over night. They won’t fall apart when dipped in the hot melted chocolate & the chocolate sets immediately.

  58. 5 stars
    I’ve made these using white chocolate chips, milk chocolate chips and butterscotch chips. They were all delicious.

  59. 5 stars
    Love all your recipes, I can do most of them with my Granddaughter. We have so much fun making this stuff & of course eating it also. Lol.

    1. Maria Hutchinson

      If you look at the post on FB, to the right of the title, there are 3dots( …) Click in those dots, it will save the post to your FB for future reference.

  60. Ive cut out some of the pb and added powdered creamer and espresso powder…not quite as rich and very delicious!!!

    1. Hi Diana, You can easily print the recipe from the recipe box above. Just click the print button.

  61. Those are called and have been called Buckeyes for many many years. O-H……I-O
    Small tip dont cover whole peanut butter ball, leave a small piece showing at the bottom so it looks like a Buckeye and people with peanut allergies can see the peanut butter.
    And yes they are a big holiday treat here in Ohio. Although we do make them for other special occasions as well.

    1. Ginger Childress

      They are only buckeyes if you leave part of the peanut butter exposed. Otherwise they are peanut butter balls.

    1. Recipe for Martha Washington balls. Coconut in middle instead of peanut butter. Like almond joys.

    1. I’m from ohio and we call these Buckeyes. We dont cover the top in chocolate leaving some of the peanut butter exposed so they look like Buckeyes Ohio’s state tree. We make these all the time for any occasion!

    1. Sharon L Lowe

      Yes. You have to turn the stevia into powdered sugar. Very easy. Then I use sugar free chocolate by Hersey’s