Chocolate Peanut Butter Balls

March 9, 2009

Before Christmas, I found this recipe pictured in my Family Fun magazine. Anna Hammari sent it in, and I think she won some kind of prize for it. I have never been able to make chocolate covered peanut butter anything come out quite right, so I’d like to try this recipe.

Especially in the season of chocolate peanut butter eggs, I long for some chocolate peanut butter goodness.

Actually, I think I have a Reece’s egg hidden in the entertainment center right now. I digress.

As usual, I rewrote this recipe to make it easier to follow.

Chocolate Peanut Butter Balls

2 cups peanut butter
1 cup butter, softened
5 cups powdered sugar
2 (12 oz) packages of chocolate chips – you can use all one kind or 2 different kinds
4 to 5 tablespoons of vegetable shortening
Chocolate or peanut butter chips for decorating

In a medium bowl, combine the peanut butter and butter and stir with a wooden spoon until evenly blended. Add the powdered sugar and stir until the mixture has the consistency of sticky play dough.
Use a double boiler to melt the chocolate chips with the shortening, stirring frequently. If you’re using different types of chocolate, melt them in separate batches. White chocolate doesn’t contain cocoa butter, so it requires extra shortening. The Family Fun people used 2 tablespoons for semisweet chips, and 3 tablespoons for white chocolate.
While the chocolate melts, roll the peanut butter mixture into 1-inch balls and set them on a baking sheet lined with wax paper. (Reader tip: If the dough is too sticky, add more confectioners’ sugar and/or wet your hands with warm water to prevent sticking.)
Brilliant – Put the baking sheet in the freezer until the peanut butter balls are solid enough to pick up with a toothpick, about 5 to 10 minutes. Why have I never thought of this?
Insert a toothpick into each peanut butter ball, then dip it into the melted chocolate. Set the chocolate-coated balls on a baking sheet lined with waxed paper. Remove the toothpicks. Immediately place a chocolate or peanut butter chip over each toothpick hole. Cool the peanut butter balls in the refrigerator until the chocolate has hardened, about 5 minutes.

Makes 100 (1-inch) peanut butter balls.

Reader Tip: Use leftover melted chocolate to coat pretzels, or pour it into candy molds and add chopped nuts or dried fruit.

Happily submitted to Mouthwatering Mondays, I am Blissfully Domestic, Homemaking Monday, Making a Happy Home Monday, Make Something Monday, Tempt my Tummy Tuesday, Kitchen Tip Tuesday, Tuesday Toot, Works for Me Wednesday, and Saturday Stirrings

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Gretchen said:

I add a cup of crushed graham crackers to the peanut butter mixture. Yummy!

# 9 March 2009 at 9:19 pm

Jenna said:

Wow, these look so delicious! Peanut butter and chocolate = my favorite

Jenna

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# 9 March 2009 at 9:26 pm

Piera-Jolly Mom said:

These sound sinfully good! I make peanut butter balls 1-2 times a year, but this recipe is a little different-I will try yours next time : )

Piera-Jolly Mom’s last blog post..Make Something Monday: The Craft Room

# 9 March 2009 at 9:26 pm

No Reimer Reason said:

These sound absolutely delicious. I am bookmarking this in case I ever get ambitious.

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# 9 March 2009 at 9:27 pm

Tara (author) said:

Gretchen – I like that idea! It would give the center just a wee bit of crunch, but not so much as crunchy peanut butter. I may have to try that.

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# 9 March 2009 at 9:28 pm

Piera-Jolly Mom said:

BTW-I grabbed your button! Your site is awesome! : )

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# 9 March 2009 at 9:29 pm

Lisa@Blessedwithgrace said:

I knew you were my friend, for a reason!! YOU RAWK with this recipe. I am SO excited!

Lisa@Blessedwithgrace’s last blog post..Tempt My Tummy Tuesday….tricks, tips, and finds

# 9 March 2009 at 9:29 pm

lana said:

peanut butter AND chocolate? THE BEST!

lana’s last blog post..Sleezy Chicken

# 9 March 2009 at 9:47 pm

Diana said:

In Ohio they’re called buckeyes because they look like buckeyes that fall from the buckeye tree.

# 9 March 2009 at 10:00 pm

Jerri said:

I posted my recipe for these back around Christmas. They are my favorite homemade candy of all time! The main difference is our recipes, is that I use parafin wax instead of shortening with the chocolate chips.

I also use the toothpicks and the freezer (or fridge) strategy. I used to make these with my dad when I was a kid, and he’s get very “upset” when the balls would fall in the chocolate, and this technique was a HUGE hit. And then at the end we’d spoon our leftover melted chocolate over the holes.

Jerri’s last blog post..Recipe of the Week: Chicken Tortilla Soup

# 9 March 2009 at 10:13 pm

Felicia said:

Save some for me!

# 9 March 2009 at 10:55 pm

Angela said:

A friend of mine made some of those for Christmas. Amazing! Thanks for sharing the recipe with us.

Angela’s last blog post..Tackling Leftovers

# 10 March 2009 at 1:04 am

Sherry said:

Yum! We make peanut butter balls every year for CHRISTmas. They get gobbled up quick,too.

THanks for sharing!

Sherry’s last blog post..Greek Chicken Salad

# 10 March 2009 at 6:48 am

Brenda said:

These are really good and I often put them in the freezer, it really helps.

Brenda’s last blog post..Chicken Cabbage Salad for TMTT

# 10 March 2009 at 7:32 am

Carol said:

Mmmm…. I need these. Now!

# 10 March 2009 at 8:46 am

sarah said:

Um, my butt just got bigger reading that

# 10 March 2009 at 10:16 am

michelle@babiesonline said:

I love peanut butter eggs! We used to make this recipe all the time…and then we discovered that my 4th child has a nut allergy. No more peanut butter.

So, I have to get my peanut butter chocolate fix by purchasing a candy bar at the store and eating it before I get home.

When there’s a will, there’s a way.

michelle@babiesonline’s last blog post..Breakfast, Naptime, Playtime, Bath: A Poem

# 10 March 2009 at 11:21 am

Kaycee said:

They always make it sound so easy. I think I might have to try these.

Kaycee’s last blog post..Gratuitous Cuteness

# 10 March 2009 at 11:25 am

Nellie Butler said:

I’m all for chocolate covered just about anything. Mostly I make chocolate chip cookies though. I just can’t leave them alone! I’ll have to give this a shot:)

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# 10 March 2009 at 6:04 pm

Farrah from Wife and Mom of 3 said:

MMM!

# 10 March 2009 at 7:56 pm

Deborah said:

One word for you, my dear . . . YUM!

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# 11 March 2009 at 5:53 am

Ali said:

Oh. my. word. These sound FABULOUS! I am so going to make some of these and not share them with anyone! Reese’s are my favorite, anything peanut butter and chocolate, so these will become a fav too I assume, thanks for sharing!

Ali’s last blog post..Fresh Sqeezed OJ

# 11 March 2009 at 8:15 am

Ali said:

PS – you would think I would have made something like this before – IE Buckeyes since I live in Ohio lol, but just never have! Thanks for the inspiration!

Ali’s last blog post..Fresh Sqeezed OJ

# 11 March 2009 at 8:18 am

Robyns Online World said:

T and Hubby would go nuts for these! They love peanut butter. Not sure if you watch South Park – but the name reminds me of something Chef made on the show LOL!

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# 11 March 2009 at 9:47 am