This post may contain references to products from one or more of our advertisers. Oh Sweet Basil may receive compensation when you click on links to such products.
If you’re craving something sweet right now, these easy chocolate peanut butter balls are about to be your new go-to treat. They’re no-bake, super quick, and only need 4 simple ingredients you probably already have sitting in your pantry. Think creamy peanut butter rolled into soft, dreamy bites and dipped in rich chocolate.
They taste like a homemade twist on a peanut butter cup, just a little prettier and way more fun to make.
If you’re a chocolate-and-peanut-butter person (and honestly, who isn’t?), here’s one more treat to obsess over. These peanut butter truffles are the kind of dessert that works any time of year, but they really shine during the holidays. They’re perfect for taking to a dinner party, setting out at a Christmas gathering, or packaging up as a sweet little neighbor gift.
They’re dangerously irresistible: soft, creamy, chocolatey, and impossible to eat just one. Whether you need a quick last-minute dessert, a festive holiday goodie, or a simple no-bake snack to satisfy a craving, these peanut butter balls always come through.
Ingredients for Chocolate Peanut Butter Balls
Remember how I said you probably have all the ingredients for best peanut butter balls recipe in your pantry already? Well, you only need 4 ingredients and here they are:
- Powdered Sugar: sweetens the mixture and helps the filling set up nicely.
- Creamy Peanut Butter: creates the smooth, rich center.
- Butter, softened (or cream cheese): adds creaminess and helps the mixture come together.
- Semi-Sweet or any chocolate chips/melting chocolate: melted for dipping and coating.
- Roasted Peanuts, coarsely chopped (optional): adds a crunchy topping or mix-in.
The measurements and details for each ingredient can be found in the recipe card at the end of the post.
How to Make Chocolate Dipped Truffles
The steps are easy, but just takes some time to let different steps set up. Extra bonus…no candy thermometer needed! Here is what you will do:
- Combine: Add the sugar, peanut butter, and butter (or cream cheese) to the bowl of a stand mixer and mix together with the paddle attachment until combine.
- Scoop: Using a small cookie scoop and your hands, shape the peanut butter mixture into ½ – ¾ inch balls and place on a baking sheet lined with wax paper.
- Chill: Cover loosely and place in the freezer to chill for 30 minutes.
- Melt: Place the chocolate in a heatproof bowl and set over a pot of simmering water (or use a double-boiler) and heat until completely melted and smooth.
- Dip: Remove the peanut butter balls from the freezer and dip each truffle one at a time into the chocolate until coated on all sides. Resting the covered ball on a fork is a great way to remove excess chocolate.
- Rest: Gently place each truffle on a baking sheet lined with wax paper or parchment paper to let the chocolate harden and set up.
- Refrigerate: Once the truffles have set up, store them in the fridge until ready to serve.
Now this might seem crazy, but these taste better than Reese’s Peanut Butter Cups! They really do! Keep scrolling to the end of the post for the complete recipe card!
Getting The Perfect Texture
The consistency should be that the dough holds together when you squeeze it in your hand. Be sure to use a processed peanut butter, like JIF or Skippy! Using natural peanut butter won’t give you the right texture or consistency for the peanut butter filling.
- If it’s too wet: Add a little more powdered sugar.
- If it’s too dry and crumbly: Add a little more peanut butter.
Keeping the dough chilled and cold and trying not to handle it too much will help a lot!
Variations For Chocolate Peanut Butter Balls
Allergies: If you have a peanut allergy, you can swap the peanut butter for any other nut butter…almond butter, cashew butter, sunflower seed butter, etc. It should be close to a 1:1 ratio with other nut butters, but adjust the powdered sugar as needed.
Chocolate: If you aren’t a semi-sweet chocolate fan, change up the chocolate to your favorite type. Milk chocolate, dark chocolate, white chocolate, etc. will all taste great with the creamy peanut butter filling.
Peanut Butter: We love the texture of the creamy peanut butter but if you like a little crunch, use crunchy peanut butter instead.
Toppings: If you want to fancy these up, top with some chopped peanuts, flaky sea salt or festive holiday sprinkles.
Peanut Butter Balls or Buckeyes?
Peanut butter balls and buckeyes are essentially the same thing, but with buckeyes, you leave a little bit of the peanut butter filling exposed so that it looks like a buckeye nut. The flavor will be pretty much the same.
Storage Instructions
Chocolate truffles should be stored in an airtight container in a cool place, preferably the refrigerator. Chocolate truffles can also be frozen. Store in a freeze-safe container. Handmade truffles will not last as long as a box of chocolates. Chocolate truffles will keep up to 3 weeks.
Frozen truffle will keep for up to 3 months.
This is a great recipe to get the kids in the kitchen! It will get messy but I promise that the memories created and the tasty treats made will be worth it!
Chocolate peanut butter balls are an irresistible treat that everyone will love! Creamy peanut butter coated with rich chocolate! I guarantee you won’t be able to stop at just one!
More Candy Recipes You’ll Love:
- Salted Caramel Pretzel Snaps
- Chocolate Covered Coconut Balls
- Oreo Peanut Butter Truffles
- Salted Milk Chocolate Homemade Caramels
- All our CANDY RECIPES here!
Peanut Butter Balls
Ingredients
- 1 Cup Powdered Sugar
- 1 Cup Creamy Peanut Butter
- 2 Tablespoons Butter, softened (or cream cheese)
- 2 Cups Semi-Sweet, or any chocolate chip or melting chocolate
- ¼ Cup Roasted Peanuts, coarsely chopped. optional
Instructions
- In the bowl of an electric mixer fitted with the paddle attachment, mix the sugar, peanut butter, butter (or cream cheese) together on medium speed until combined.1 Cup Powdered Sugar, 2 Tablespoons Butter, 1 Cup Creamy Peanut Butter
- Shape mixture into ½ – ¾ inch balls.
- Place on baking sheet lined with wax paper.
- Cover loosely, transfer the pan to the freezer and chill for 30 minutes.
- When ready to dip the truffles, melt the chopped chocolate in a heatproof bowl set over a pot of simmering water.2 Cups Semi-Sweet
- Dip each chilled truffle, one at a time, coating in chocolate and shaking gently to remove the excess. (If at any point during dipping, the dough balls become too soft, return to the freezer to chill for 15 minutes.)
- Transfer to a wax-paper lined surface.
- Sprinkle peanuts on top of each truffle quickly after dipping each truffle before the chocolate sets.¼ Cup Roasted Peanuts
- Once all the truffles have been dipped, store them in the refrigerator until ready to serve.
Recipe Notes
Nutrition
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
A healthy, easy but simple dish to make. I will learn to make this dish.
Do it!! Enjoy!
This is so yummy
Thanks Maria!!
These truffles look amazing ! Another delicious treat I’ll be making for family this Christmas!
Yesssss! They will be a hit for sure! Thank you for leaving a comment!