Peanut butter balls are the candy that shows up at every Christmas gathering and disappears first. Sweet, creamy peanut butter filling wrapped in a smooth chocolate shell, and they come together with just five ingredients and no baking.
They're also called buckeyes, and once you make a batch you'll see why they're a holiday tradition. This recipe makes about 38 of them, which is plenty for a cookie tray or a gift tin.
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Why You'll Love Them
- Just five ingredients. Butter, powdered sugar, peanut butter, chocolate, and a little shortening.
- No oven needed. You mix, roll, dip, and let them set.
- Perfect for sharing. They hold up well, so they travel and they gift beautifully.
- Make them ahead. They freeze well, so you can knock out a batch before the holidays hit.
What Are Peanut Butter Balls
Peanut butter balls are a no bake candy with a soft, sweet peanut butter center and a chocolate coating. You roll the filling into little balls, chill them so they hold their shape, then dip each one in melted chocolate until it's coated all around.
The name buckeye comes from the way they look. If you leave a small circle of the peanut butter filling showing on top of each ball, it mimics the nut from the Ohio buckeye tree. That's the classic buckeye look. For fully coated balls, just dip the whole thing in chocolate.
Ingredients
- unsalted butter, melted
- powdered sugar
- creamy peanut butter
- semi-sweet chocolate chips, melted
- shortening, to make the chocolate smooth and give it a nice shine. You can also use coconut oil.
How to Make Peanut Butter Balls
- Melt the butter in a small saucepan over low heat.
- Stir in the creamy peanut butter until it's smooth and combined.
- Take the pan off the heat and add the powdered sugar. Beat it with a hand mixer until the mixture comes together into a thick, smooth dough.
- Roll the mixture into 1 inch balls. A small cookie scoop makes them even and keeps your hands a little cleaner.
- Set the balls on wax paper or parchment and let them cool and firm up.
- Melt the chocolate chips in a double boiler over medium low heat, or in a heatproof bowl in the microwave in short bursts, stirring until smooth.
- Stir the shortening or coconut oil into the melted chocolate until it's glossy.
- Dip each peanut butter ball into the chocolate using a dipping tool or a toothpick. Shake off the extra chocolate and set the ball back on the wax paper.
- Let the chocolate set before you stack or store them.
- If you want to decorate, pour any leftover chocolate into a piping bottle and drizzle it over the tops.
QUICK TIPS
- Chill the balls before dipping. Cold balls hold together better and the chocolate sets faster.
- Use a toothpick for dipping. Poke it into the center, dip, then smooth the hole with a fingertip.
- Leave a small circle bare for buckeyes. If you want the classic look, don't dip the very top.
- Keep the chocolate warm as you work. Reheat it briefly if it starts to thicken.
Why Add Shortening to the Chocolate
Shortening or coconut oil thins the melted chocolate just enough to coat smoothly, and it gives the candy that glossy, shiny finish once it sets. Use one or the other, not both.
What Tools You'll Need
- A double boiler, or a heatproof bowl and saucepan, for the chocolate.
- Wax paper or parchment to set the balls on.
- A hand mixer to cream the peanut butter and powdered sugar.
- A small cookie scoop for even balls.
- A dipping tool or toothpicks for coating.
How to Store Them
Let the balls harden completely before you store them. Then keep them in an airtight container.
At room temperature, they'll last about a week. In the fridge, they'll keep for up to two weeks.
For the holidays, make them ahead and freeze them in a single layer, then stack once solid. They'll last up to three months, and you can pull out as many as you need. Thaw at room temperature before serving.
MORE NO BAKE CANDY RECIPES
If you like these peanut butter balls, try these other easy no bake candies.
- Homemade Turtles. Pecan, caramel, and chocolate candy for the holidays.
- Peanut Butter Meltaways. Creamy, melt in your mouth candies with three ingredients.
- 2 Ingredient Peanut Butter Fudge. Quick fudge with only two ingredients.
- Crockpot Peanut Clusters. Slow cooker candy with peanuts and chocolate.
📖 Recipe
Peanut Butter Balls
Ingredients
- 1 cup unsalted butter - melted
- 3 ¾ cups powdered sugar
- 16 ounce creamy peanut butter
- 11 ounce semisweet chocolate chips - melted
- 2 tablespoon shortening
Instructions
- Melt the butter in a small saucepan and stir in the creamy peanut butter until smooth.
- Once the peanut butter is well-creamed into the butter using a hand mixer, add the confectioners' sugar and remove from the heat.
- Combine the mixture well and roll the peanut butter mixture into 1-inch balls. A small cookie scoop is ideal to easily do this.
- Set the balls aside on wax paper and allow them to cool.
- Use a double boiler and melt the chocolate chips over medium-low heat.
- Add the shortening (or coconut oil) to the melted chocolate and mix well.
- Use a dipping tool or place a toothpick into the center of the balls and dip them into the melted chocolate one at a time. Shake off any excess chocolate drip and place the dipped ball on wax paper.
- Allow the chocolate to cool before putting them in a container.
- If desired, pour the remaining melted chocolate into a piping bottle and decorate the tops of the peanut butter balls.
Notes
- Chill the balls before dipping so they hold their shape and the chocolate sets faster.
- Use shortening or coconut oil for a shiny coating, not both.
- Leave a small circle bare for the classic buckeye look.
- Store at room temperature up to a week, in the fridge up to two weeks, or freeze up to three months.
Nutrition
Nutritional information is an estimate based on third-party calculations. Actual values may vary due to ingredients, measurements, and serving sizes.
© Popular Recipes
Dana is the lead recipe developer and photographer for PopularRecipes.com. With her 10+ years of experience creating, testing, and photographing recipes, she has become an artist in developing wholesome, family-friendly meals that are a hit with both kids and parents.
Marie says
This is how my mom makes them. She’s been making them like this for over 40 years!
Ann says
Can you freeze the peanut butter balls?
Yes! They freeze beautifully, we do it every year!