Why are my peanut butter balls too soft?

If your butter was too soft or if the peanut butter you're using is too thin , the filling can get a little soft and sticky as you're rolling. The refrigerator can fix that—stop what you're doing and chill the bowl of filling for 15 minutes in the refrigerator before trying again to roll into balls.

How many calories in a peanut butter ball?

There are 121 calories in 1 serving of Peanut Butter Balls.

Why are my peanut butter balls not firm?

Now they do need to be chilled until firm . You can do this by placing the peanut butter balls in the refrigerator for several hours, or even overnight. But a faster way is to just place the peanut butter balls into the freezer and freeze until firm.

How do you make peanut butter more solid?

If you want to THICKEN peanut butter, you need to get rid of water, not add it. Some obvious ways: add a little starch — use a cooked or pure starch (Wondra, potato starch, etc.) add a little gelatin and beat like heck.

How do you thicken peanut butter?

If you would rather have a thicker peanut butter – then you can pour a little of the peanut oil on the top into a separate container and save that for cooking later – peanut oil makes an awesome base for salad dressings and veggie stir fry!

What is the best combination with peanut butter?

Ideas to Try: Add into a bowl of oatmeal. Dip apple slices in peanut butter. Add banana slices to a toasted PB&J. Spread on a rice cake or cracker. Add to a smoothie. Dip celery or carrots in peanut butter. Mix with yogurt. Top a stir fry with peanut butter sauce (see Peanut Noodles with Tofu recipe below). More items...

How much sugar is in a peanut butter ball?

Nutrition Facts (per serving) Nutrition Facts Servings Per Recipe 17 Total Carbohydrate 18g 7% Dietary Fiber 2g 8% Total Sugars 10g 14 more rows Mar 15, 2024

Is a bowl of peanut butter healthy?

Peanut butter is a great source of plant-based protein , which is important for people who stick to a vegetarian or vegan diet. What's more, peanut butter packs antioxidants that help decrease your risk of several chronic diseases, like heart disease and type 2 diabetes, and support a healthy immune system.

How many calories are in 2 spoons of homemade peanut butter?

Peanut Butter Nutrition. Two tablespoons (32 grams) of natural peanut butter includes: Calories: 190 . Protein: 8 grams.

Why are my buckeyes soft?

Not chilling the peanut butter balls long enough . Not giving the peanut butter ample time to chill and firm up in the fridge is one of the top reasons buckeyes get a bad reputation for being so messy to make.

How do you keep peanut butter firm?

Want to fully stop the separation cycle? Store your jar of peanut butter in the fridge when it's all mixed together . Separation anxiety, gone!

How do you harden soft peanut brittle?

I have experimented heating the candy between 285-300 degrees . I like heating to 300 if it is immediately taken off the heat and cooled. It hardens quickly if you go over 300 even a little bit. Most people have had success with the brittle at any temp in between 285-300, but like I said, I prefer closer to 300 degrees.

How do you make peanut butter less stiff?

When using peanut butter only, the key is heat. Peanut butter is naturally high in fat, but that fat is nearly solid at room temperature. In order to soften it up, you need some heat. In my case, I heated two tablespoons in a heat-proof bowl and then stirred like crazy .

Easiest Peanut Butter Balls Recipe - Crazy for Crust (2024)

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My homemade Peanut Butter Balls taste like Reese’s peanut butter cups but so much better! This is an easy candy recipe with simple ingredients that are like buckeye balls but completely coated in chocolate.

If you’re looking for the best peanut butter balls ever then you’re in the right place!

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The Best Peanut Butter Balls Recipe
Ingredients in Peanut Butter Buckeyes
How Do You Make Peanut Butter Balls?
What’s the difference between Buckeyes and Peanut Butter Balls?
How to Store Easy Peanut Butter Balls
Best Chocolate for Peanut Butter Truffles
Peanut Butter Ball Recipe Variations
FAQ
Other Favorite Candy
Peanut Butter Balls Recipe Recipe

The Best Peanut Butter Balls Recipe

I have another really easy candy recipe for you today – peanut butter balls! These are like buckeyes but so much better, and they taste just like a peanut butter cup.

These no-bake peanut butter balls are about the least intimidating candy recipe ever – they’re practically fool-proof and we love them!

This recipe is easy – five ingredients easy!
You don’t need a candy thermometer or an advanced degree in dessert making – all you need are a few bowls, a baking dish, and a microwave.
They taste like Reese’s peanut butter cup but better because they’re homemade. The magic is in the peanut butter filling – it has a very similar texture and flavor.
I’m sharing my best tips for making, dipping, and storing these sweet treats.
They are freezer-friendly and also keep well for five days at room temperature. Perfect for gifting!

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Ingredients in Peanut Butter Buckeyes

You only need 5 ingredients to make these peanut butter truffles!

Peanut Butter: I use creamy peanut butter but you can also use crunchy peanut butter for some extra texture – don’t use natural peanut butter.
Butter: I use unsalted butter, but you can use salted if it’s all you have. You’ll want it to be room temperature.
Powdered sugar: for sweetness and binding
Vanilla: for flavor
Melting chocolate: Ghiradelli Candy Melts or Candiquik are the two best tasting you can buy at the grocery store. I recommend milk chocolate but dark chocolate would be fantastic too!

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How Do You Make Peanut Butter Balls?

Mix:Cream the peanut butter and butter in a mixing bowl. Slowly add the confectioners’ sugar while mixing on low until the mixture is well combined. Add the vanilla and mix again.

Roll and Chill:Line a baking sheet with wax paper or parchment paper. Scoop 1-inch balls of the peanut butter filling and roll between your palms. Chill the balls for 20 minutes or until they harden.

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Melt:Melt the chocolate following the package instruction. Most likely, you can do this in the microwave in 30 seconds or so.

Dip:Use a toothpick to dip each peanut butter ball in the melted chocolate, coating it evenly on all sides. Let the excess chocolate drip off and then place on the baking sheet. Get all my best tips for dipping candy in chocolate here!

What’s the difference between Buckeyes and Peanut Butter Balls?

If you’re making Buckeyes, you won’t dip the the whole truffle. If you’re making peanut butter balls, then you will. This recipe is a totally no bake chocolate covered peanut ball.

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Set:Place all of the dipped balls back on the cookie sheet and leave them to set. Once the chocolate has hardened, they are ready to serve.

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How to Store Easy Peanut Butter Balls

Keep them in an airtight container, and they will keep for five days in the refrigerator.

Best Chocolate for Peanut Butter Truffles

There are lots of chocolates out there you can use to roll truffles in but here is what I recommend using:

Ghiradelli Candy Melts: find these in the baking aisle. They come in chocolate or white chocolate and they taste the best out of all of the melting chocolate.
Candiquik: find it in the baking aisle. It’s chocolate made for melting and comes in a block. This is similar to almond bark but tastes better.
Baking Chocolate: you can also use semi-sweet baking chocolate bars but that gets really expensive!

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Peanut Butter Ball Recipe Variations

You can easily switch this recipe up to make it your own – feel free to experiment!

Chocolate:Use white chocolate, dark chocolate, or milk chocolate – they all work great! I recommend sticking with candy melts, Candiquik, almond bark, or even bars of baking chocolate for the best results. Avoid chocolate chips – they don’t melt as well!
Peanut Butter: Use your favorite peanut butter! Crunchy, creamy or flavored.
Decorations:Sometimes, I add some sprinkles before the chocolate sets. This is great for holidays, so think red and white for Valentine’s day, red and green for Christmas, pastel sprinkles for Easter… you get the idea!

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FAQ

Can I make homemade Reese’s peanut butter cups instead of balls?

You can make adorable mini peanut butter cups with this recipe, too! Lightly coat mini liners with cookie spray and coat the bottom with a layer of chocolate. Add a peanut butter ball and flatten it. Cover it with more chocolate, and then leave them to sit at room temperature until they’re set.

Other Favorite Candy

Oreo Truffles
Nutella Truffles
5 Minute Fudge
5 Minute Candy Bark
Peanut Butter Chocolate Chip Cookies
Peanut Butter Cheesecake

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Peanut Butter Balls Recipe

4.95 from 325 votes

Ingredients

▢ 1 cup (283g) creamy peanut butter
▢ 6 tablespoons (84g) butter
▢ 2 ¾ cups (311g) powdered sugar
▢ 1 teaspoon vanilla
▢ 1 package 10 ounces Chocolate melting chocolate (such as Ghiradelli or Candiquik)

Instructions

In a mixing bowl, cream the peanut butter and butter together with a hand mixer.
Slowly add the powdered sugar until well combined. Add the vanilla.
Line a large cookie sheet with wax paper or parchment paper.
Scoop 1-inch balls of the peanut butter mixture and roll into a ball. Place on the cookie sheet. Continue until all the peanut butter mixture is gone.
Refrigerate for 20 minutes until hardened.
In a microwave safe bowl, melt the melting wafers for 30 seconds. Stir and if not completely melted add for an additional 10 seconds, stir and repeat as necessary. (Refer to package directions for melting instructions as well.)
Remove the peanut butter balls from the refrigerator. Using a toothpick, dip one ball at a time into the chocolate until covered. Place back on the lined cookie sheet. Let harden completely before serving.
Store in an airtight container in the refrigerator up to 5 days.

Recipe Video

Recipe Notes

There have been some comments saying the recipe is too sweet or doesn’t work. It DOES work – I’ve made them several times. Here are some tips:

The dough comes together easily if using a stand mixer. If you’re using a hand mixer, you might want to reduce the sugar to 2 1/2 cups.
Be sure you’re measuring your sugar correctly and not packing it. I have added the weights in grams so that helps.
I find 2 3/4 cups powdered sugar to be fine for sweetness and taste. If you want them less sweet you can reduce sugar to 2 1/2 cups.
Make sure you’re using SALTED butter. If you’re using unsalted add 1/4 teaspoon salt.

This recipe does work. Just have patience with mixing – it takes awhile to get the mixture all together.

Recipe Nutrition

Nutritional information not guaranteed to be accurate

Course Dessert

Cuisine American

Author Dorothy Kern

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Easiest Peanut Butter Balls Recipe - Crazy for Crust (10)

These EASY Peanut Butter Balls are chocolate covered like buckeyes but better – and they’re done in no time at all! This candy recipe is no bake and tastes like a peanut butter cup – use your favorite kind of chocolate too!

Last Updated on August 21, 2022