Old-fashioned peanut butter balls are an easy recipe that is a holiday tradition at my house. It only takes 4 ingredients to make this no-bake recipe. The two classic flavors of peanut butter and chocolate create the most loved Christmas candy - chewy chocolate-covered old-fashioned peanut butter balls.

Creamy sweet peanut butter centers drenched in semi-sweet chocolate are my favorite way to enjoy these two flavors. This is the ultimate chocolate and peanut butter dessert. This peanut butter ball recipe is simply the classic confection version that has been around even longer than I have been making it.
No-Bake Peanut Butter Balls are a Holiday Classic
This easy no-bake peanut butter ball recipe is a holiday classic. They are so delicious and a family favorite. The Christmas season is not allowed to start in my house until the peanut butter balls, Biscoff truffles, and homemade toffee are made. They are perfect for potlucks, parties, and office gatherings, and they make great gifts.
For over 3 decades I have made these every year and they are still the #1 requested and craved item by my family and friends every December. Just a few ingredients bring so much joy to so many people each year. This is on the goodie plates that I deliver to our neighbors every year. My neighbors are some lucky people if I say so myself.
Jump to:
- No-Bake Peanut Butter Balls are a Holiday Classic
- Peanut Butter Balls vs Buckeyes
- Ingredients for Chocolate-Covered Peanut Butter Balls
- Best Peanut Butter for Making Peanut Butter Balls
- How to Make No-Bake Peanut Butter Balls
- Substitutions & Variations
- Best Christmas Homemade Food Gifts
- How to Store Peanut Butter Balls
- FAQ
- OLD-FASHIONED PEANUT BUTTER BALLS
Peanut Butter Balls vs Buckeyes
Many people make buckeye balls which are similar. The only difference is they are not dipped and coated on all sides. Buckeyes are traditionally dipped in chocolate leaving a top section of peanut butter exposed, thus looking like a buckeye. (nuts from the buckeye tree common in Ohio).
I like more chocolate peanut butter ratio, so fully drenched is how I roll. Peanut butter balls are coated with chocolate on all sides. That makes them different from Buckeyes. These are more like a truffle, like my Biscoff Truffle Recipe they are drenched in yummy chocolate.
Ingredients for Chocolate-Covered Peanut Butter Balls
This is a 4-ingredient old-fashioned peanut butter balls recipe. There is no reason to alter this simple yet perfect recipe in any way. These old-fashioned peanut butter balls are easy to make with powdered sugar, a little butter, and of course chocolate and peanut butter. The centers of these are creamy & delicious like peanut butter fudge.
What are Peanut Butter Balls Made of? Just a few simple staples you likely have in your home already are all you need.
- Peanut Butter - a creamy one that type works best & do not use a natural kind.
- Powdered Sugar - (also known as confectioners or icing sugar)
- Salted Butter - this needs to be soft at room temperature
- Semi-Sweet Chocolate Chips - milk or dark works but semi-sweet is our favorite to pair with peanut butter
Why salted butter? Why not! The salt content in the butter is low enough to not make it taste "salty". Rather the salt just balances out all that sugar and is a flavor enhancer. You can also use salted vegan butter and vegan chocolate to make these delicious peanut butter balls.
Peanut butter balls also need plenty of powdered sugar. Not to be confused with regular white granulated sugar. This not only makes them sweet but also acts as a binder for the creamy peanut butter and butter. As they combine, the mixture holds up well to roll and eventually coats in the melted chocolate.
These are not made with crispy rice cereal (Rice Krispies), cornflakes, oatmeal, or graham crackers. If you want a holiday treat with Rice Krispies, try another 4-ingredient recipe - Rice Krispies with M&MS. The peanut butter balls are also made without vanilla like other recipes. They are plain in the center like a peanut butter truffle. This easy peanut butter balls recipe is no-bake & gluten-free.
Best Peanut Butter for Making Peanut Butter Balls
Use your favorite brands such as Skippy, Jif, Trader Joe's, or others to make these peanut butter balls. Do not use natural peanut butter. The consistency will not be the same and the oils in natural peanut butter do not blend well with this recipe.
How to Make No-Bake Peanut Butter Balls
Making homemade peanut butter balls is simple but it does take time to complete the full recipe. It is a great one to make with the family and get all the hands rolling up that sweetened peanut butter filling or help dip them into melted chocolate.
1 - Mix the Peanut Butter Filling
Making the filling is easy but requires a bit of muscle. Start by making sure your salted butter has had time to come to room temperature. Once it is ready, combine the softened butter with the peanut butter and half of the powdered sugar.
Stir to combine. Add the remaining sugar and combine thoroughly. It may be hard to stir so use some real muscle and get in there. Make sure there are no clumps of powdered sugar or butter that are not mixed in evenly.
2 - Chill the Peanut Butter Mixture
Once the peanut butter mixture is ready, place the bowl in the refrigerator for 30 minutes. While it is chilling you can prepare a few baking sheets with parchment paper or aluminum foil.
3 - Roll the Peanut Butter Balls
Using your hands, roll the peanut butter mixture into 1-inch balls. The mixture will be a little bit sticky but roll easily and hold the round shape. Place each on the prepared baking sheet with parchment or foil There will be about 30 balls on the baking sheet once complete.
TOP TIP - dust your hands with a bit of powdered sugar if the mixture is a bit sticky.
Place the baking sheet of peanut butter balls into the refrigerator for another 30 minutes to set the balls. This will ensure they hold up once they start to dip into the warm melted chocolate later.
4 - Dip Peanut Butter Balls in Chocolate
In a double boiler melt the chocolate until smooth. Be sure to do this over a low simmer to ensure the chocolate does not seize up. I do not have your own one and you do not you can easily make one at home if you have the right items. I use a glass bowl over a saucepan, as seen below.
I like using Ghirardelli, Nestle, or Guittard chocolates for melting. There are many chocolates great for melting, so find one you love the taste of and enjoy.
Once the chocolate is melted, remove the peanut butter balls from the refrigerator.
Begin coating each ball one at a time in the melted chocolate. I use two spoons to roll and move the ball back and forth to coat all sides.
By twisting the spoons over and under the peanut butter ball, the spoon not only coats the balls but also helps keep the round shape. Work quickly or get some help. You want to do this with warm chocolate before the peanut butter balls start to come to room temperature.
5 - Rest the Candies
Let the peanut butter balls cool as the chocolate hardens at room temperature. Or you can put the baking sheet back into the refrigerator if your house is relatively warm.
They are ready to eat, store, or package as a gift once the chocolate outer shell is hard around the peanut butter ball center. They may lose some of their shine once placed in the refrigerator or freezer. That is natural when chilling chocolate and it does not alter the taste at all. Trust me, they will still be to-die-for.
Substitutions & Variations
Make it modern? Add Rice Krispies or cornflakes, no. These peanut butter balls are creamy and do not have any crispy rice cereal. I LOVE this just as they are.
But if you want to make some with a different twist to have a few different kinds of peanut butter balls, here are some great recipe ideas. Here are some modern takes on the more traditional peanut butter balls.
- Rice Krispies Cereal - Stir 1-2 cups into the peanut butter mixture
- Cornflakes Cereal - Stir 1-2 cups into the peanut butter mixture
- Graham Cracker Crumbs - Stir 1-2 cups into the peanut butter mixture
- Chocolate Chips - you can use milk, semi-sweet, & dark chocolate chips
- Peanut Butter - use crunchy instead of creamy
Best Christmas Homemade Food Gifts
These peanut butter balls, similar to buckeyes, make a thoughtful gift to give at Christmas. They also go great with other holiday sweets and treats that can be made ahead of time and wrapped up to give as homemade presents later.
Try these Christmas cookie and candy gift-giving recipes. Also great for cookie exchanges and holiday platters. I recommend the M&M Christmas cookie bars which are a holiday favorite.
How to Store Peanut Butter Balls
Wondering how long can you refrigerate peanut butter balls. I say as long as they last before you eat them all because they go fast. Ok ok, really. Peanut butter balls can be stored in an air-tight container in the refrigerator for up to a month.
The chocolate-covered peanut butter balls will be stored for even longer in the freezer. They freeze well. Place them in an air-tight Ziploc freezer bag. Remove the air, seal, and store for up to 6 months.
I am one of those people that LOVES frozen peanut butter and chocolate treats. I warn you that you may need to hide these since they will be eaten fast if discovered. Enjoy and share with your loved ones. Nothing says I Love You and Merry Christmas like homemade old-fashioned peanut butter balls!
If you love peanut butter and chocolate too, then you will probably also not want to miss my recipe for FROZEN PEANUT BUTTER CUP PIE.
FAQ
This is a traditional old-fashioned recipe because it uses classic ingredients that have been staples in the American kitchen for decades. There is no modern take on these such as cereal or cookies added.
This candy is simply how they have been made since 1919 when the first Buckeye candy was believed to be invented. This recipe uses those same ingredients.
If your peanut butter mixture is too sticky or will not roll it could be from one of two things. Try to refrigerate the peanut butter mixture for an additional hour. If that doesn't do it, the mixture does not have enough powdered sugar in it.
To stiffen your peanut butter ball mixture, add another ½ cup of powdered sugar and stir. Refrigerate for 30 minutes and test again. Continue this until it is no longer sticky and easy to roll.
Some peanut butter ball recipes are protein-packed or keto-friendly snacks. They are low in sugar and high in protein or good fats.
However, this is not that kind of recipe. These peanut butter balls are loaded with sugar. They are absolutely a dessert and are not meant to be eaten often. They are a sweet treat to be enjoyed for special occasions.
Peanut butter balls store best in a cool dry place such as the refrigerator or freezer. However, they can be stored on the counter or pantry in a cool dry location. Make sure they are in an air-tight container and do not store them for more than 2 days this way. Move them to the refrigerator if stored for 3 days or more.
You can but why would you? All kidding aside, some people are allergic to or do not like chocolate. For that reason, you may want to make peanut butter balls plain that has no chocolate.
This recipe can be a 3-ingredient peanut butter ball without chocolate. Follow the recipe as is and stop once the balls are chilled and refrigerated. You will want to store the peanut butter candy balls in the refrigerator or freezer at all times. Store them in a single layer of parchment in the refrigerator in an air-tight container. This will keep them firm and from sticking to one another.
These peanut butter balls are dipped in semi-sweet chocolate chips that have been melted. This is the best kind for dipping. It is a balance of sweet and dark so it is not overly sweet when combined with the sweetened peanut butter filling.
You can also use semi-sweet chocolate bars chopped up and melted. Or see the substitution section above for other kinds of chocolate chips you can use. These are all the best chocolate coatings for peanut butter balls.
This is a great make-ahead recipe. Peanut butter balls store very well in the refrigerator or freezer. Because of this, I often make these in early December for my Christmas gifts.
You can even make them months in advance. Simply place them in an air-tight Ziploc freezer bag. Remove the air and seal. Freeze peanut butter balls for up to 6 months. Defrost in the refrigerator for 2 days before enjoying.
Old-Fashioned Peanut Butter Balls PIN[/caption]
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OLD-FASHIONED PEANUT BUTTER BALLS
Ingredients
- 1 C peanut butter
- 6 TB salted butter softened
- 2 C powdered sugar
- 1 12oz-pkg semi-sweet chocolate chips
Instructions
- In a medium-sized mixing bowl combine the peanut butter, softened butter, and half of the powdered sugar. Mix to combine. Add the remaining 1 C of powdered sugar and stir to combine.
- Refrigerate about 30 minutes so the mixture is not so sticky and soft.
- Line a baking sheet with foil or parchment paper. Roll peanut butter mixture into 1-inch sized balls and place them on the baking sheet. It should make about 30 in total.
- Place the baking sheet in the refrigerator for another 30 minutes to set.
- In a double-boiler bring the water to a rolling boil. Turn the heat down to low to have a very low simmer on the water under the top boiling pot. Add chocolate to the top of the double-boiler and stir constantly until the chocolate is evenly melted. Do not turn the heat up, it should melt slowly. Once completely melted remove from the water and turn off the heat.
- Remove the peanut butter balls from the refrigerator and dip one at a time coat in the melted chocolate. I use two spoons that I rotate back and forth and over the peanut balls as the chocolate coats it.
- Place each coated ball back on the lined baking sheet. Let sit at room temperature or in the refrigerator until chocolate hardens.
- Store in an air-tight container in the refrigerator. They can store for up to a month or even longer in the freezer. (but NO WAY they are not enjoyed much faster than that)
Alifyah says
Great idea. Peanut Butter and chocolate is my favourite combination as well!!
April J Harris says
These are definitely a holiday classic, and I love your version. Thank you so much for sharing them with the Hearth and Soul Link Party!
Angela says
You are welcome, thanks for commenting. I enjoy your blog!
Brianna says
I already bought the ingredients to make these! I can’t wait ! Thank you for sharing this recipe
Angela says
Great and I am sure you will enjoy them and hopefully have some to share. If you take photos, I would love to have you post and tag me on social media so we can share in the joy! Happy Holidays
jen says
I totally remember having these as a child! I'm absolutely going to make these with my kids!
Angela says
Love that, nothing better than family memories in the kitchen.
Cynthia says
These are my favorite too. I pinned this as I am going to make them for my neighbors this year. Wish me luck 🙂
Angela says
Lucky neighbors - enjoy!
Heather says
You can't go wrong with peanut butter and chocolate!
Lora says
Those look amazing and easy to make. I love recipes with just a few ingredients.
Lisa says
Peanut butter balls are amazing!
Charlene says
These are one of my husband's very favorite treats!!! He asks me to make them all the time!
Angela says
Smart man!
Jen says
So yummy! I’ll have to try these!
Magan says
I love these! We make them every holiday season!
Angela says
Oh good, I would hate for anyone to have a bad year and not get these! LOL!
Holly says
I love this recipe! I am making these tomorrow! Thank you!
Angela says
Yeah, Happy Holidays Holly!
Suzan says
Making these this weekend. Pray for me...only to resist eating them all 🙂
Angela says
I can relate - oh so tempting - just one more - I must stop!
Noelle Collins says
I'm going to try to make these Sugar Free for my husband whose eating low carb. They look so good!
Angela says
I would love to hear how they turn out and what you use. I was wondering if a sugar substitute would work and plan to do a bit of experimenting myself.
Jill DeMasi says
We make these every year on Thanksgiving weekend!
Kyndall Bennett says
OMG, THANK YOU! I've been wondering how to safely melt chocolate in a controlled manner without it burning on the edges and stinking up the whole house!
Angela says
Chocolate is precious, it needs to melt slowly and wasting any is just a darn right sin!
Lisa says
These look so yummy! Going to make next week!
Christina Furnival says
Anything with butter, sugar, peanut butter, and chocolate has my name allllll over them
Katherine Wolfe says
I need to get off the Internet....I do NOT need any more ideas of delicious looking/sounding treats!
Angela says
But they are so good - special holiday treats for sure!
Maria Gustafsson says
Angela, I'm pretty sure you are 90% responsible for kicking my sweet-tooth into over-drive! Hahahaha, these are one of my favourite treats.
Angela says
oh, I am sorry, yikes. Advice, do not make the brown sugar caramel apple pie and these peanut butter balls in the same week!
Tracy says
I’ve always wanted to try to make these, but I’m always nervous about getting the chocolate coating to look nice.
Angela says
Go for it! Trust me no one will care how they are dipped, they will be eaten so fast and taste just as delicious!
Lina says
Chocolate and peanut butter is one of my favorite combinations. This looks yummy!
Carrie Beaton says
OMG! I love these! I made them for the holidays a few years ago. I'm not sure why I didn't do them again this year. They are so easy!
Angela says
They are an annual must - there is still time!
Beatriz says
This recipe looks delicious! I cant wait to try it 🙂
Susan says
These look so good. Chocolate...Peanut Butter... need say no more <3
Cindy says
These look delicious and easy to make. Chocolate and peanut butter together is so classic!
Tara says
These old fashioned peanut butter balls are one of my favorites during the holidays! They are sooooo addicting! Thank you for placing step by step photos in your post. It definitely helps to see it all!
Angela says
Thanks Tara, I am glad it helps so that everyone can enjoy these!
T.M. Brown says
Hmmm - I wonder how good these would be if I substituted soynut butter or sunbutter for the peanut butter. We have a child allergic to peanuts in the house, but these look delicious and I may just give the alternative a go! Thanks for the inspiration!
Angela says
I am not sure of the consistency of those kinds of butter but you could adjust and add more or less sugar, plus refrigerate longer to ensure they hold up when dipping / coating in the chocolate. I have tried almond butter and it worked the same but just a bit longer in the fridge.
Caroline says
Totally with you on SALTED butter!
Angela says
Yes, salt and sweet for the winning flavor combo!
Jennifer Forward says
Delicious!
Seiji says
Delicious. Yeah, that part about stirring constantly while on the double boiler is no joke. Key word is "constantly."
Angela says
Exactly, stir - stir - stir!
Beth says
I love how tasty these look and your step-by-step instructions. I can't wait to try them. I can see that refrigerating is the key to making sure you can dip them. I'm also thinking to try almond butter, yum.
Angela says
Yes, almond butter will work also.
Ana Smith says
Peanut butter and chocolate - what a tempting combination.
A simple recipe to follow. Thanks for sharing it.
Nart at Cooking with Nart says
I'm a huge fan of peanut butter and these peanut butter balls look delicious and dangerous at the same time! They sound really easy to make and I love that this recipe requires just a few ingredients. I'd probably have one too many at a time. 😛
Rachel N says
How can you go wrong with peanut butter?
Travel Clans says
is this a traditional American snack? I've never heard of peanut butter balls!
Angela says
Yes, this is a sweet tradition here in America. Peanut butter balls covered in chocolate are quite popular at Christmas time. We make them as food gifts and my friends cannot wait every December to get some.
Jacqueline Debono says
I agree peanut butter and chocolate together are fab! These peanut butter balls look pretty easy to make and seriously delish! On my to make list!
Angela says
Life without PB and Chocolate is kind of hard, so these are fab like you said!
Mrs D says
Two of my favourite things peanut butter and chocolate in the same place. I’m going to try making these tonight. Thanks for sharing
Pavani Gunikuntla says
These peanut balls look so delicious and easy to make. Definitely going to try it today.
Billy says
So good and easy way to get my peanut butter and chocolate craving solved. Thanks for the easy recipe.
Angela says
You are welcome, Billy.
Deborah Vogts says
These peanut butter balls look so yummy. My family has a recipe similar to this only it uses Rice Krispies in it. I may just have to give yours a try this holiday season!
Angela says
I hope you enjoy a different version of the all amazing chocolate peanut butter balls recipe.
Mai says
Wow, just made these and they are amazing. The peanut butter stays creamy and does not dried out.
Angela says
Thanks, Mai. I am glad you like these homemade peanut butter balls.
David says
These are exactly as I remember my grandmother making years ago. Thank you for the perfect recipe.
Angela says
So glad you like it and it brings back memories of your grandma's peanut butter balls.
Nellie says
My favorite thing ever. These were just like the ones my great aunt used to make. I am so happy I finally found peanut butter balls without the Rice Krispies and they are so good.
Hallsee says
My husband says I have to write you a thank you. I made him these for our anniversary after he was telling me about the ones his aunt used to make. He says these are just as good and made him smile.
Angela says
Ah, that is so sweet. Tell me that I am so glad you found this recipe and it makes me smile too that he has this food memory.
Amber says
Perfect recipe. Do not change a thing and you will love this recipe too.
Angela says
I am so glad to hear this recipe is exactly what your family was looking for. Peanut butter balls are simply fantastic when you have the right peanut butter to sugar ratio.
Betty says
PERFECT. So much peanut butter flavor that is sweet but not too sweet. These are the best.
Suzanne says
The best. No other words just this recipe makes the best peanut butter bon bons ever.
Andrea says
My favorite flavor combination and so easy to make. There's only one problem, they are super addicting!! I could eat them all in one sitting.
Cathleen says
This is so perfect for the holidays!! I am definitely adding this to my cookie tray, I don't even care that it's not a cookie haha
Kate says
Ahh... such nostalgia for these! My kids are going to love making these at the weekend - easy and so delicious, thanks so much!
Heather Perine says
One of my favorite things to make!! And they're so easy too 🙂 I always save some and put them in the freezer for when the craving strikes!
Shadi Hasanzadenemati says
Thank you so much! flavors are perfect and I can’t wait to try this recipe!
Brenda says
Mine do not look as pretty as yours but they are just what I hoped for. They are creamy and not too sweet like other recipes. I love peanut butter and these are the best peanut butter balls.
Angela says
I agree, they are the best peanut butter balls.
Deborah Johnson says
Looks wonderful, I will be making them today .
Paul Mason says
Made these peanut butter balls , they were great and so easy to make.
Angela says
I agree! Enjoy.