Indulge your sweet tooth in these Rice Krispie Peanut Butter Balls – a treat that’s as fun to make as it is to devour! With a straightforward recipe that requires no baking, these Peanut Butter Balls are the perfect go-to for a quick and delightful homemade dessert.
Imagine the perfect marriage of crispy rice cereal, velvety peanut butter, and a generous coating of chocolate – each bite is a symphony of textures and flavors that dances on your taste buds.
Enjoy the ease of another no-bake recipe by trying out these Pretzel Cookies or Chocolate Pie! Both tasty desserts take just 15 minutes of hands-on prep!
Rice Krispie Peanut Butter Balls
Rice Krispie Peanut Butter Balls are a crowd-pleasing handheld dessert that will disappear quickly! After all, who wouldn’t love a bite-sized treat that’s a cross between Rice Krispie treats and traditional peanut butter balls?
I love that these are quick enough to make when I need to bring a dessert to a gathering. Yet they are also easy enough to whip up anytime the desire for a salty, sweet treat hits without spending a lot of time in the kitchen.
Why You’ll Love Crispy Peanut Butter Balls
Taste: Pop one of these no-bake peanut butter balls in your mouth to enjoy one of the best dessert combinations: chocolate and peanut butter! The rich chocolate coating and salty, sweet peanut butter filling will strike your taste buds as being similar to peanut butter cups!
Texture: The filling in these dessert balls is loaded with a deliciously crunchy texture from the cereal studded through the creaminess of the peanut butter – it’s the perfect combination! All of that yummy filling is wrapped in a smooth chocolate shell that’s then topped with sprinkles or chopped peanuts!
Peanut Butter Rice Krispie Balls Ingredients
- peanut butter, creamy or crunchy
- salted butter
- vanilla extract
- powdered sugar
- rice krispies cereal
- chocolate melting wafers
Rice Krispie Peanut Butter Balls Recipe Tips
- Choose Your Peanut Butter – These Rice Krispie peanut butter balls can be made with either creamy or crunchy peanut butter. If you like these dessert balls to have even more texture, then I’d suggest choosing crunchy peanut butter.
- Portioning – I like to portion out dessert truffles using a medium cookie scoop. That way, they all come out similar in size!
- Parchment Paper – This will be your best friend when making these peanut butter balls. It helps to keep the space clean and prevent sticking. Wax paper could also be used.
- Melting Chocolate – Melt the chocolate at 30-second intervals in a microwave-safe bowl in the microwave, stirring in between, until fully melted. Be careful not to overheat the chocolate, or it could seize up, making it so the chocolate cannot be used for dipping.
- Dress Them Up – These Peanut Butter Balls can be topped with a melted chocolate drizzle, crushed peanuts, or even chocolate sprinkles. To make them for a holiday such as Easter, Thanksgiving, or Christmas, drizzle colored melted chocolate over them and use festive sprinkles!
How to Make Chocolate Peanut Butter Balls with Rice Krispies
Step 1: Beat together the peanut butter, softened butter, and vanilla in a large mixing bowl.
Step 2: Beat in the powdered sugar until smooth – I recommend sifting the powdered sugar if it’s clumpy.
Step 3: Add in the rice krispies.
Step 4: Scoop and roll the mixture into balls.
Step 5: Dip the balls in melted chocolate.
Step 6: Let the peanut butter balls set on parchment paper.
Rice Crispy Peanut Butter Balls storage
Keep these dessert balls stored in an airtight container or a Ziploc bag in the refrigerator to enjoy for up to a week. These are also great to freeze and enjoy later!
How to freeze Peanut Butter Balls with Rice Krispies
Transfer the baking sheet to the freezer once the peanut butter balls have been dipped. Allow them to freeze for about an hour before removing them from the pan and into an airtight container or Ziploc bag.
Flash-freezing them before storing them will prevent the peanut butter balls from sticking together. This way, you can remove a few at a time to thaw and enjoy!
Rice Crispy Peanut Butter Balls FAQs
Yes, semi-sweet chocolate chips can be used instead of Ghirardelli wafers. To do so, you’ll want to add a teaspoon of shortening to the chocolate to create a better consistency for dipping.
Almond bark and candy melts can also be used instead of chocolate chips.
That’s up to you! Milk chocolate will create a much sweeter peanut butter ball, whereas dark chocolate balances out its overall sweetness.
I wouldn’t suggest using all-natural peanut butter in this recipe. All-natural peanut butter has a runnier texture than crunchy or creamy peanut butter. Therefore, it would alter the entire structure of these, making them harder to roll and hold their shape.
If the peanut butter balls were chilled in the fridge, then it’s likely that some condensation built up on them. If they were not chilled, then it’s possible that the melted chocolate coating did not fully set up.
Don’t worry; if your peanut butter balls come out sticky, they’ll still taste perfectly delicious!
If your peanut butter balls are too soft, it could be because the butter used in the recipe was too soft. To firm them up, chill them in the fridge for about 10 minutes before dipping.
However, be sure not to leave them in the fridge for too long as they’ll become too cold, which will create a temperature gap between them and the melted chocolate, which could cause the chocolate coating to crack.
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Peanut Butter Balls with Rice Krispies
Ingredients
- 2 cups peanut butter creamy or crunchy
- ½ cup salted butter softened
- 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
- 2 cups powdered sugar
- 3½ cups rice krispies cereal
- 20 ounces chocolate melting wafers
Instructions
- In a large bowl, beat together 2 cups peanut butter, ½ cup salted butter, and 2 teaspoons vanilla extract until fully combined.
- Add 2 cups powdered sugar (½ cup at a time), mixing a little between each addition so it doesn't make a mess.
- Fold in the 3½ cups rice krispies cereal and portion the mixture out onto a parchment-lined baking sheet with a medium cookie scoop.
- Roll the balls between your palms to smooth them out.
- Melt 20 ounces chocolate melting wafers in a deep wide-mouth cup or bowl at 30-second intervals, stirring between each one, until fully melted.
- Dip the balls in the melted chocolate one at a time, letting any excess chocolate drip off, then placing back on the parchment.
- Reheat the chocolate if it begins getting too cool and thick, then finish dipping the balls.
- Let the balls sit at room temperature until the harden or pop them in the fridge for 15 minutes.
Video
Notes
- How To Store: Keep these dessert balls stored in an airtight container or a Ziploc bag in the refrigerator to enjoy for up to a week. These are also great to freeze and enjoy later!
- How To Freeze: Transfer the baking sheet to the freezer once the peanut butter balls have been dipped. Allow them to freeze for about an hour before removing them from the pan and into an airtight container or Ziploc bag. Flash-freezing them before storing them will prevent the peanut butter balls from sticking together. This way, you can remove a few at a time to thaw and enjoy!
- Can Chocolate Chips Be Used Instead Of Melting Wafers? Yes, semi-sweet chocolate chips can be used instead of Ghirardelli wafers. To do so, you’ll want to add a teaspoon of shortening to the chocolate to create a better consistency for dipping. Almond bark and candy melts can also be used instead of chocolate chips.
- Should I Use Milk Chocolate Or Dark Chocolate Melting Wafers For Dipping? That’s up to you! Milk chocolate will create a much sweeter peanut butter ball, whereas dark chocolate balances out its overall sweetness.
- Can I Use All-Natural Peanut Butter When Making This Recipe? I wouldn’t suggest using all-natural peanut butter in this recipe. All-natural peanut butter has a runnier texture than crunchy or creamy peanut butter. Therefore, it would alter the entire structure of these, making them harder to roll and hold their shape.
Nutrition
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Comments & Reviews
Darlene says
About how many does this make?
Rebecca Hubbell says
About 25 balls.
Chris says
These are easy and delicious. Just to confirm, they are Gluten free?
Rebecca Hubbell says
They should be, yes. The base ingredients are all gluten-free, but there’s always a risk they were processed in a facility that also processes wheat.
Paula J Martel says
Thank you looks easy to make and instruction a clear.
Adrienne Lamp says
Just whipped these up for a Halloween get together and boy are they delicious! The crispy rice is fun and unexpected and chocolate and peanut butter are the best of friends. What a winner!