These peanut butter balls have bailed me out so many times when I needed dessert and had nothing planned. What started as me panicking about Oliver's school bake sale and only having random stuff in my pantry became our favorite treat for everything from holiday parties to random Tuesday afternoons when we want something sweet. The best part? You just mix everything together, roll it into balls, and you're done.
Why You'll Love This Peanut Butter Balls
These peanut butter balls are perfect when you need something sweet but don't want to mess up your whole kitchen or follow a bunch of complicated steps. You probably already have everything you need sitting in your pantry right now - peanut butter, powdered sugar, butter, and vanilla. That's it. No weird stuff you'll use once and then it sits there forever. Plus they keep for weeks in the fridge, so you can make a big batch and grab one whenever you want something sweet.
The texture is what gets people. They're creamy and rich but not so sweet they hurt your teeth. Oliver calls them "the good kind of candy" because they actually taste like peanut butter instead of just sugar. I've brought them to potlucks and watched people eat three or four without even thinking about it. They're also small enough that you don't feel bad grabbing another one, but they fill you up enough that you don't need to eat the whole batch right away.
Jump to:
Peanut Butter Balls Ingredients
The Basic 4:
- Creamy peanut butter
- Powdered sugar
- Butter
- Vanilla extract
Optional Add-Ins:
- Rice Krispies cereal
- Mini chocolate chips
- Coconut flakes
- Chopped nuts
- Graham cracker crumbs
For Rolling:
- Extra powdered sugar
- Cocoa powder
- Coconut flakes
- Crushed cookies
See recipe card for quantities.
How To Make Peanut Butter Balls Step By Step
Mix Everything:
- Put softened butter in a big bowl
- Add peanut butter and mix until smooth
- Pour in vanilla extract
- Gradually add powdered sugar until it forms a dough
- Should be firm enough to roll but not crumbly
Shape the Balls:
- Scoop out about a tablespoon of mixture
- Roll between your palms into a ball
- Don't worry about making them perfect
- Place on a plate or baking sheet
- Repeat until all mixture is used
Chill and Finish:
- Put balls in fridge for at least 30 minutes
- They need to firm up before rolling in coating
- Roll in powdered sugar, cocoa, or whatever you want
- Store in fridge until ready to eat
Pro Tips:
- Wet your hands slightly if mixture sticks too much
- Work fast so butter doesn't get too warm
- Make them smaller than you think - they're rich
- Chill between steps if mixture gets too soft
Tasty Twists on Peanut Butter Balls
Chocolate Peanut Butter Balls:
- Add 2 tablespoons cocoa powder to the mixture
- Roll in powdered sugar or more cocoa
- Tastes like a Reese's cup in ball form
- Oliver's absolute favorite version
Rice Krispie Crunch:
- Mix in 1 cup Rice Krispies cereal
- Adds amazing crunch without being too hard
- Great for kids who like texture
- Still holds together perfectly
Coconut Paradise:
- Add shredded coconut to the mixture
- Roll finished balls in more coconut
- Tastes tropical and fancy
- Good for people who like coconut
Holiday Versions:
- Christmas: Roll in red and green sprinkles
- Easter: Add mini chocolate chips and pastel sprinkles
- Halloween: Roll in orange sugar or mini chocolate chips
- Valentine's: Make them heart-shaped and roll in pink sugar
Protein Power:
- Add 2 scoops vanilla protein powder
- Reduce powdered sugar slightly
- Perfect post-workout snack
- Actually filling instead of just sweet
Storage Tips
Fridge Storage (2-3 weeks):
- Store in airtight container
- Layer between parchment paper
- Keep them cold so they don't get soft
- Take out 10 minutes before eating for best texture
Freezer Storage (3 months):
- Freeze on baking sheet first
- Transfer to freezer bags once solid
- Label with date
- Eat straight from freezer or thaw 5 minutes
Room Temperature (2-3 days max):
- Only if your house isn't too warm
- Cover tightly
- They'll get softer but still taste good
- Better to keep them cold
Make-Ahead Tips:
- Make big batches during holidays
- Freeze half for later
- Perfect for gift giving
- Always have some on hand for emergencies
Portioning for Kids:
- Put a few in small containers for lunchboxes
- Oliver gets exactly 2 in his lunch
- Prevents eating the whole batch at once
Equipment For Peanut Butter Balls
- Large mixing bowl
- Electric mixer
- Measuring cups and spoons
- Baking sheet or large plate
- Small cookie scoop
Substitutions
From making these for people with different dietary needs and ingredient situations, here are the substitutions that actually work:
Peanut Butter Alternatives:
- Regular PB → Almond butter or sunflower seed butter
- Creamy → Crunchy (but skip other crunchy add-ins)
- Regular → Sugar-free peanut butter
- Dairy → Powdered peanut butter (add more liquid)
Sugar Options:
- Powdered sugar → Coconut sugar (blend it fine first)
- Regular → Sugar-free powdered sweetener
- White → Brown sugar (blend until powdery)
- Standard → Maple syrup (reduce other liquids)
Butter Swaps:
- Regular butter → Coconut oil (solid, not melted)
- Dairy → Vegan butter
- Salted → Unsalted (add pinch of salt)
- Butter → Cream cheese for tangier taste
Healthier Versions:
- Add rolled oats for fiber
- Mix in chia seeds or flax seeds
- Use protein powder (reduce other dry ingredients)
- Add unsweetened cocoa for chocolate version
Top Tip
- These peanut butter balls freeze really well, so make a double batch and stick half in the freezer for when you need a quick dessert. I started doing this after making them for Oliver's school party and eating half the batch before we even got to school. Now I always make way more than I need and freeze the extras so I don't eat the whole thing in one day.
- The freezing thing happened by accident when I made a huge batch for Christmas gifts and ran out of fridge space. I threw half of them in the freezer thinking I'd messed them up, but when I tried one straight from the freezer, it was actually better. They get this nice firm texture that's not rock hard, just perfectly chewy. Oliver likes them frozen better than room temperature now.
- The best part about having them in the freezer is you can grab exactly how many you want without staring at a whole container trying not to eat more. I put them in small freezer bags with about 6 balls each, so when Oliver wants a snack or I need something sweet, I just grab one bag. No willpower needed, no eating way more than I planned.
FAQ
How do you make Paula Deen's peanut butter balls?
Paula Deen's version uses peanut butter, butter, powdered sugar, and vanilla - pretty much the same as this recipe. She sometimes throws in Rice Krispies for crunch and dips them in chocolate. The trick is getting the right amount of each ingredient so they stick together but aren't too sweet or too sticky to roll.
What is in peanut butter balls?
Basic peanut butter balls have just four things: peanut butter, butter, powdered sugar, and vanilla extract. Some people add Rice Krispies for crunch, chocolate chips, or coconut. You can roll them in powdered sugar, cocoa powder, or coconut flakes when you're done making them.
What are the three ingredients in peanut butter balls with no butter?
If you skip the butter, you just need peanut butter, powdered sugar, and vanilla extract. The peanut butter has to be creamy and not the natural kind that has oil on top, or they won't stick together right. You might need a little more powdered sugar to get them to hold together.
How do I make butter balls?
Mix soft butter with powdered sugar and vanilla until it turns into dough you can roll. Add whatever extras you want, roll into balls, stick them in the fridge, then roll in whatever coating you like. The trick is keeping everything cold so they don't get too soft and fall apart.
Sweet Success Made Simple!
The thing about homemade treats is they just taste better than store-bought stuff, and people can tell the difference. When you show up somewhere with a container of these, everyone thinks you spent way more time and effort than you actually did. Oliver loves helping make them because he gets to roll them into balls and "test" them to make sure they taste right. Sometimes the easiest recipes end up being the ones people ask for most.
Need more quick wins in the kitchen? Try our Easy Chocolate Pudding Cake that's ready in under an hour and tastes like you worked on it all day. Want something fancy for date night? Our Easy Lobster Ravioli Sauce Recipe makes any weeknight feel special. Looking for something that looks impressive? Our Easy Chocolate Strawberry Cake Recipe gets tons of compliments but doesn't need any crazy skills.
Share your Peanut Butter Balls wins! We love seeing your versions and hearing about which family members can't stop eating them!
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ Rate this Peanut Butter Balls and join our cooking family!
Related
Looking for other recipes like this? Try these:
Pairing
These are my favorite dishes to serve with Peanut Butter Balls:
Peanut Butter Balls
Equipment
- 1 Large mixing bowl
- 1 Electric mixer (Hand or stand mixer works)
- 1 set Measuring cups/spoons
- 1 Baking sheet/plate (For chilling rolled balls)
- 1 Small cookie scoop (Optional, for even sizing)
Ingredients
- ½ cup Butter - Softened; use salted or unsalted
- 1 cup Creamy peanut butter - Avoid natural types
- 1 teaspoon Vanilla extract - Pure vanilla preferred
- 2 cups Powdered sugar - Add gradually until dough forms
Instructions
- Mix softened butter and peanut butter in a large bowl until smooth. Add vanilla extract and gradually beat in powdered sugar until a dough forms.
- Scoop out about 1 tablespoon of dough and roll between your hands to form a ball. Place on a baking sheet. Repeat with remaining dough.
- Place peanut butter balls in the fridge for at least 30 minutes to firm up.
- Roll chilled balls in your choice of coating such as powdered sugar, cocoa powder, or coconut.
Leave a Reply