Peanut Butter Balls

By Kaleb WyseLast modified on Dec 06, 2025

4.45 from 45 votes

There's something special about simple ingredients that turn into a decadent treat. That's exactly what happens with these peanut butter balls made from smooth peanut butter, rice cereal, and chocolate. These are perfect for the holidays!

Prep Time 30

Cook Time 10

Total Time 1

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Kaleb Wyse wearing a black shirt standing in front of a taupe background.

Why I Love These Peanut Butter Balls

All foods we consume have some sort of food memory. Christmastime adds an entire extra level of nostalgic memory, and these peanut butter balls are my favorite memory of my grandma. Grandma did not make endless amounts of Christmas candy, but she did spend time making peanut butter balls.

Any baked good or candy can become a Christmas staple when you remember it being made around the holidays. For me, these are still only made at Christmas in my house as a special homage to Grandma. I think we save things that take a little extra time at Christmas because it makes them all the more special.

Top down view of chocolate peanut butter balls with sea salt flaked on top all on wood board

Peanut Butter Balls Ingredients

Peanut butter – This is not a time to get all foodie and use artisan peanut butter. The traditional, smooth, and creamy peanut butter works best here. Traditional peanut butters will have stabilizers and provide the best texture. Artisan varieties could separate and degrade.
Butter – Since there are few ingredients in these, good-quality butter goes a long way in making sure the flavor is present. The butter also keeps the candy at the correct consistency, so it is always a perfect bite.
Powdered sugar – Aside from sweetening the candy, powdered sugar is what binds all of the ingredients together for a firm but soft filling.
Rice cereal – If you haven’t had rice cereal in peanut butter balls, this may be a unique addition. This ingredient adds a perfect, crackly crunch to the candy and a break from a dense, heavy filling.
Chocolate – Quality is also key when it comes to chocolate. Good bittersweet chocolate will offset the sweet filling and give an intense chocolate flavor without overpowering the filling.

The full amount of each ingredient can be found in the recipe card below.

Hand holding peanut butter ball covered in chocolate with bite taken out with other peanut butter balls sitting on wood board

What is a Peanut Butter Ball?

Peanut butter balls are the original peanut butter-filled chocolate candy we all know and love. The best part is that this candy recipe has more flavor than store-bought varieties. There are two types of this candy:

The first is more of a buckeye-style peanut butter ball, which is partially dipped in chocolate, exposing some of the filling to look like a buckeye. The filling on this version is pretty dense.
The second is a fully dipped peanut butter ball with a filling that could be either dense or made with rice cereal for added texture.

This recipe is made with rice cereal. And if you ask me, once you have these, you’ll want nothing else!

Peanut butter ball covered in chocolate cut in half and sitting on wood cutting board with other peanut butter balls all around

More Candy Recipes

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Peanut Butter Balls

By Kaleb

4.45 from 45 votes

Prep: 30

Cook: 10

Total: 1

Servings: servings

Peanut butter ball cut in half sitting on wood board

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Ingredients

▢ 2 cups peanut butter
▢ 8 tbsp (1 stick) unsalted butter melted and slightly cooled
▢ 1 ½ tsp vanilla extract
▢ 3 ½ cups sifted powdered sugar
▢ 3 cups rice cereal
▢ 1 lb bittersweet chocolate
▢ 1 tbsp coconut oil

Instructions

In a large bowl, combine the peanut butter and melted butter. Stir until combined and smooth. Stir in the vanilla and powdered sugar. Mix until incorporated. Add in the rice cereal and combine until evenly mixed.
2 cups peanut butter, 8 tbsp (1 stick) unsalted butter, 1 ½ tsp vanilla extract, 3 ½ cups sifted powdered sugar, 3 cups rice cereal
Using a 1 tbsp-size cookie scoop, make the balls. Roll in hands to create smooth, even balls and set on a parchment-lined baking sheet. Once all balls are made, set in the refrigerator to chill for 20 minutes.
While the balls are chilling, melt the chocolate with coconut oil in a bain-marie.
1 lb bittersweet chocolate, 1 tbsp coconut oil
Once the chocolate and coconut oil are melted, remove the peanut butter balls from the refrigerator. One at a time, roll the balls in the melted chocolate, allowing the excess chocolate to drip off. Set the dipped balls back on the parchment paper and sprinkle with flaky salt. Cool for 10 minutes and enjoy.