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If you ask me, peanut butter balls with rice krispies are a classic no-bake treat that never gets old.
These little bites of happiness combine smooth peanut butter with crispy cereal for that perfect mix of creamy and crunchy. The chocolate coating adds just the right amount of sweetness, making them impossible to resist.
I’ve been making these with my kids for years, and they’re always the first thing to disappear at bake sales and holiday parties. The best part? You don’t even need to turn on the oven.
They’re an easy-to-make snack that works for any occasion, from after-school treats to party platters.
Why You’ll Love These Peanut Butter Balls
- No-bake treat – These peanut butter balls don’t require any oven time – just mix, shape, dip, and chill. Perfect for hot summer days or when you don’t want to turn on the oven.
- Kid-friendly recipe – Little helpers can join in crushing the Rice Krispies and rolling the balls. It’s a fun kitchen project that everyone can participate in.
- Simple ingredients – You only need 6 basic ingredients that you can find at any grocery store, and probably already have most of them in your pantry.
- Make-ahead friendly – These treats can be made days in advance and stored in the fridge, making them perfect for parties, holiday gatherings, or gift-giving.
- Satisfying texture – The crunchy Rice Krispies combined with creamy peanut butter and smooth chocolate coating creates an amazing mix of textures in every bite.
What Kind of Peanut Butter Should I Use?
Regular smooth peanut butter is your best bet for this recipe – skip the natural kinds that separate and need stirring. The commercial brands like Jif or Skippy work perfectly because they stay well-blended and have a consistent texture that helps hold these treats together. If you’re thinking about using crunchy peanut butter, I’d suggest sticking with smooth since we’re already getting plenty of crunch from the Rice Krispies. Just make sure your peanut butter is at room temperature when you start mixing – it’ll blend much more easily with the other ingredients and give you a smoother result.
Options for Substitutions
Need to make some swaps? Here are some helpful substitutions for this no-bake treat:
- Peanut butter: If you have allergies or just want to try something different, you can use almond butter, sunflower seed butter, or cookie butter. Keep in mind that natural nut butters might make the mixture too loose, so stick to the processed versions.
- Rice Krispies: Any crispy rice cereal will work here! You can also try crushed cornflakes, Special K, or even crushed graham crackers for a different crunch.
- Semi-sweet chocolate: Feel free to use milk chocolate or dark chocolate chips instead. White chocolate works too if you’d like a sweeter coating.
- Shortening: Coconut oil makes a great substitute and helps thin the chocolate for dipping. You can also use paramount crystals if you have them.
- Icing sugar: This is pretty essential for the right texture, but if you’re in a pinch, you can powder regular granulated sugar in a food processor until very fine.
Watch Out for These Mistakes While Making
The biggest challenge when making peanut butter balls is getting the right consistency – if your mixture is too soft, the balls won’t hold their shape, so make sure your peanut butter mixture is firm enough to roll before adding the Rice Krispies.
Temperature control is crucial when melting chocolate – using too high heat or overheating can cause the chocolate to seize up and become grainy, so stick to low heat and stir frequently, or use 30-second intervals in the microwave.
When coating the balls in chocolate, make sure they’re completely chilled (at least 30 minutes in the fridge), as room-temperature balls will crumble in the warm chocolate, and don’t forget to add the shortening to your chocolate – it helps create that perfect smooth coating that won’t crack when you bite into it.
For the neatest results, use a fork to dip the balls and tap off excess chocolate, then let them set completely on parchment paper before storing.
What to Serve With Peanut Butter Balls?
These sweet peanut butter balls make a perfect addition to any dessert spread or cookie platter! Since they’re quite rich, I like to serve them alongside lighter treats like sugar cookies or fresh fruit for balance. A cold glass of milk is practically required – it helps cut through the richness of the chocolate coating and peanut butter filling. If you’re putting together a dessert table, try pairing these with other no-bake treats like Rice Krispie squares or chocolate-dipped pretzels for a nice mix of textures and flavors.
Storage Instructions
Keep Fresh: These peanut butter balls stay perfectly snackable in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 2 weeks. I like to place wax paper or parchment paper between layers to prevent them from sticking together. Plus, they taste amazing straight from the fridge!
Freeze: Want to make these ahead? These treats are fantastic freezer-friendly snacks! Place them in a freezer container with parchment paper between layers and they’ll keep for up to 3 months. Just remember to label your container with the date you made them.
Thaw: When you’re craving a frozen peanut butter ball, just grab what you need and let them sit at room temperature for about 15-20 minutes. If you’re in a hurry, you can pop them in the fridge for an hour instead – they’ll still have that perfect chocolate snap!
| Preparation Time | 10-15 minutes |
| Cooking Time | 10-15 minutes |
| Total Time | 50-60 minutes |
| Level of Difficulty | Easy |
Estimated Nutrition
Estimated nutrition for the whole recipe (without optional ingredients):
- Calories: 3200-3500
- Protein: 40-50 g
- Fat: 180-200 g
- Carbohydrates: 300-350 g
Ingredients
- 1 cup smooth peanut butter
- 1/4 cup softened butter
- 1 cup icing sugar
- 2 cups rice krispies cereal (gently crushed)
- 2 cups semi-sweet chocolate morsels
- 2 tablespoons shortening
Step 1: Prepare the Baking Sheet
Line a baking sheet with parchment paper or waxed paper.
This will prevent the peanut butter balls from sticking and make cleanup easier.
Step 2: Make the Peanut Butter Mixture
In a large mixing bowl, cream together the peanut butter, butter, and powdered sugar until smooth and well-blended.
Once combined, stir in the Rice Krispies, making sure they are evenly distributed throughout the mixture.
Step 3: Shape and Chill the Balls
Using your hands or a small cookie scoop, shape the mixture into small bite-sized balls.
Place each ball onto the prepared baking sheet.
Once all the balls are shaped, place the baking sheet in the refrigerator and chill for at least 30 minutes to let the balls firm up.
Step 4: Melt the Chocolate
In a medium microwave-safe bowl, combine the chocolate chips and shortening.
Heat in the microwave for 1 minute, then stir well.
Continue heating in 20-second intervals, stirring after each interval, until the chocolate is completely melted and smooth.
Step 5: Coat the Peanut Butter Balls
Once the chocolate is melted and the peanut butter balls are chilled, dip each ball into the melted chocolate, ensuring it is fully coated.
Place the chocolate-covered balls back onto the parchment or waxed paper-lined baking sheet.
Step 6: Chill and Serve
Return the baking sheet to the refrigerator and chill until the chocolate coating is firm to the touch.
Once set, the peanut butter balls are ready to be enjoyed.
Store any leftovers in an airtight container in the refrigerator.