Peanut Butter Balls - Easy Sweet Snack Recipe

If you’re looking for a quick treat that checks all the boxes—creamy, crunchy, chocolaty, and downright addictive—say hello to Peanut Butter Balls. These little guys are the ultimate easy peanut butter snacks you didn’t know you needed. They’re rich, sweet, and way too easy to pop in your mouth one after another. (Don’t say I didn’t warn you.)

At their core, these beauties are all about that perfect marriage of smooth peanut butter and glossy chocolate. Think of them as a fancier cousin to those classic peanut butter candies you grew up with. The best part? They’re totally no-bake. Yep, you can whip these up without even turning on the oven—score!

Now, you could just dunk them in melted chocolate and call it a day. But if you’re feeling a little extra, try tempering your chocolate. Tempering gives your coating that shiny, professional look—no dull streaks, no chalky finish, just pure candy-shop vibes. IMO, it’s worth the few extra minutes if you want to impress.

And here’s where things get fun: some versions take these balls to the next level by adding cream cheese. Yup, a peanut butter balls with cream cheese recipe transforms them into decadent peanut butter cream cheese balls—a total game-changer. Honestly, cream cheese and peanut butter might just be one of the most underrated duos ever. If you’ve tried peanut butter and cream cheese recipes before, you already know the magic.

Whether you call them cream cheese peanut butter truffles, peanut butter clusters, or even a sweet spin on a peanut butter cheese ball, one thing’s for sure: they disappear fast. So, maybe make a double batch. Just saying.

Peanut Butter Balls - Easy Sweet Snack Recipe

Silky peanut butter paired with a crisp chocolate shell—these homemade treats are a no-bake dream! This recipe also walks you through the steps of tempering chocolate so you can get that gorgeous, glossy finish just like a pro chocolatier.

Course: Dessert, Candy
Cuisine: American
Prep Time: 1 hour
Chill Time: 30 minutes
Servings: 30 pieces
Calories: 149 kcal
Author: Aleda

Ingredients

• 4 oz (113 g) full-fat brick-style cream cheese, softened
• 2 Tbsp (28 g) softened butter (either salted or unsalted works)
• ¾ cup (185 g) creamy peanut butter (see note)
• 2 cups (250 g) powdered sugar
• 1 tsp (5 ml) vanilla extract
• 12 oz (340 g) high-quality dark or semisweet chocolate

Directions

1. In a large bowl, beat together the cream cheese, butter, and peanut butter until the mixture is silky and uniform. An electric mixer makes this step super easy.
2. Slowly add the powdered sugar, mixing until everything is fully incorporated. Blend in the vanilla. The dough should be thick and sturdy.
3. Scoop out tablespoon-sized portions of dough and roll them into smooth balls with your hands. If the mixture feels sticky, either chill it for 10–15 minutes or sprinkle in a little extra powdered sugar.
4. Place the shaped balls onto a baking sheet lined with wax paper. Chill in the refrigerator for about 20 minutes while you prepare the chocolate.
5. Put chopped chocolate (or couverture chocolate) into a microwave-safe bowl. Heat for 25 seconds, stir thoroughly, then continue microwaving in 15-second bursts, stirring well each time, until the chocolate is partially melted.
6. Start checking the temperature when about half the chocolate has melted. For proper tempering, keep semisweet or dark chocolate between 87°F (30°C) and 91°F (33°C). If it gets too warm, just stir and allow the heat to distribute until the rest of the chocolate melts smoothly.
7. Once tempered, remove the peanut butter balls from the fridge. Dip each ball by setting it on a fork, spooning chocolate over the top until coated, then sliding it carefully back onto the wax paper.
8. Let the chocolate harden completely. Store finished candies in an airtight container in the refrigerator until ready to serve.

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