How to Make Peanut Butter Balls

For as long as I can remember, Peanut Butter Balls have been a Christmas tradition in our home. We always make them, often a double or triple batch. Christmas just wouldn’t seem the same without them.

Back when I was first married, every December, I would spend hours pouring over recipe books and magazines in search of the perfect holiday treats. Then, my mom and I would get together a couple of days before Christmas for an epic, daylong baking session. By the end of the day, we would be very tired; but it was well worth it because we would each have tins full of cookies, squares, and other holiday treats!

We did the same thing the next year and then the next and just like that, a Christmas tradition was born.

In the wee hours of “baking day” morning, I would put on a big pot of coffee, haul out some baking supplies, clear counter space and pop in some Christmas tunes.  My mom would arrive at my house at the crack of dawn with pans, recipes and lots of ingredients in hand. We would then sit together over breakfast and a cup of coffee to organize our mammoth day of baking.

We always had so much fun as we laughed and talked over sugar cookie dough, Hello Dolly Squares, Peanut Butter Balls and moms “Black & White” Squares, aka Nanaimo Bars.

My mom passed away several years ago. When I look back on past Christmases, spending that time with her is one of my favourite memories.

My daughter and I have continued the fun tradition and one of the recipes that is always on our “to make” list is a big batch of chocolate coated Peanut Butter Balls.

If necessary, add more milk until mixture can be formed into balls.  In this picture you can see the mixture is starting to clump together nicely.

Form peanut butter mixture into one-inch balls and place on waxed paper lined cookie sheet.

I use a fork to dip the peanut butter balls into the chocolate mixture. My daughter, however, uses a spoon and she is the master of dipping!  So use whatever works for you.

The master at work!

Gorgeous little morsels of peanut butter and chocolate goodness!

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Peanut Butter Balls

 

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Serves: 60

Ingredients

• PEANUT BUTTER BALLS
• 2 cups icing (powdered) sugar
• 1 cup smooth peanut butter
• 1 cup fine coconut
• 4 Tbsp milk (add additional milk, 1 Tbsp at a time, if necessary to make mixture hold together when rolled into balls)
• CHOCOLATE COATING
• 3 cups chocolate chips (milk, semi-sweet or dark)
• 5 Tbsp. shortening

Instructions

1. PEANUT BUTTER BALLS
2. Mix peanut butter, milk and coconut together in a mixing bowl.
3. Gradually add icing sugar, a little at a time until well combined and mixture holds together.
4. Cover and let peanut butter mixture sit for about 15 minutes to firm up, or cover tightly with plastic wrap and refrigerate until ready to form balls.
5. Shape into 1-inch balls, place on a waxed paper-covered baking sheet, cover with plastic wrap and freeze until firm.
6. At this point, you can either coat the balls in chocolate right away or remove from pan to an airtight container and dip in chocolate at a later time.
7. CHOCOLATE COATING
8. Place chocolate chips and shortening in a large bowl over a pot of simmering water, stir to melt chips and continue stirring frequently.
9. Drop balls one at a time in melted chocolate.
10. Using a fork, remove from the chocolate, letting excess chocolate drip off.
11. Place back on the waxed paper lined sheet.
12. Let stand until dry.
13. Store in an airtight container in the fridge or freezer.

Notes

VARIATIONS:
Replace smooth peanut butter with crunchy.
Instead of dipping in chocolate, you can dip in a thin icing and roll balls in fine coconut.

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What treats do you like to make during the holidays?