Peanut Butter Balls. They are round peanut-butter-nutty-chocolate wonders that have been in the Lauder-Foster family for 4 generations. Peanut Butter Balls are similar to the popular homemade confection called Buckeye Balls, but these are completely dipped in chocolate and then rolled in chopped nuts.
Family history and peanut butter balls…
Traditions and techniques
Peanut Butter Balls
Ingredients
- 2 cups Chunky Peanut Butter* see recipe notes
- 4-5 cups powdered sugar
- 12 tablespoons unsalted butter softened (salted is ok too)
- 2 lbs pecans or walnuts toasted
- 2-3 lbs dipping chocolate light or dark
Instructions
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Mix the softened butter and peanut butter until blended and smooth. You can do this in a food processor, or with a hand held or stand mixer. Add powdered sugar, mix until the peanut butter mixture is dry enough to roll into balls without sticking. If using a stand mixer or food processor, pulse or turn off and on quickly a few times and then mix on low just until blended.
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You may need to add more powdered sugar. Add a little at a time. These should be a little dryer than the consistency of chocolate chip cookies. If the mixture is too dry, add a little milk.
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Roll into balls about 1″ in diameter. Place on a cookie sheet in single layer, when the cookie sheet is full, place in the freezer or refrigerator until thoroughly chilled.
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Spread half the nuts on a baking sheet. Place in a preheated 350 degree oven for about 10 minutes. Remove and let cool, coarsely chop half of the nuts by hand on a cutting board. Place in a 9×13 pan. Put the rest of the nuts into a food processor or blender and chop fine. Mix with other hand chopped nuts. Set aside.
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Place the chocolate in a glass bowl in the microwave or on the stove in a double boiler. Be careful not to burn the chocolate. In the microwave, melt at 30 second intervals. Remove and stir. Heat just until chocolate is melted.
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To assemble, create an assembly line peanut butter balls, melted chocolate, chopped nuts, empy pan at the end.
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Remove pb balls from refrigerator.
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Dip into melted chocolate, then roll into nuts.
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Place back on another cookie sheet or pan, and refrigerate.
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After they chocolate is set, remove and store in Tupperware, Ziplocks bags or other covered container. These keep well for a long time in the refrigerator or freezer.
Recipe Notes
- I often skip the toasting of the nuts if I’m in a hurry, which is most years! The toasting of the nuts give a bit of extra crunch.
- Do not use natural peanut butter. I recommend Skippy or Jif Crunchy peanut butter.
- You may purchase either dark or light (milk) chocolate for this recipe. I prefer light, but occasionally make dark as well. The peanut butter balls in the photographs on this post were dipped in dark chocolate.
Peanut Butter Balls are the perfect make-ahead cookie for all of your holiday parties and get togethers! Maybe this will become your new family tradition 🙂 Happy rolling!
If you haven't made these yet this year then wait for me…….I have been thinking about them all week but no time!
They look delish! How many balls does one recipe yield?
Adrianne,
I haven’t ever counted, but Im guessing 40-50? It all depends on the size of the peanut butter ball! I try to not roll them too big because they grow as they are dipped in chocolate and nuts! Thanks for reading ABK,
XO
Si
I think we’ll definitely try these! What kind of dipping chocolate do you use?
Hi Sarah,
I usually purchase Ghirardelli from Orson Gygi or dipping chocolate from Mrs. Cavanaugh’s in Bountiful . Both are excellent quality!
Thanks for reading ABK,
xo
Si
You can purchase dipping chocolate at Mrs. Cavanaugh’s??!! 😱😱
YES! They sell in 1lb bags. Dark, milk and white chocolate discs.
And easily GF too! Thanks so much!
YES! Such a great treat. Never thought about them being GF!
Thanks,
Si
Is dipping chocolate the same as chocolate almond bark?
Hi Sherry,
Almond Bark is made with animal fat instead of cocoa butter. It is less expensive thank dipping chocolate, and rightfully so! I think you will taste the difference if you use dipping chocolate. Hope this helps!
Thanks for reading ABK,
xo
Si
Making these this weekend for our annual chocolate dipping extravaganza!
How fun Tami! These have been a tradition in our family for years, cannot wait to dip these with my daughters in about a week!
Merry Christmas,
xo
Si
Si:
Just a couple of corrections:
The picture of the Lauders with Sheri Ann and Janay has me (Aunt Nan) in it, not Doreen.
Also, mother did use natural peanut butter that separated–she would strain off the oil from the peanut butter before she mixed the peanut butter with the butter.
Mother got the recipe from a co-worker at The Darling Dress Shop in Medicine Hat, and I was the first one to make the recipe. We then modified the original. It called for semi-sweet chocolate melted with parafin wax for the coating. Mother decided that dipping chocolate would taste much better–which it did. The original also suggested you could dip the balls in coconut or nuts, which we sometimes did, and we never toasted the nuts. I’m sure toasting does add to the taste.
Hi Aunt Nan,
Thanks so much for your comment and corrections! We had no idea this was you and not Doreen. We have loved making and eating peanut butter balls for years and have fond memories of your mom making them for us. Merry Christmas to you and your family!
loves,
Si
I have searched the internet for years to find out the whereabouts of my childhood friend Sheri Foster who stayed with her grandmother Evelyn Lauder for the summers in Medicine Hat Alberta. I stayed with Sheri and her family and remember her mother Doreen. I google them and would love to get it touch with them. These chocolates bring back so many memories of stealing them out of her grandmothers chocolate drawers. My email is [email protected] My name is Deanne Tagg, now Taylor. I have always wondered about my friends. thanks for posting these pictures of these chocolates. They make me want to go back in time to the days of Medicine Hat and the fun we had.
These are a fun addition to the family candy plate for Christmas. I was amazed at how quickly these came together. It was fun working as a team to roll them into balls and dip them. Next time I plan to roll in roasted peanuts.