Chocolate Peanut Butter Balls with Rice Krispies

If you love the classic peanut butter balls recipe, then you are going to love them with Rice Krispies. This traditional holiday treat now has a twist. The combination of the peanut butter, chocolate, and cereal makes this perfect for all your holiday dessert trays.

Bite size desserts are always a family favorite when baking for the Christmas holiday. If you love these chocolate peanut butter balls, then you must try Butterfinger Balls, White Chocolate Truffles, and 3 Ingredient Oreo Truffles.

Why We Love This Recipe

We love making chocolate rice krispy peanut butter balls during the holiday. It has become one of my favorite traditions. They are easy to make with simple ingredients and perfect treat for holiday gatherings.

Chocolate and peanut butter is one of my favorite combination. Mixing in one of our favorite cereal takes these peanut butter balls to the next level. We love the sweet, salty, and crunchy flavor in this no bake dessert.

Ingredients

• Creamy Peanut Butter – We used regular peanut butter
• Butter – Unsalted butter that has been softened 
• Rice Krispies Cereal – Crush the cereal in a ziplock bag with a rolling pin
• Semi-Sweet Chocolate Chips – Any type of chocolate will work
• Shortening – Substitute with coconut oil

Scroll to the bottom for the full recipe in the recipe card.

Variation Ideas

• Use your favorite type of Chocolate – These peanut butter balls are great dipped in milk, white chocolate or dark chocolate. You can also use Ghirardelli chocolate wafers.
• Use any type of nut butter – I usually make these with peanut butter any type of nut butter will work. Almond Butter, Cashew Butter or Sunflower Butter would all be delicious in this recipe.
• Add Sprinkles – Before placing the peanut butter balls in the refrigerator, sprinkle them with your favorite holiday sprinkles.
• Change the Cereal – Any type of crispy rice cereal will work.
• Drizzle chocolate on top. This is optional but looks really pretty. I like to drizzle extra chocolate on top or use something different such as white chocolate. It makes the peanut butter balls look so fancy.

How to Make Peanut Butter Balls with Rice Krispes

• Step 1 – Prepare Baking Sheet – Line a baking sheet with parchment paper or wax paper and set aside.

Step 2 – Cream together the peanut butter, butter, 1 teaspoon vanilla extract and confectioners’ sugar together in a large mixing bowl on medium speed with a hand mixer. You can also combine with a stand mixer.

Step 3 – Then stir in the crushed Rice Krispies Cereal. 

Step 4 – Then shape the mixture into small balls (bite size). Place the peanut butter balls on the lined baking sheet. Then chill in the refrigerator for at least 30 minutes.  

Step 5 – Place the chocolate chips and vegetable shortening in a large microwave-safe bowl.  Heat in 30 second intervals, stir between each interval until the chocolate is fully melted.  

Step 6 – Dip each of the chilled peanut butter balls into the melted chocolate. Lift the ball out of the chocolate with a fork and then transfer them back to the baking sheet.  

Step 7 – Once all of your peanut butter balls are coated, put the cookie sheet in the fridge. I recommend leaving them in for about 15-30 minutes. Perfect timing for the chocolate coating to completely hardened.

Chocolate Peanut Ball Tips

• Chill Peanut Butter – Make sure the Peanut Butter Balls are placed in the refrigerator before dipping. This will make sure that the balls don’t fall apart.
• Dip with a Fork – Use a fork to dip the balls into the chocolate. This makes sure excess chocolate will drip off the fork.
• Do not overcook the chocolate – Overcooked chocolate will become clumpy and will not be smooth on these peanut butter balls.
• Room temperature ingredients. This recipe will be easier to mix if you use room temperature butter.
• Stir the chocolate in intervals. Make sure to melt the chocolate in 30 second intervals so you do not burn it.
• Cookie Scoop. It is easier to form the balls if you use a cookie scoop into 1-inch balls. Not only is this quick but each one will be uniform.
• Slightly crush the cereal. The cereal needs to be slightly crushed prior to mixing with the other ingredients.
• Sticky Peanut Butter – If peanut balls get sticky slowly add in more powdered sugar.

How to Melt Chocolate

Making the chocolate for the peanut butter balls only requires two ingredients – chocolate chips and shortening. Combining the two ingredients in a microwave safe bowl is easy to do.

• Place the two ingredients in the small microwave-safe bowl and begin microwaving for 30 seconds then remove and stir.
• Continue this process until the chocolate and shortening is melted together.
• Be careful to not to microwave for to long because you could burn the chocolate.

How Long Will Chocolate Peanut Butter Balls Last?

Place Chocolate Peanut Butter Balls in the refrigerator and they will last about 2 weeks. We recommend storing in an air tight container. The chocolate peanut butter balls are good at room temperature, but they are preferred to serve chilled.

Can you Freeze Peanut Butter Balls?

Yes, you can freeze these peanut butter balls. This is a great candy to make ahead of time to save time for all your holiday baking. Place prepared chocolate peanut butter balls on a baking sheet and place in the freezer for about 30 minutes.

Then once they have frozen, you can then transfer to a zip lock bag or a freezer safe container. They will last up to 3 month in the freezer.