This crunchy Peanut Butter Balls with Rice Krispies recipe has the flavor of peanut butter and chocolate with a deliciously satisfying crunch. These crispy buckeyes are a pop-in-your-mouth treat that no one can refuse. Easy to make and perfect for those days you need a chocolate fix.
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Creamy peanut butter centers with a smooth chocolate coating and a fun twist of a little crunch! These crispy buckeyes are always a hit.
Made with only 5 ingredients they require minimal effort and last up to two weeks (if you can keep everyone away from them!).
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They’re a super easy dessert recipe when you don’t know what to make. Nobody can say no to popping one in their mouth.
This buckeye recipe takes the traditional peanut butter balls to a whole new level of taste by adding one simple crunchy ingredient.
And if you love chocolate candy, check out my Chocolate Peppermint Bark Recipe, or my Peanut Butter Chocolate Rice Krispie Treats!
Ingredients
Ingredient Notes:
Use the best quality chocolate you can find. In this recipe I am using Ghirardelli 60% chocolate which is a semi-sweet to dark chocolate.
See the recipe card for quantities.
Variations
While these are delicious without changing a thing, there are a few ways you can make these your own style:
- Toppings - you can make these buckeyes festive by sprinkling on some crushed colored sprinkles once they’re dipped in the chocolate. Similarly, if you love the sweet and salty flavor, sprinkle the tiniest bit of flaky sea salt on the balls before letting them set. Try adding some crushed salted peanuts to the outside, flaky coconut, or crushed peppermint candy canes to jazz up the look and taste.
- Chocolate - if you want to switch up the look of the buckeyes, you can also dip the crunchy peanut butter balls into white chocolate or milk chocolate for a unique twist. Are you a chocolate lover? Add extra chocolate with a second layer of dipping.
- Peanut Butter - swap the regular peanut butter for crunchy peanut butter and get a whole other level of crunch. This may make combining the ingredients a little harder but the taste is really good. If you want to stay away from peanut butter, try almond butter or sunflower seed butter.
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How to Make Peanut Butter Balls With Rice Krispies
Step 1: In a large mixing bowl, combine the butter, peanut butter, and rice krispies.
Step 2: Roll them into small 1-inch balls and place them on a prepared baking sheet topped with parchment paper. Place them into the refrigerator for a minimum of two hours.
Step 3: After two hours, place the chocolate into a microwave-safe bowl. Melt the chocolate by placing the bowl into the microwave and microwaving the chocolate on high using 30-second intervals, making sure to stir the chocolate in between cycles.
Step 4: Place a toothpick into the top of the ball and coat them by dipping them one by one into the melted chocolate.
Set them on a tray lined with parchment or wax paper and let them set for an hour.
Pro Tips
You need to use regular, no-stir peanut butter for these buckeyes. Natural peanut butter has too much oil in it and will result in the balls not holding together well.
Make sure to chop or pulse the Rice Krispies in a blender or food processor before mixing. This is another thing that will help hold the balls together and give you just that hint of crunch you need.
Any chocolate will work for the recipe so use what you enjoy. I tend to use semi-sweet chocolate that’s at least 60% cacao.
I am a huge chocolate fan! You may also like trying my Dark Chocolate Covered Nut Clusters or Simple Dark Chocolate Covered Cherries!
Storage:
Though the buckeyes will store well on the counter in an airtight container for a few days, they are best stored in the refrigerator.
If stored in the refrigerator, these crunchy buckeyes will last about 2 weeks (if you can stop yourself from sneaking them!). This means that they’re an easy dessert to prep ahead of time for any gathering.
You can freeze these buckeyes, however, you will need to bring them to room temperature before eating.
Frequently Asked Questions
Yes. Place the buckeyes in an airtight container, freezer-safe container, or plastic bag once they’re set and the chocolate has hardened. You may want to separate them by layers of parchment paper to prevent sticking. Stored like this, they’ll last in the freezer for up to 3 months. To enjoy them, let them thaw in the fridge overnight then allow them to come to room temperature.
You can swap the peanut butter in crispy buckeyes for sunflower seed butter to make them nut-free. Remember that you need to find a nut-free butter that isn’t oily and is pre-stirred for the recipe to work.
It is the result of water, in the form of dampness or condensation, that interacted with the chocolate. Allow the container of buckeyes to come to room temperature on the counter before enjoying.
Looking for more chocolate?
For your holiday season, take the classic chocolate peanut butter balls to whole new heights using simple ingredients.
This easy candy recipe will be a surefire hit on your Christmas cookie tray and a huge hit with your family and friends. Using a handful of ingredients, these chocolate-dipped peanut butter balls are the best buckeyes you will ever eat!
Did you try this recipe? I would love to hear about it! Scroll down to the comment section and leave a ⭐️ rating and review. Share it on Facebook, Instagram, or Pinterest!
xoxoxo
Gwen
Crunchy Peanut Butter Balls with Rice Krispies
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Ingredients
- 8 oz unsalted butter softened
- 2 cups creamy peanut butter
- 3 cup Rice Krispies chopped in a blender or food processor
- 1 lb powdered sugar
- 2 bags semi-sweet chocolate chips 12 ounces each
Instructions
- In a large mixing bowl, combine the butter, peanut butter, and Rice Krispies.
- Roll them into small 1-inch balls and place them on a prepared baking sheet topped with parchment paper.
- Place them into the refrigerator for a minimum of two hours.
- After two hours, place the chocolate into a microwave-safe bowl.
- Melt the chocolate by placing the bowl into the microwave and microwaving the chocolate on high using 30 second intervals, making sure to stir the chocolate in between cycles.
- Place a toothpick into the top of the ball and coat them by dipping them one by one into the melted chocolate.
- Set them on a tray lined with parchment or wax paper and let them set for an hour.
Anonymous
Yum!