Chocolate Peanut Butter Balls with Rice Krispies are just like your favorite Peanut Butter Balls but with a crispy filling thanks to the rice krispies. This delicious candy is great for the holidays and cookie trays! Truly, the perfect combination of sweet and salty. A must make for Christmas!
Looking for more Christmas treats? Check out my Grinch Cookies, Chocolate Crinkle Cookies and Toffee recipes!
Chocolate Peanut Butter Balls
Peanut Butter Balls with rice krispies have always been my favorite candy – to make and to eat. I grew up making them with my Nana and they were one of the first recipes I ever learned to make on my own. With just a handful of ingredients, these easy chocolate peanut butter balls are the first candy recipe I make during the holiday season and we make a batch about once a week until it ends.
It takes me a good two weeks after Christmas to be craving them again 🤣
Peanut Butter Rice Crispy Balls
Chocolate and peanut butter is such an amazing flavor pairing and these easy peanut butter balls do not disappoint. Creamy, savory peanut butter paired with a divine chocolate coating is the perfect base for this recipe. My Nana loved adding rice krispies to the basic peanut butter ball recipe and it’s been my favorite way to make them every since.
The rice krispies add texture more than anything else and that lovely crispy, crunch really adds a nice element to this simple candy recipe.
What Are Peanut Butter Balls?
Peanut Butter Balls have been around for a long, long time. They are a very simple, no bake candy recipe that consists of four basic ingredients: peanut butter, butter, powdered sugar and chocolate.
They have a soft, creamy interior with a savory peanut butter filling and a chocolate shell that cracks when you bite into the candy.
This version adds rice krispies to the mix which gives us these amazing Peanut Butter Balls with Rice Krispies. They are my favorite version and the one I make for friends and family at Christmas time. I am always asked for the recipe!
More Christmas Candy Recipes To Try
There is no better season for sharing and giving yummy treats to friends and family! These Peanut Butter Balls with Rice Krispies always make our list and here are some more of our favorites:
- Peanut Butter Fudge
- Peppermint Fudge
- Buttermilk Pecan Pralines
- Divinity Candy
- Homemade Gumdrops
- M&Ms Marshmallow Dream Bars
What You’ll Need
You are going to go crazy for the outrageous peanut butter flavor and the crunch of the crispy rice cereal will have you reaching for “just one more” time and time again. As always, you can find the full printable recipe with complete instructions in the recipe card at the end of this post. Let’s take a look at what you’ll need:
- peanut butter – crunchy or creamy peanut butter will work in this recipe. Crunch peanut butter adds more texture and crunch to the candies. It’s all about personal preference.
- unsalted butter – combines with the peanut butter to create a really creamy filling.
- powdered sugar – to sweeten the filling.
- vanilla extract – use the good stuff!
- crispy rice cereal – you can use Rice Krispies or a generic brand will also work.
- chocolate candy coating – such as Ghirardelli melting wafers, CandiQuik, or Almond Bark.
How To Make Chocolate Peanut Butter Balls
They candies are so fun to make and even though we did them by hand back in the day, they hardly took any time at all. My Nana loved that they didn’t require any baking which made them perfect for summer and the batch yields A LOT of candies so they were perfect for handing out at Christmas time.
- Line a large baking sheet with parchment paper.
- Combine peanut butter and butter together in a large mixing bowl.
- Stir in the vanilla extract.
- Gradually add in the powdered sugar, half a cup at a time.
- Stir in crispy rice cereal.
- Shape into 1 inch balls and refrigerate for 30 minutes.
- Melt candy coating following melting directions on package.
- Dip the peanut butter balls into the chocolate using a toothpick or dipping tools.
- Transfer to the parchment paper and sprinkle chopped peanuts or chocolate jimmies on top.
- Let candy sit until the chocolate is firm.
I caved and bought these candy dipping tools which has made my life infinitely easier and my candies that much prettier. A must-buy if you’re a candy maker!
Check out this post for my “How To Dip Tips” for all the tips and tricks I use to dip candy perfectly every time.
Storage Information
These easy peanut butter balls never last long but if you want to make ahead or plan on freezing, here is the information you’ll need:
Room Temperature or Refrigerator: Peanut Butter Balls with Rice Krispies can be stored in an airtight container for up to 2 weeks.
To Freeze:Â Flash freeze peanut butter balls for 20 minutes and then transfer to a freezer safe ziploc bag for up to 3 months. Thaw at room temperature or in refrigerator.
This recipe can easily be doubled or tripled. You will just need a mixing bowl large enough to handle the ingredients.
More Candy Recipes To Try
- Christmas Crack Recipe
- Toffee
- Chocolate Pretzel Peanut Butter Balls
- Divinity Candy
- Martha Washington Candies
- Maple Nut Fudge
How To Make Chocolate Peanut Butter Balls
Chocolate Peanut Butter Balls with Rice Krispies
Ingredients
- 2 cups crunchy peanut butter creamy peanut butter can also be used
- ½ cup unsalted butter 1 stick – softened
- 3 cups powdered sugar 3 to 4 cups
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 2 cups crispy rice cereal
- 16 ounces chocolate candy coating such as Ghirardelli melting wafers, Almond Bark or CandiQuik
Decorations (Optional)
- ¼ cup chocolate jimmies
- ¼ cup salted peanuts roughly chopped – optional
Instructions
- Line a large baking sheet with parchment paper and set aside.
- Combine peanut butter and butter together in a large mixing bowl and mix until well combined. Stir in the vanilla extract.2 cups crunchy peanut butter, ½ cup unsalted butter, 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- Gradually add in the powdered sugar, half a cup at a time, until mixture is nice and smooth and you can easily form balls.3 cups powdered sugar
- Stir in crispy rice cereal and use your hands if necessary to thoroughly incorporate into the peanut butter mixture.2 cups crispy rice cereal
- Shape into 1 inch balls and refrigerate for 30 minutes on the prepared baking sheet. (You can also freeze for 20 minutes.)
- Melt candy coating following melting directions on package.16 ounces chocolate candy coating
- Dip the peanut butter balls into the chocolate using a toothpick or dipping tools.
- Transfer to the parchment paper and sprinkle chopped peanuts or chocolate jimmies on top immediately.¼ cup chocolate jimmies, ¼ cup salted peanuts
- Let candy set up until the chocolate coating is firm.
Video
Notes
Nutrition
Originally published December 9, 2013.
