Description
Rich chocolate peanut butter rice krispie balls combine nostalgic childhood treats with gourmet elegance. Creamy chocolate and nutty peanut butter coat crispy rice cereal, creating irresistible bite-sized morsels you’ll instantly crave.
Ingredients
Scale
- 2 cups (480 ml/16 fl oz) peanut butter (crunchy or creamy)
- ½ cup (114 g/4 oz) unsalted butter, softened
- 3–4 cups (340–454 g/12–16 oz) powdered sugar
- 2 cups (50 g/1.8 oz) crispy rice cereal
- 1 tsp vanilla extract
- 16 oz (454 g) chocolate candy coating (such as Ghirardelli or almond bark)
- ¼ cup (40 g/1.4 oz) chocolate jimmies or chopped salted peanuts (optional)
Instructions
- Preparation: In a spacious mixing bowl, cream together unsalted butter, smooth peanut butter, and pure vanilla extract until achieving a silky, uniform consistency.
- Sugar Integration: Gradually fold powdered sugar into the butter mixture, ensuring smooth incorporation without lumps, creating a malleable dough-like texture.
- Cereal Blending: Gently mix crispy rice cereal into the mixture using clean hands, distributing evenly without crushing the delicate grains.
- Ball Formation: Roll the combined mixture into compact, uniform spheres approximately 2.5 centimeters in diameter, placing each on a parchment-lined baking sheet.
- Chilling Process: Refrigerate or briefly freeze the formed balls for 15-30 minutes to firm up and stabilize their shape before chocolate coating.
- Chocolate Coating: Melt chocolate using a double boiler or microwave, stirring frequently to create a smooth, glossy liquid for dipping.
- Dipping Technique: Carefully immerse each chilled ball into melted chocolate, using a fork to ensure complete coverage and allow excess chocolate to drip off.
- Optional Decoration: Sprinkle chopped roasted peanuts or chocolate sprinkles over freshly coated balls for enhanced texture and visual appeal.
- Final Setting: Allow chocolate-coated balls to rest at room temperature until chocolate sets completely, approximately 15-20 minutes before serving.
Notes
- Chill Before Coating: Refrigerating the peanut butter balls ensures they maintain shape during chocolate dipping and prevents crumbling.
- Chocolate Melting Mastery: Use low, steady heat when melting chocolate to prevent burning and achieve a smooth, glossy finish.
- Dipping Technique: Use a fork or specialized dipping tool for clean, even chocolate coverage and minimal mess.
- Storage Strategy: Store in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to one week to maintain freshness and texture.
- Prep Time: 30 minutes
- Cook Time: 30 minutes
- Category: Snacks, Desserts
- Method: None
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 10
- Calories: 331
- Sugar: 34 g
- Sodium: 115 mg
- Fat: 20 g
- Saturated Fat: 8 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 12 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 33 g
- Fiber: 1 g
- Protein: 6 g
- Cholesterol: 15 mg