Peanut Butter Ball

I know it's really a stretch of the imagination to consider a peanut butter ball a cookie. But these are so much fun and so darned good tasting I had to include them on the site.

In some places (especially Ohio) these are called buckeyes.

My local Cracker Barrel store has buckeyes for sale. They are just this recipe that have some of the peanut butter exposed at the top so they look similar to a real buckeye nut.

There are two recipes here. One that uses wax and one that doesn't.

Peanut Butter Ball Recipe

Cream the peanut butter, butter and vanilla together.

Add the powdered sugar. Roll into balls about the size of a small walnut (or buckeye). Melt the chocolate chips in a double boiler. Dunk the peanut butter balls in the chocolate, using toothpick or fork. Put on waxed paper or aluminum foil to harden.

This recipe makes about 6 dozen.

This second recipe adds rice krispies and uses edible wax in the chocolate for a crispier coating. The rice krispies adds crunch along with the crunchy peanut butter.

I'll have to say this one is my favorite.

Chocolate Peanut Butter Ball Recipe

6 cups Rice Krispies
2 cups powdered sugar
2 cups crunchy peanut butter
6 Tbsp. melted butter
1 large pkg. chocolate chips
2 oz. Parowax*

*Parowax is what you seal jelly jars with.

Mix the Rice Krispies, sugar, peanut butter and butter well with hands. Roll into 1-inch balls. Freeze for 1/2 hour.

Melt together the chocolate chips and 2 ounces of Parowax in double boiler. Dip each peanut butter ball in the chocolate and place on waxed paper until set.

Keep the chocolate warm while dipping.

This recipe makes 6 dozen.

Incidentally, both of these recipes originally called for margarine but I prefer butter. You can substitute margarine if you like.

You Might Need:

• Kitchen Supply Aluminum Half Size Sheet Pan 18-inch by 13-inch
  
• Calphalon 12-by-17-Inch Rectangular Nonstick Cooling Rack
• Silpat 11-5/8-by-16-1/2-Inch Nonstick Silicone Baking Mat
• Oxo Good Grips Cookie Scoop