Peanut Butter Balls. Little round one bite peanut-butter-nutty-chocolate wonders. I first posted this recipe here.
3 reasons why you should try PB Balls:
1. They're simple and require no cooking. Only a microwave or stove top to melt the chocolate.
2. More calories than you would ever want to count. This is the sign of a great Christmas cookie/candy.
3. Round. Every cookie platter needs a ball of some sort.
In years where I skipped all other baking ( yes there were one or two) aka "The Lost Years" (when I had Brooke and Stephen in diapers and high chairs at the same time) this was the one treat that still made the cut. My kids love them. Grant loves them. We make batches and place in refridge or freezer for -who know what? They keep FOREVER. Sometimes a container will get buried in the back of the freezer, and we'll discover it long after the decor has been put away. It's like finding a $20 in your coat pocket. Don't you love that?
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2 cups Chunky Peanut Butter
4-5 cups powdered sugar
12 Tablespoons butter, softened
2 lbs pecans or walnuts, toasted
2-3 lbs dipping chocolate
Mix the softened butter and peanut butter until blended and smooth. You can do this in a food processor, or with a hand held or stand mixer. Add powdered sugar, mix until the peanut butter mixture is dry enough to roll into balls without sticking.
You may need to add more powdered sugar. Add a little at a time. These should be a little dryer than the consistency of chocolate chip cookies. If the mixture is too dry, add a little milk.
Roll into balls about 1" in diameter. Place on a cookie sheet, when the cookie sheet is full, place in the freezer or refrigerator until thoroughly chilled.
Spread the nuts on a baking sheet. Place in a preheated 350 degree oven for about 10 minutes. Remove and let cool, coarsely chop half of the nuts by hand on a cutting board. Place in a 9x13 pan. Put the rest of the nuts into a food processor or blender and chop fine. Mix with other hand chopped nuts. Set aside.
Place the chocolate in a glass bowl in the microwave or on the stove in a double boiler. Be careful not to burn the chocolate. (It burns really fast, trust me, I'm an expert at burning chocolate) . In the microwave, melt at 30 second to one minute intervals. Remove and stir. Cook just until chocolate is melted.
To assemble:
Remove pb balls from refrigerator.
2 cups Chunky Peanut Butter
4-5 cups powdered sugar
12 Tablespoons butter, softened
2 lbs pecans or walnuts, toasted
2-3 lbs dipping chocolate
Mix the softened butter and peanut butter until blended and smooth. You can do this in a food processor, or with a hand held or stand mixer. Add powdered sugar, mix until the peanut butter mixture is dry enough to roll into balls without sticking.
You may need to add more powdered sugar. Add a little at a time. These should be a little dryer than the consistency of chocolate chip cookies. If the mixture is too dry, add a little milk.
Roll into balls about 1" in diameter. Place on a cookie sheet, when the cookie sheet is full, place in the freezer or refrigerator until thoroughly chilled.
Spread the nuts on a baking sheet. Place in a preheated 350 degree oven for about 10 minutes. Remove and let cool, coarsely chop half of the nuts by hand on a cutting board. Place in a 9x13 pan. Put the rest of the nuts into a food processor or blender and chop fine. Mix with other hand chopped nuts. Set aside.
Place the chocolate in a glass bowl in the microwave or on the stove in a double boiler. Be careful not to burn the chocolate. (It burns really fast, trust me, I'm an expert at burning chocolate) . In the microwave, melt at 30 second to one minute intervals. Remove and stir. Cook just until chocolate is melted.
To assemble:
Remove pb balls from refrigerator.
Dip into melted chocolate, then roll into nuts.
Place back on another cookie sheet or pan, and refrigerate.
After they chocolate is set, remove and store in Tupperware, Ziplocks bags or other covered container. These keep well for a long time in the refrigerator. Or in the freezer.
As long as your husband doesn't see them :)
If you haven't made these yet this year then wait for me.......I have been thinking about them all week but no time!
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