Reese’s Copycat Peanut Butter Balls

Reese’s Peanut Butter Balls – bite-sized morsels of amazing Reese’s-like peanut butter filling dipped in a thin coat of milk chocolate.  A quick, easy no-bake treat that can be enjoyed in any season!

What better way to show some love this Valentine’s then by giving (sharing 😉 ) delicious homemade chocolates? Check out these Homemade Peppermint Patties or scrumptious Almond Butter Truffles too?  This Reese’s Copycat Peanut Butter Balls recipe will be perfect for the Reese’s lovers in your life.  These little morsels of sweetness have an amazing peanut butter center and are packaged in a thin chocolate-y coating.  They are so quick & easy to make (no-bake style) and are sure to spread the love, because a batch of these babies makes over 100 chocolate balls (depending on how big you make them).

As you may already know from a few of my prior posts, my family makes homemade and hand-dipped chocolates every year.  Usually around the holidays.  Time crept up on me and before I know it, the holidays were over and I hadn’t shared this recipe.  No worries though because what better holiday to share this peanut butter lovers dream then around the holiday of love, Valentine’s Day. So, that’s just what I’m doing.

If you like this candy recipe, you may also like these:

• White Chocolate Peanut Butter Cups
• Soft, Chewy Homemade Caramels
• 3-Ingredient Jingle Bell Fudge
• Old English Almond Toffee
• Homemade Peppermint Patties
• Almond Balls with butter truffle filling

Why is this version of peanut butter filling like “Reese’s” the best?

Growing up, my mom and aunt would make a similar version of this delicious peanut butter center they would hand dip around the holidays.  This kind has always been a favorite and is one of the first to be eaten off the candy platter.  I’ve tried many recipes that are similar with variations like graham crackers, Rice Krispies or other additives to give it a crunch.  This recipe is hands down, still my favorite.  My secret…  ground dry roasted peanuts.  It makes all the difference. Really!

If you ready the ingredients list on the back of a Reese’s peanut butter cup package, there are no graham crackers, rice krispies, etc.  This recipe only has butter, sugar, peanut butter and roasted peanuts.  The roasted peanuts are what gives this recipe the Reese’s like quality.

How easy are these Reese’s peanut butter balls to make?

SO EASY!

The ingredients are simple.   I took pictures of a double batch I made so it looks like a TON because it was.  The recipe below will be for half this.

First, mix the butter and creamy peanut butter together.  Make sure you are using creamy and not crunchy.  The peanut chunks in crunchy peanut butter are too big (at least in my opinion).  Once the butter and peanut butter are mixed add the ground peanuts.  I like to use my Blendtec, but you can use a food processor, to finely chop the dry roasted peanuts (make sure they are dry roasted otherwise you’ll end up with a glob of homemade chunky peanut butter rather than finely chopped peanuts).   The little bits of peanuts are what makes this recipe so amazing.  It provides an added peanut butter-y flavor and nice crunchy texture like Reese’s has.

Once the peanuts are all mixed in, add the powdered sugar a little at a time until the peanut butter mixture turns into a dough.  It shouldn’t be sticky to the touch but hold together when gently squeezed.  If it is too sticky, add a little more powdered sugar, 1/4 cup at a time.

How do I make these balls consistent in size and shaped like a ball?

Once all the powdered sugar is mixed in and the filling is ready, use a cookie scoop to measure the balls.  This will give you a fairly consistent size.

I like my chocolates to be bite-sized, not two- or three-biters.  The smallest scoop I’ve been able to find is 0.25 fl/oz with equals about 1 1/2 teaspoons.  I fill the scoop not quite full to make the ball about a teaspoon big.  If made to be a teaspoon big, this recipe will make around a 100 balls, give or take.  If you don’t have a scoop or would like to roll and cut them yourself, you can.  Take 1/4 of the dough and roll into a 1/2-3/4 inch log (like a snake).  Cut into 1/2-3/4 inch pieces. Roll until smooth.

How do I coat these Reese’s peanut butter balls with chocolate?

Once the balls are rolled, chill for 1-2 hours.  This will help the chocolate coating set and harden more quickly.  Dip each ball into melted chocolate using a fork, thin spatula, spoon or in your hand.  Set dipped ball on a piece of clean waxed paper or parchment paper to cool.  Make sure the peanut butter center is completely covered or it will weep.  Oils from the center will leak out.  This doesn’t affect the flavor but makes them look not as pretty or appetizing.

That’s it. You are officially a Chocolatier in my books!

What’s your favorite candy to make?

I’d love to hear about it. Leave me a comment!

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OP: 1.6.17                    Updated: 12.18.18