Peanut Butter Balls

This is another thing my husband grew up making and enjoying every Christmas. I think he might consider himself to be a Peanut Butter Ball expert. I always want to change it up and try something new and he starts to twitch. So I haven't really changed anything yet.

According to him I already do change it up by not using the "right" kind of chocolate. He's under the impression that you should only use melting chocolate but chocolate chips work fine for me and it's something I usually have on hand already. They sure disappear quickly so they must be good. I would love to know if you have any ideas for changing up Peanut Butter Balls. Read below for the recipe I used. 

Peanut Butter Balls (click here for printable recipe)

Ingredients:
2 cups creamy peanut butter  (I use one cup creamy and 1 cup crunchy)
1/2 cup butter
4 cups powdered sugar
3 cups rice crispy cereal
1 bag semisweet chocolate chips


Directions: 
1.) Melt peanut butter and butter in a saucepan, over low heat. 
2.) In a large bowl mix cereal and sugar well.
3.) When peanut butter mixture is completely smooth pour it into the cereal mixture and blend together thoroughly.
4.) Form into 1 inch or smaller balls. My husband likes to remind me to roll them until their shiny. Spread out on cookie sheet lined with parchment or wax paper. Chill them until they are firm (overnight is okay).

Don't forget to make space in your refrigerator!

 

5.) Melt chocolate in double broiler and keep melted while working. A teaspoon works well for dipping the balls in the chocolate. Dip them so that they are completely covered and then place them back on the cookie sheet covered in parchment or wax paper. Put them back in the refrigerator and chill them until they are firm. 

This would be a great thing for a little helper to assist you with. Rolling all those balls takes a while! Usually making things like this brings me joy but as I stood there rolling all 110 Peanut Butter Balls by myself I was feeling nothing but sadness. I realized there's not anything that I can do to get myself in the Christmas spirit. For me Christmas isn't about the stuff, the things, the pretty decorations. All that is a facade. It's about relationships and spending time with friends and family. Preparing for a celebration of a Miracle on earth.  It's not fun to be living in such a foreign place away from everything that's familiar. I guess it really puts things in perspective for me, hopefully I will walk away from this experience having learned a lot.

I hope you'll have a chance to make this recipe for or with someone near and dear to you!