Peanut Butter Balls Recipe

Photo by: Taste of Home

100% would make again

Sugar coating a romantic occasion with this pretty pink confection from the CT home economists can be just the sentimental start. Fill it with Lee Ann's peanutty treats and you have a melt-in-you-mouth dish set to sweeten the heart of someone special! A heart-shaped pan and red food coloring turn the straight forward sugar mixture into an eye-catching creation. Nestled inside, Le Ann's rich candies appear more inviting in shiny foil cups. And they taste as good as they look.

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Ingredients

Materials needed:

Cornstarch

6 cups sugar

1-1/4 cups water

6 drops red food coloring

3/4-inch to 1-inch-wide silver ribbon (optional)

12-inch serving platter or covered board

9-inch heart shaped pan

Peanut butter balls:

1 cup butter, softened

2 cups creamy Jif® Peanut Butter

7-1/2 cups (2 pounds) confectioners' sugar

1-1/2 pounds dark chocolate candy coating, coarsely chopped

Directions

Directions for Candy Dish:

Dust a 9-inch heart-shaped pan with cornstarch and set aside. In a bowl, combine sugar, water and food coloring; mix with hands until the consistency of wet sand (see photo 1). Firmly pack into prepared pan (see photo 2).

Smooth the top surface and immediately invert onto an ungreased heavy-duty baking sheet. Tap top of pan to loosen; remove pan (see photo 3) and let dry for 4 hours.

When mixture is dry, carefully invert the heart. Using a spoon, gently scoop out soft sugar, leaving a 1/2-in.-thick shell (see photo 4). Smooth inside edge with fingertips. Dry candy dish at room temperature for 24 hours or in a 200° oven for 20 minutes. Cool completely on the baking sheet.

Transfer to a 12-in. serving platter or covered board. If desired, place silver ribbon on board around dish (see photo at far left). Fill dish with Peanut Butter Balls (recipe below) in foil cups if desired.

Peanut Butter Balls:

In a bowl, cream the butter and peanut butter. Gradually add sugar; mix well. Shape level tablespoonfuls into balls; set aside. In a saucepan over low heat, melt candy coating. Dip peanut butter balls in chocolate; place on waxed paper to harden. Yield: 7 dozen.

Editor's Note: Dark chocolate confectionery coating is found in the baking section of most grocery stores. It is sometimes labeled "candy coating" and is often sold in bulk packages of 1 to 1-1/2 pounds.

Note: Materials and instructions are for one candy dish.

Finished size: The candy dish measures 9 inches wide x 8-1/4 inches high from the top middle point to the bottom tip.

Nutrition Facts: 1 serving (2 each) equals 278 calories, 15 g fat (8 g saturated fat), 12 mg cholesterol, 101 mg sodium, 35 g carbohydrate, 1 g fiber, 3 g protein.

Peanut Butter Balls published in Country Woman January/February 1999, p22