Cherry Peanut Butter Balls

Total Time

Prep: 30 min. + chilling

Makes

about 2 dozen

Updated: Oct. 21, 2022
Years ago, I saved this festive recipe and made it only at Christmastime. But my grandkids loved the sweet combination of peanut butter, chocolate and cherries so much that now I mix up a batch anytime they ask or visit!

Ingredients

  • 1/2 cup butter, softened
  • 1 cup peanut butter
  • 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
  • 2 cups confectioners' sugar
  • 24 to 26 maraschino cherries with stems
  • Additional confectioners' sugar
  • 2 cups semisweet chocolate chips
  • 1/4 cup shortening

Directions

  1. In a small bowl, beat the butter and peanut butter until smooth. Beat in vanilla. Gradually add confectioners' sugar and mix well. Cover and refrigerate for at least 1 hour.
  2. Pat cherries dry with paper towel. Dust hands with additional confectioners' sugar. Wrap each cherry with a rounded tablespoon full of peanut butter mixture; shape into a ball. (Peanut butter mixture may need to be refrigerated occasionally while rolling cherries.) Cover and refrigerate for at least 1 hour.
  3. In a microwave, melt chocolate chips and shortening; stir until smooth. Dip peanut butter balls in chocolate; allow excess to drip off. Place on waxed paper. Refrigerate for at least 1 hour or until set.

Nutrition Facts

1 each: 233 calories, 15g fat (6g saturated fat), 10mg cholesterol, 90mg sodium, 24g carbohydrate (21g sugars, 1g fiber), 3g protein.