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Make healthy peanut butter balls with only 5 simple ingredients: peanut butter, oats, dates, chocolate and coconut oil! No powdered sugar or butter needed. These peanut butter balls are dairy-free, gluten-free and vegan!
We’re all about the holidays this weekend. Wrapping, baking, family and celebrating… that pretty much sums it up. We’ve been jamming out to Christmas tunes, traveling to visit family and overall just enjoying the season. Yesterday I spent the afternoon baking Christmas cookies with my nanny, sister and her girls. It’s a tradition and it’s something I look forward to every year. We baked and then took the goodies to our family Christmas party at my aunt and uncle’s house, which is always a good time.
Since I was young my favorite holiday treats have always been nanny’s crescent cookies, no-bake cookies and peanut butter balls. Can you tell I love all things peanut butter and chocolate?
After a little recipe testing I finally perfected a recipe for healthy chocolate peanut butter balls. They taste just like the ones I loved growing up, only they’re vegan, gluten-free, sweetened with dates and require only five ingredients! They’re basically just like my peanut butter eggs, but in the shape of a ball instead of an egg.
Everyone who has tried them has loved them, including Isaac who said, “Oh yum! They’re like peanut butter cups.”
So if you’re in need of another holiday treat recipe, these balls should be added to your list. And if you’re taking them to a party, I highly recommend doubling the recipe because they’ll go fast, trust me! 🙂
Process – Start by adding the dates to your food processor and pulse until the dates are finely chopped and form a sticky ball. Add in the oats and pulse a few more times until combined. Add in the peanut butter and process until combined.
Form balls – Scoop out 1 tablespoon of dough at a time and roll into balls. Place balls on a baking sheet lined with parchment paper. Place the peanut butter balls in the freezer until firm – this takes several hours so I usually just let them sit overnight!
Coat with chocolate – After your peanut butter balls are firm, combine the chocolate chips and coconut oil in a small microwave-safe bowl. Microwave for 30-second increments until the chocolate is melted. Dip the chilled balls into the melted chocolate and roll until covered. Place back on the parchment paper and then back in the freezer until chocolate is set.
Store the chocolate covered peanut butter balls in an airtight container in the fridge or freezer until you’re ready to enjoy! They should last about a week in the fridge and up to a month in the freezer.
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excellent post thank you for sharing
My husband LOVES peanut butter balls, but I rarely make them because of all the sugar. I made these this weekend and they are absolutely wonderful!!!! I 4x the recipe to have plenty. I had no problem with them being too sticky. We are cyclists and I took some to eat while riding and they were great. Thanks for a great recipe!!
Ah yay! This makes me so happy to hear, Juanelle. Glad these peanut butter balls were a hit! Thanks so much for trying them out and coming back to leave a review :).
They were very messy trying to roll the dough. Any tips. I did add the additional tablespoon of oats.
Mmmm.. sounds like they were too wet and might of needed even more oats maybe?
I love the taste of this snack! Any suggestions for making the peanut butter balls firmer for rolling. When I scoop out the tablespoon to roll into a ball it will not hold form. Still love the taste.
I would add a little almond flour or whey protein powder which is what i used.
So glad you love these, Cheryl! You could try placing the dough in the fridge to harden up a bit before rolling them into balls?
Loving this recipe. Can I sub sun butter for the peanut butter? I’m making these for someone with a tree nut allergy?
Totally sun butter will work great as a sub for the peanut butter.