Best Vegan Peanut Butter Balls Recipe

This is a family favorite recipe that I veganized, because it just had to be done. I call them the best vegan peanut butter balls because, well, they are the best! This recipe is definitely a holiday favorite. Not only can you serve them on your dessert table, but these make wonderful addition to treat bags to share with friends, family, neighbors, work mates, etc. If you’re into chocolate and peanut butter, you know, together, be sure to check out my Vegan Fluffy Chocolate Peanut Butter Pie and Vegan Chocolate Peanut Butter Cups.

It must be sacrilege to post about something so sinfully sweet as Peanut Butter Balls in January. This is the month where we’re supposed to be getting healthier! And to make matters worse, I don’t even have an interesting name connection for this recipe. But my family loves peanut butter balls (what’s not to love in combining peanut butter and chocolate?).

And the thing is, I didn’t like most of the recipes I found for these bite-size, delicious treats; they were too sweet. Don’t get me wrong, I like my fair share of sweetness, but you can definitely have too much of a good thing. So here’s what I came up with. It’s a twist on the recipe we’ve used in our family for years.

You’ll Love Vegan Peanut Butter Balls

This recipe has a higher peanut butter to powdered sugar ratio or HPBPSR (it’s an important ratio so it needs an acronym). It’s still sweet; just not as much as other recipes call for.

Just because we usually see these delights around the holidays doesn’t mean you can only serve them in December. You can also have Vegan Peanut Butter Balls for Super Bowl parties, Wimbledon Parties and more.

Also, you can make these vegan peanut butter balls in different ways. Let me explain. I’ve created different versions based on my preferred outcome.

• This recipe, Vegan Peanut Butter Balls – these are creamy and soft in the middle
• Crispy Chocolate Peanut Butter Balls – the recipe is for a firmer peanut butter center
• Chocolate Peanut Butter Energy Bites – this is a very healthy version of the traditional peanut butter ball
• Almost Raw Chocolate Peanut Butter Cups – and the healthy continues with these date-sweetened peanut butter centers. I made these into cups, but they could easily be done rolled into balls

Why You Shouldn’t Follow This Recipe

I’m a big advocate for changing up a recipe. It’s kind of a passion of mine. Also, it’s one of the benefits of making things yourself. Right? Otherwise, you can just go to the store and buy chocolate covered peanut butter balls. But that’s not what we want. We want to make these chocolate covered peanut butter morsels ourselves. Mold them to our own will. So, here’s some ideas on how you can make this recipe your very own:

• Add a cup or so of graham cracker crumbs
• My friend adds rice crispies to the dough for a crispy crunchy touch
• Try using chunky peanut butter
• Reduce the powdered sugar for a less sweet version
• I’ve even made fig-sweetened peanut butter balls if you’d like a processed sugar free version
• Add a little rum or vanilla to the dough
• Can you imagine adding a little orange zest to the dough? OMG!

As you can see I can go on and on. This recipe just has so much potential!

If you decide to make these Vegan Peanut Butter Balls, be sure to snap a photo and share it with #namelymarly on Instagram. We love seeing your creations!

5 from 5 votes

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Vegan Chocolate Peanut Butter Balls

Prep Time

20 mins

Cook Time

30 mins

Total Time

50 mins

 

Who said vegan isn't fun? Say good-bye to cholesterol laden peanut butter balls, and say hello to these vegan peanut butter balls covered in chocolate.

Course: Dessert

Cuisine: American

Servings: 121

Calories: 84 kcal

Author: Namely Marly

Ingredients

• 3 cups peanut butter softened
• 1 cup dairy-free margarine softened
• 5 cups powdered sugar
• 2 cups dairy-free chocolate chips
• 2 tablespoons coconut oil

Instructions

1. Stir together peanut butter and margarine until well blended. Add powdered sugar. It can help to microwave the mix for 20 - 30 seconds.
2. Refrigerate the peanut butter mix until it's firm enough to roll into balls. Remove from the fridge and roll into bite-size balls. Place on a tray. Refrigerate for about 30 minutes or so.
3. Stir chocolate chips and coconut oil together in a microwave-safe bowl. Microwave for 1 minute. Place a lid on it and set aside for a minute. The chocolate should be melted. Stir until well blended and smooth.
4. Dip peanut butter balls in the chocolate using a fork so you can tap off excess chocolate. 

Lay chocolate covered balls on tray covered with waxed paper. Set aside until chocolate coating is firm. You can refrigerate at this point to speed up the chocolate setting.
5. Store in an airtight container.

Recipe Notes

*I recommend using smooth peanut butter, not natural for this recipe. I find natural peanut butter to be a little too "runny" for peanut butter balls.

Nutrition Facts

Vegan Chocolate Peanut Butter Balls

Amount Per Serving

Calories 84 Calories from Fat 45

% Daily Value*

Total Fat 5g 8%

Saturated Fat 1g 5%

Sodium 41mg 2%

Potassium 42mg 1%

Total Carbohydrates 7g 2%

Sugars 6g

Protein 1g 2%

Vitamin A 1.4%

Calcium 0.7%

Iron 1.9%

* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.

If you’re into vegan chocolate and peanut butter concoctions, check these out:

• Chocolate Peanut Butter Swirl Fudge by Cookie + Kate
• Peanut Better Balls by Oh She Glows
• Chocolate Peanut Butter Oatmeal by Bakerita
• Look at these Chocolate Peanut Butter Energy Bites by yours truly!

Whatever chocolate peanut butter bites you’re partying with, enjoy!

We recently took some new photos for this post. If you’re curious, here’s one of the old shots.