No Bake Peanut Butter Truffles are similar to Ohio's favorite candy, buckeyes. Sweet peanut butter centers are enrobed in a dark chocolate shell and topped with a peanut for a lovely holiday presentation. Everyone will love to receive a box of these Peanut Butter Chocolate Truffles this holiday season.
"Christmas is not as much about opening presents as opening our hearts." -Janice Maeditere
We are up to day 11 in the 12 days of Christmas baking if you have been following along. I went with a recipe from America's Test Kitchen for these peanut butter truffles, easy peanut butter balls. If you are familiar with Ohio's favorite candy, the buckeye, you will know these are delicious and very similar. Buckeyes are made from a peanut butter fudge partially dipped in chocolate to leave a circle of peanut butter visible on the top. These truffles are fully enrobed in chocolate but could easily be mistaken for buckeye balls.
The blend of peanut butter and confectioner's sugar dipped in melted chocolate is fabulous to begin with. Then you add in America's Test Kitchen modifications, and you have a delicious piece of candy. They add a small amount of cream cheese to give the filling a pleasant tang, yet it keeps the sweetness.
Ingredients in Peanut Butter Chocolate Truffles
These 7-ingredient no bake peanut butter truffles easily fall into our easy recipes category, and you probably already have all the ingredients on hand.
- Confectioner's sugar
- Creamy peanut butter
- Cream cheese softened
- Salted dry-roasted peanuts
- Vanilla extract
- Semisweet chocolate chips
- Vegetable oil
We used creamy peanut butter in this recipe, but you can also go with chunky if you prefer that. I kept the creamy because we put chopped peanuts into the truffle with the peanut butter filling, and I didn't want it to be too crunchy.
How to Make No Bake Peanut Butter Truffles
- In a small bowl, combine the sugar, peanut butter, cream cheese, chopped peanuts, and vanilla and roll the truffle mixture into ½ inch small balls.
- Place on a parchment-lined plate or baking sheet and freeze for 15 minutes.
- Melt the chocolate as directed.
- Use a fork to dip the peanut butter truffles into the chocolate and place them back on the plate and top the dipped ball with a peanut. You could also top these with a bit of flaky sea salt instead of a peanut
- Freeze for about 10 minutes until hardened.
- For best results, store them in an airtight container in the refrigerator until serving time.
The only thing I would change on this peanut butter truffles recipe is to temper the chocolate. Due to time constraints and the difficulty of tempering chocolate, they chose to keep it simple. They wanted the shine of the chocolate without the effort of tempering. They achieved this by adding a small amount of oil to the chocolate. They have you store these in the refrigerator until serving time, which we did. You can see from the images the condensation on the chocolate when you do that. Which is fine; it slowly goes away as the candy warms up. But the flavor is best when the peanut butter center is chilled. This is one of my favorite treats for holiday gift-giving.
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I hope you enjoy this peanut butter chocolate truffles recipe as much as we do. It's such a simple no bake recipe that everyone loves. I suppose technically, it should not be on the Christmas baking list, but hey...It's my list, and I can add it if I want to. As always, we would love to hear how you do with the recipe and don't forget to save some for yourself.
Peanut Butter Truffles
Ingredients
America's Test Kitchen - Peanut Butter Truffles
- ½ cup confectioner's sugar
- 3 tablespoons creamy peanut butter
- 1 ounce cream cheese softened
- 2 tablespoons salted dry-roasted peanuts chopped coarse, plus 20 peanut halves
- ¼ teaspoon vanilla extract
- ⅔ cup semisweet chocolate chips
- 1 tablespoon vegetable oil
Instructions
- Line a large plate with parchment paper.
- Stir powdered sugar, peanut butter, cream cheese, chopped peanuts, and vanilla in a bowl until uniform.
- Roll mixture into twenty ½ inch balls; space balls evenly apart on prepared plate. Freeze, uncovered, for 15 minutes.
- Microwave chocolate and oil in a bowl, covered, at 50 percent power, stirring occasionally, until smooth, 2-4 minutes.
- Using a fork, pick up 1 ball and dip in the chocolate to coat, letting excess chocolate drip back into bowl.
- Return ball to plate, and immediately place peanut half on top. Repeat with remaining balls.
- Freeze balls uncovered, until chocolate has hardened, about 10 minutes.
Notes
Nutrition
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Original Post 12/23/2014, updated 12/3/2021.
Brittany says
I was born and raised in Ohio so these are a staple at every celebration in our family. I need to make mine this year!
Brittany says
Wow these look so good! These would be such a good gift to give out to friends too!
Roxanne Ferber says
These look incredible!! I have never made truffles before, but this would be fun to make with my kids!
serena says
The kids would love this.
Amber Nelson says
Those look delicious! I can't wait to try this recipe. I am a huge peanut butter fan.
Tiffany Haywood says
Peanut butter and chocolate has got to be one of my favorite treat combinations. These truffles look so deliciously amazing!
serena says
Thanks so much!
Jean says
These truffles look so yummy! I think they’d make a great Christmas gift wrapped up nicely 🙂 I think I might just have to make them!
Ut Minh says
I'm looking for recipe sources for Christmas. I love this recipe. Don't know if I can make this dish as beautiful as you? I will try this weekend!
serena says
We have tons of holiday recipes on the blog. Give them a try and enjoy 🙂
brianne says
Wow these look so yummy and festive! I've never attempted truffles before, but think I will have to try!
Erica says
Peanut butter with chocolate is one of my favorites. So I will have to give these a try. Though I must admit, I really am a sucker for crunchy peanut butter. So I might have to choose to substitute with the crunchy.
Terri Steffes says
These look so good. Truffles are my mom's favorite candies. I'll make some up for her.
AnnMarie John says
It would be nice to temper the chocolate if you have time, I'm sure it would make a huge difference to the results. But it still looks so good! And peanut butter is always a win!
Cindy Ingalls says
These remind of Buckeyes, which are one of my favorite indulgences. Well, really, I just love anything with chocolate and peanut butter, especially when it comes in a bit size portion.
serena says
They are technically buckeyes. I think it just depends where you live as to what you call them.
Rachel says
Peanut butter truffles are some of my mom's most favorite treats. I have been trying to figure out what to get for her her, so maybe I will just make her some of these.
serena says
These make such a great gift. She will love them
Dean says
The first thought that popped in my mind when I saw your image... THOSE LOOK LIKE BUCKEYES. 🙂 I haven't had buckeyes in so long, and you're right they are so yummy. My husband introduce them to me years ago, I've never forgotten them.
serena says
They are buckeyes! I think it just depends where you live as to what you call them.
Melissa says
Oh my these look delicious! Definitely pinning them to make them for before the year ends. Chocolate and peanut butter for the win.
serena says
Ha! I couldn't agree more!
Krystal Butherus says
We love truffles! These might make the snack table on Christmas Day. They look so delicious!
serena says
Thanks so much! Enjoy!
Angela Tolsma says
I have never made truffles as they've always seemed like so much work. But no bake is so much better sometimes and I should really give it a try!
serena says
If you are a peanut butter and chocolate fan, this one is definitely worth making.
Melissa Chapman says
These look so good I am not the best cook but you make it seem so simple and I love America's Test Kitchen. If I get inspiration I might just try this for a party.
serena says
After working with them for a while, I'm still a huge fan of ATK. Love the recipes
Laura @ MommyDearest says
I'm loving this recipe. I've been looking for a recipe like this. So excited to make these. Going to stock up on baking supplies tomorrow once the weather becomes more forgiving and getting my bake on.
serena says
Enjoy!
robin rue says
Those truffles sound so good. Chocolate and peanut butter is my favorite combo of all time!
serena says
Thanks so much! I'm also a huge fan of chocolate and peanut butter