How To Make Peanut Butter Balls
Peanut butter balls were a staple in our school lunchrooms. Word got around fast on the day the lunch ladies were making them and we all looked forward to the single serving we got on our trays come noon meal. Single serving for everyone but my brother.
My brother, who never once passed up a chance to be unusually cruel to me, managed to singlehandedly wrap every one of the hair netted lunch ladies around his little finger. While we all surfaced with our single peanut butter ball, Bill waltzed to his table with at least three. Alright, so maybe he wasn’t always unusually cruel. He did let me be a backup singer when he was singing Buddy Holly, but that wasn’t my point here.
This is a great snack for children and grown ups alike. They are kept in ziploc bags in the freezer and when we manage to have any (they are eaten so fast!), I often see my husband or son coming back from the freezer with a handful at a time. Full of all sorts of goodness, its one snack that will not only tide your family over until you can finish up supper, but one you can feel good about letting them have.
Note about honey: If you have children under the age of two, substitute corn syrup as raw honey poses health risks.
I can go into why but don’t I go off on enough tangents as it is?
I make a LOT of these at a time so I need a dishpan.
Feel free to half this recipe!
Ingredients
- 2 C honey or corn syrup
- 3 C creamy peanut butter
- 5 C dry milk powder
- 6 C quick oats
Instructions
- Mix all together with hand mixer. Form into balls with hands and freeze on waxed paper lined cookie sheets until hardened. Store in freezer in ziploc bags. (Makes about 100)
Nutrition
If my brother shows up, only let him have one. ~grins~
Made these Peanut Butter Balls today except I didn’t use powder milk and I added coconut flakes–absolutely Delicious. My friends and family loved them!
I was looking for an alternative to the powdered milk since we’re lactose intolerant over here. Thanks!
Just in case anyone wanted to know… The reason honey is not safe for those under 2 is because it CAN contain botulism spores and the little ones immune systems are not strong enough to fight the spores. Now, it is back to the kitchen to whip up some of these for my peanut butter loving kids!
I made these using Sun Butter and Powder Sugar. They are great and we love them frozen!!!!
You are right about quantity. I made half of the recipe and we still had lots! Its great that they freeze well!!!!
We made these for years using the very same recipe. I found the recipe in our local library in the University Extension Services newsletter. However, I had lost it and figured I’d check here and VOILA! there it is!
These are so VERY addictive. We would also, from time to time, roll the finished balls in instant hot chocolate mix….. They don’t last long around here either. 🙂
lol….was just jotting down the recipe. I MUST say I’ve never seen “mix in dishpan” but get a kick out of it.
I’ve never heard of these! Born in NY and a true member of the Mayflower Daughters and DAR, if I were to live south of the Mason-Dixon line my ancestors would turn over in their graves. Times change, and my sons are both NASCAR engineers living in NC. Now with DIL but no grandbabies, alas, we are sharing recipes both ways. Still not a fan of bbq or fried chicken or eating with my hands (sorry), I’ve become decent with several recipes. I love your blog, faith, and sense of humor as well as the stories behind the recipes. Think I’ll try a half recipe using agave and maple syrup as neither corn syrup nor honey are favs of mine. Usually a scratch baker I’ve been making your recipes as written: hubs actually ate something that wasn’t plain meat and ‘taters. Thanks for sharing as well as encouraging me to branch out. I may never be the queen of grits but have made hybrid dishes with colllard greens and pasta!
reading comments is my way of ensuring that a recipe is good, but I do have to assuage your fears. I am a southerner, and there are a great many of us down here that are “true” Mayflower & DAR members, and our ancestors got down to the south as soon as they could. Nothin’ worse than an uppity Yankee! ;). Think they invented everything!
I am a Yankee but lived down south for over 50 years and love it. Love all about it. Not to proud to eat fried chicken with my hands. LOL
Oh my stars! We made these last night and are instant addicts!!!