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~
Love these – I’ve been keeping a bag in the freezer at all times since I found this recipe! They’re also great for a quick dessert – I just melt some chocolate chips in a mug and drop the (thawed) peanut butter balls in there one by one. Roll ’em around to coat, put ’em on a plate, and stick ’em in the freezer for a few minutes to let the chocolate harden. Like peanut butter cups, except healthier!
……I forgot to mention that at our school it appeared that after the peanut butter balls were made they were rolled in coarsely crushed vanilla wafers, which gave it some crunch. I could do without the vanilla wafers, I just love the peanut butter!
We always had these at school and I was crazy about them. The kids that didnt like them would pass them down the table to me. Not the most sanitary means of transporting food, I realize now. I would end up with 4 or 5, wrap them in a napkin, and eat them throughout the rest of the school day. I shudder to think of the calories I must have consumed on peanut butter ball day! Anyway, I’ve always wanted the recipe. Now I am excited to make them for my kids. Thank you so much!
LOL, I think back on stuff like that and shudder as well at times. I hope you enjoy the recipe!!
Christy, I don’t know if you’ll even see this, but… I bought a milk glass footed bowl, like a compote in shape (at a thrift store for $1.50 so yay!), that has a border just like that one pictured with the balls.
Do you know the pattern or maker for this design? I bought it for cranberry at Thanksgiving, but I might like some more serving pieces and/or develop a new antique hunting obsession.
Yippee!! It’s made by anchor Hocking and called “Old Colony Lace”. Pieces are fairly easy to find right now but I’m sure they’ll go up in value as more folks seek them out. So glad you love it like I do!!
Making these today! They make a great mid-day or after-school snack. My three boys got so excited when they saw me get all the ingredients out on the counter. They started running in circles, “Mom’s making Peanut Butter balls!” I think I know their love language. 😉
How precious!!! I am so glad to hear that all the boys like them, I know it makes your heart soar!
Sorry if I missed it earlier in the replies, but should it be honey or corn syrup? Saw honey in the photos, and corn syrup in the recipe…??
This is my third time to make these! So easy to prepare and yummy to eat. This is a great snack to take to the beach.