In Cindy's Kitchen: Peanut Butter Balls: "Old School Style"

Saturday, September 8, 2012

Peanut Butter Balls: "Old School Style"

Peanut Butter Balls: "Old School Style "

Hi everybody :)

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Peanut Butter Balls were a favorite of mine since I was in elementary school. I remember them shape differently from the way they are now. The didn't cafeteria workers have time to shape up enough balls for the whole school. They used cookie scoops and left them in the cookie dough-like shape when spooning the topping on them.

I missed those days. So while browsing the net I came across this recipe and the sweet memories came floating back to me. I hurried into the kitchen with the attempt to recreate those memories...

Peanut Butter Balls adapted partially from here & Me

Ingredients
Balls:
2 cups powdered sugar, sifted
1 cup creamy peanut butter
1 cup extra crunchy peanut butter
1 sleeve (1/3 of the box) graham crackers , crumbs
6 tablespoons butter, softened
1 tsp. vanilla
1/2 tsp. salt

Topping:
1 cup semi-sweet chocolate chips
1 tablespoon shortening

The Mixture before Mixing

For the Balls:
Blend sugar, peanut butters, butter, graham cracker crumbs, salt and vanilla until smooth.

The Mixture after Mixing

Shape into balls with cookie scoop and place on waxed paper

Dough-like Balls

For the Topping:
Melt chocolate chips and shortening in the microwave.

Melted Chocolate

Spoon chocolate over balls in chocolate spread until 3/4 covered and refrigerate until set.

Plain

Fancy

What I Did and/or Think:

Because I wanted these to look like the balls I remember in school I use a cookie scoop to shape them instead of rolling them into balls. I used my medium OXO Good Grips Cookie Scoop for the bigger balls and my little scoop for the small balls. I also spooned the topping on instead of dipping with a toothpick. For a more fancier look, drizzle it on.

This recipe can be change many ways. I added 1/2 cup M&M's to some of the ball mixture, but feel free to add coconut, chocolate chips, raisins, peanut butter chips, butterscotch chips or chopped nuts to create the flavor you desire. The graham crackers can be interchangeable too, you can also use rice crispy cereal, cornflakes, or vanilla wafers, so go ahead and experiment.

Now for the taste; these balls were GREAT! A word of waring though; they are very, very, rich! EAT AT YOUR OWN RISK! When you make them, share. These balls are definitely worthy of a REPEAT!