Vegan peanut butter balls are basically healthy peanut butter cups that you can eat any time you want. They are so fun to make, no baking needed!
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Wow, have we been snacking lately! I decided to work on this recipe for vegan peanut butter balls, because I needed a sweet treat that was a bit less junky. These healthy peanut butter bites were just the ticket.
Not that I have a problem with a decadent dessert, but y'all. Things were getting out of hand with the late-night snacks
I needed something that tasted decadent without being so sugar-packed that I woke up with a sweets hangover in the morning.
Vegan chocolate peanut butter bites are it!
Ingredients and substitutions
- powdered peanut butter - This is just dehydrated peanut butter, and it's the base for the vegan peanut butter balls filling.
- salt - Just a little pinch of salt really brings out that peanut butter flavor!
- water - To reconstitute the powdered peanut butter into a dough.
- maple syrup - Optional, for sweetening. You can use agave nectar or your favorite sweetener instead, if you prefer.
- vegan chocolate chips - Melted chocolate chips will make up the coating for these vegan peanut butter balls! You can find dairy-free chocolate chips at most grocery stores.
How to make vegan peanut butter balls
Normally when you make a peanut butter cup, you mix peanut butter with a frankly shocking amount of powdered sugar to thicken it.
But these treats have a secret weapon that allows you to reduce that powdered sugar to zero: powdered peanut butter!
These little treats contain no added sugar. In fact, you only need three simple ingredients to make them!
In a small bowl, whisk together the powdered peanut butter and salt. Then, add 4 tablespoons of the water. Mix until the powder absorbs the water and turns crumbly/chunky, then get in with your hands and knead this mixture into a cohesive ball of dough.
Add more water by the teaspoon, as needed, if the dough is crumbly after kneading. If it's sticky, add a teaspoon of powdered peanut butter to thicken it up.
Taste the dough to see if you want to sweeten it. If so, knead in a tablespoon or two of maple syrup at a time, until you reach your desired consistency. If the dough becomes sticky with the added moisture, you can balance that out with more peanut butter powder.
Divide the mixture into 16 one-inch balls. Place them on a baking sheet lined with parchment paper, and refrigerate for 15 minutes.
Place the peanut butter balls in the freezer for 30 minutes to chill before serving or moving them to the refrigerator.
Helpful tips
- You want the peanut butter mixture to form a cohesive dough. It should not be crumbly or sticky. ¼ cup water usually does the trick, but sometimes you do need to tweak a bit to get a nice, clean dough.
- To melt your chocolate chips in the microwave, cook them on high for 15-45 seconds at a time, stirring in between cooking times, until they fully melt.
Storage directions
Store chilled vegan peanut butter balls in an airtight container in the refrigerator. They will keep for a couple of weeks this way.
I do not recommend storing them at room temperature, because the chocolate can melt. I have even tested this in the winter, when my house is cold AF, and they still get pretty soft. Fridge is best!
If you want to keep them for longer, you can transfer these to a freezer bag or other freezer-safe container. There, they'll keep for up to a few months.
Frequently asked questions
If the dough is too crumbly, it needs more moisture. Add water by the teaspoon or tablespoon until you can knead it into a cohesive dough.
If the dough is too soft and sticky, add more powdered peanut butter to help firm it up.
If your peanut butter balls are too soft when storing, chances are you didn't store them in the refrigerator. Definitely do that. :)
You don't need any butter to make vegan peanut butter balls! All you need are powdered peanut butter, vegan chocolate chips, a teeny bit of salt, and maple syrup.
As long as your peanut butter doesn't contain honey, you can be pretty confident that it's vegan.
More vegan peanut butter recipes
📖 Recipe
Vegan Peanut Butter Balls
Ingredients
- ¾ cup powdered peanut butter
- pinch of salt
- 4 tablespoons of water
- maple syrup - to taste, optional
- ¾ cup vegan chocolate chips
Instructions
- In a small bowl, whisk together the powdered peanut butter and salt. Then, add 4 tablespoons (¼ cup) of the water. Mix until the powder absorbs the water and turns crumbly/chunky, then get in with your hands and knead this mixture into a cohesive ball of dough. Add more water by the teaspoon, as needed, if the dough is crumbly after kneading. If it's sticky, add a teaspoon of powdered peanut butter to thicken it up.
- Taste the dough to see if you want to sweeten it. If so, knead in a tablespoon or two of maple syrup at a time, until you reach your desired consistency. If the dough becomes sticky with the added moisture, you can balance that out with more peanut butter powder.
- Divide the mixture into 16 1-inch balls. Place them on a baking sheet lined with parchment paper, and refrigerate for 15 minutes.
- Meanwhile, melt the chocolate chips in a double boiler or in the microwave. Then, coat each ball evenly in the chocolate. Use a fork to roll each ball around in the chocolate, then transfer back to the parchment paper-lined baking sheet.
- Place the peanut butter balls in the freezer for 30 minutes to chill before serving or moving them to the refrigerator.
Tamara Hanel
These were easy and delicious.
Becky Striepe
Thank you so much, Tamara!