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    Home » Recipes » Dessert

    Published: Sep 11, 2023 · Modified: Sep 18, 2023 by James Wythe · This post may contain affiliate links

    Peanut Butter Balls

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    Jump to Recipe Print Recipe

    These healthy 3 ingredient Peanut Butter Balls are gluten free, vegan & refined sugar free! Yes, please! These balls are SO easy to make and ready to freeze in about 5 minutes. They are a healthy on the go snack or treat.

    peanut butter balls served in a bowl.

    Recipe Difficulty – Very Easy

    Jump to:
    • Why this recipe works
    • Ingredients to make Peanut Butter Balls
    • Substitutions
    • Variations
    • How to make Peanut Butter Balls
    • Leftovers
    • Recipe FAQs
    • Recipe
    • Reviews

    Why this recipe works

    For those that love peanut butter as much as me, these Keto Peanut Butter Balls are just for you! Slightly firm on the outside and crunchy and doughy on the inside – these peanut butter protein balls are sure to impress!

    These Peanut Butter Bites are super simple to make – all you need is the 3 ingredients, a mixing bowl, a tray, and a freezer. The best bit is they are no bake and only take about 5 minutes to prepare before freezing.

    For those that may have a peanut allergy, you’re in luck! You can use almond butter instead.

    These are a great, healthy, protein filled snack to take with you on the go. Or you can dip them in chocolate and have a great treat to bring your kids after school!

    This was inspired by my 3 Ingredient Chocolate Truffles, and pairs well with this amazing Chocolate Almond & Coconut Balls.

    Ingredients to make Peanut Butter Balls

    peanut butter, ground almonds and maple syrup in 3 bowls on the table.
    • Crunchy Peanut Butter – is the key to having a nice crunchy inside. But you can also use smooth peanut butter. If you have any spare try my Peanut Butter Noodles or Peanut Stew.
    • Ground Almonds – give a great flavour to these protein peanut butter balls and help to bind everything together. 
    • Maple Syrup – adds a delicious sweetness to these healthy peanut butter balls.

    See recipe card for full information on ingredients and quantities.

    Substitutions

    • Peanut Butter – Smooth peanut butter or even almond butter will both work great for this recipe.
    • Ground Almonds – Almond flour is finer, but should still work for this recipe.
    • Maple Syrup – honey is a great alternative to maple syrup as a natural sweetener.

    Variations

    • Deluxe – There are so many ways to dress up these Peanut Butter Energy Balls and turn them into more of a dessert. Dip them in chocolate and drizzle with white chocolate (or vice versa) for a cute and delicious treat. You could also sprinkle them with coconut or powdered sugar.
    • Kid friendly – These are most definitely kid-friendly already, especially if your kids love peanut butter snacks! This is a great recipe to have them help you with! You could also add in some Rice Krispies for an extra crunchy and kid-friendly treat. They will also love my Homemade Peanut Butter Granola or Peanut Butter Milkshake.

    See these spicier Turmeric & Ginger Energy Balls.

    How to make Peanut Butter Balls

    Ingredients to make peanut butter balls in a mixing bowl.

    Step 1: Combine all ingredients in a large mixing bowl.

    Hand mixing the ingredients for peanut butter balls with spatula in a bowl.

    Step 2: Mix with a spatula.

    peanut butter balls on a tray lined with baking paper.

    Step 3: With a spoon, scoop up a small amount and roll it into rough balls. Place on a tray lined with baking paper and freeze for 30 minutes.

    smooth peanut butter balls on a tray lined with baking paper.

    Step 4: Remove the balls from the freezer and roll in your hands again until smooth.

    Hint: This batch should make about 15 peanut butter balls.

    Leftovers

    These will last in the fridge in a sealed container for up to a week. You could also freeze them if you wanted to store them for longer.

    Recipe FAQs

    Do Peanut Butter Balls go bad?

    Yes, they can. You can refrigerate them for up to a week or so or freeze them for a couple of months.

    Why are my peanut butter balls runny?

    Natural peanut butter can be oily. Use more ground almonds if needed to thicken them up. Also, make sure to freeze them for 30 minutes.

    Is it okay to use almond flour in place of ground almonds?

    Almond flour is slightly finer than ground almonds and usually more expensive, but it should still work well.

    Do I need to freeze my peanut butter balls before dipping them?

    I highly recommend it! I’d freeze them for 30 minutes. It will help them be a lot easier to shape and work with.

    Peanut butter balls stacked on a white surface.

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    Tried this Peanut Butter Balls recipe? Please leave a star rating ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ below and let me know how you get on. Hearing positive feedback is one of the best parts of creating recipes so please review it below and leave a comment!

    P.S Never miss a new recipe! Get more healthy recipes sent straight to your inbox weekly – Subscribe and receive a free recipe eBook!

    Recipe

    peanut butter balls served in a bowl.

    Peanut Butter Balls

    Easy to make 3 ingredient protein packed Peanut Butter Balls!
    4.80 from 5 votes
    Save for laterSaved!
    Print Pin Rate
    Course: Dessert, Snack
    Cuisine: British
    Diet: Gluten Free, Vegan, Vegetarian
    Prep Time: 5 minutes minutes
    Freezing Time: 30 minutes minutes
    Total Time: 35 minutes minutes
    Servings: 12 balls
    Calories: 240kcal
    Author: James Wythe
    Cost: £4

    Ingredients

    • 330 g crunchy peanut butter (roughly 9 heaped tbsp)
    • 90 g ground almonds
    • 7 tablespoon maple syrup
    • 1 pinch salt

    Instructions

    • In a large mixing bowl add the peanut butter, ground almonds, maple syrup and salt.
    • Mix together with a spatula
    • With a spoon, scoop up a small amount and roll into a rough ball (no need to be perfect as we will roll them again later which will make them smooth). Place each ball on a lined tray with baking paper and place in the freezer for 30 minutes.
    • Take the balls outs the freezer and roll again in your hands until smooth.

    Notes

    Step-by-Step Photos: My blog post includes helpful step-by-step photos to help guide you through making this recipe.
    Substitutions & Variations: I have included a list of these in the post above.
    To Store: Keep in an airtight container in the fridge for up to a week.
    To Freeze: Keep in an airtight container in the freezer for 1-2 months.
    Tip 1: You can opt for smooth or crunchy peanut butter, whatever you have/prefer.
    Tip 2: This recipe will make 15 peanut butter balls.
    Tip 3: There is no need to roll the balls perfectly the first time as you will roll them again after freezing them to make them smooth.

    Nutrition

    Calories: 240kcal | Carbohydrates: 14g | Protein: 9g | Fat: 18g | Saturated Fat: 2g | Fiber: 3g | Sugar: 9g

    Please note that Nutrition information is a rough estimate

    Did you make this recipe? Tag me Today!Tag @HealthyLivingJames on Instagram and use #HealthyLivingJames!
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      Recipe Rating




    1. Charlie says

      November 23, 2023 at 1:22 pm

      4 stars
      Delicious recipe. Love how simple it is. Just wondering what sort of maple syrup you use? Thanks.

      Reply
      • James Wythe says

        November 27, 2023 at 1:29 pm

        Thanks Charlie 🙂 glad you enjoyed them. I just use Canadian grade 1 or 2.

        Reply
    2. S Carr says

      September 04, 2023 at 1:23 am

      Can you use ground walnuts instead of almonds?

      Reply
      • James Wythe says

        September 04, 2023 at 10:19 am

        Yes that should work 🙂

        Reply
    3. Vivi says

      January 22, 2023 at 11:17 pm

      Where is the nutritional info, please?

      Reply
    4. Miriam says

      September 23, 2018 at 7:32 pm

      Almond flour ok?

      Reply
      • James says

        September 24, 2018 at 7:19 am

        Hey Miriam,

        Thank you for the question! Almond flour is slightly finer than ground almonds (usually more expensive as well) but should still work well.

        Hope that helps.

        James

        Reply

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    Hey, I’m James! A fully qualified Health Coach, Author and Professional Food Blogger with over 1 million followers. My aim is to inspire you to cook easy and delicious home cooked food. 12 years ago I fell seriously ill out of the blue which left me bed bound for 2 years and house bound for the next 4 years. I opened my blog in 2016 to share the easy allergy friendly recipes that I taught myself to cook.

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    Hey, I’m James! A fully qualified Health Coach, Author and Professional Food Blogger with over 1 million followers. My aim is to inspire you to cook easy and delicious home cooked food. 12 years ago I fell seriously ill out of the blue which left me bed bound for 2 years and house bound for the next 4 years. I opened my blog in 2016 to share the easy allergy friendly recipes that I taught myself to cook.

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    BUY NOW

    Popular

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      The Best Vegan Lasagne
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    • rosemary infused roast potatoes in a baking dish on a white marble background
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    • Yorkshire puddings towered on a blue/black plate covered in gravy.
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