Oh, my – I just have to share these luscious little balls of chocolate-nut-butter goodness! And yes I made them healthier! But notice how I don’t go so far as to call these healthy, just healthier? They are still a melt-in-your-mouth, candy-worthy treat, just packed with a bit more nutrition and good-for-your-body-ness. ‘Cause we could all use a bit of that, couldn’t we?
So now that were all clear on what makes these good – um, CHOCOLATE – what makes them healthier? Organic brown rice puffs, natural peanut butter, coconut oil and just a 1/3 cup of honey to sweeten three dozen candies! Oh, and that chocolate is dark, of course, full of antioxidants as well as deep, full chocolate flavor.
But I’m here to tell you that no one will think they are healthier, they’ll just think they are wonderful, delicious, satisfying chocolate crispy peanut butter balls. I know because I didn’t tell my family…and they didn’t ask.
Try them on your family and see what they think!
Healthier Chocolate Crispy Peanut Butter Balls
- 1 c. natural peanut butter (or almond, cashew, etc. butter)
- 2 Tb. coconut oil, melted (or butter, softened)
- 1/2 tsp. vanilla (optional)
- 1/3 c. honey
- 2 1/4 c. brown rice crispy cereal/puffs (any kind of puffed cereal really)
- 1 pkg. (10-12 oz.) dark chocolate chips
- In a large bowl mix together all the ingredients except the rice cereal until smooth.
- Add the brown rice cereal and mix well with a wooden spoon.
- Use a small cookie scoop to help shape into balls and place on a lined cookie sheet. Tip: run your hands under a bit of water if the dough starts to stick to your fingers as you shape them.
- Refrigerate until solid, about an hour (or freeze for 10-15 minutes).
- When ready to dip the peanut butter balls, melt the chocolate in a double boiler or the microwave (if using the microwave, heat only 1 min. and stir until all is melted).
- Dip each ball into the chocolate (I use a three-pronged meat fork to pick each coated ball out, tapping off excess chocolate on the edge of the bowl) and place back on the lined cookie sheet. Refrigerate until the chocolate is set.
- Serve while still cold (they melt) or place the balls in an airtight container and store in the refrigerator or freezer.
Makes 3 dozen.
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Mary says
December 24 at 4:55 amGreat (and easy) recipe!! Thanks for sharing.
Kim says
December 5 at 3:22 pmDo you have the nutritional facts on this recipe??
Jami says
December 5 at 4:19 pmNo, Kim, I don’t include those on my site. I’m a whole food, ‘everything in moderation’ lifestyle-diet advocate, and calculating nutritional ingredients would add more time to a blog that already takes hours of my time. 🙂 And I think I’m pretty clear here that although I use healthier ingredients than some peanut butter balls, they are still a candy to be enjoyed occasionally. Here’s a link where you can calculate any recipe, though, if you’d like to: http://www.myfitnesspal.com/recipe/calculator
Bethann says
September 20 at 10:48 amThese sound wonderful! Would you happen to know caloric parameters (Sugar content, fats, etc.)? Interested in making healthier food changes, but we love sweets! Same question on the Whole Grain Oatmeal Cookies w/Cranberries & walnuts. Newbie at buying “healthy” products & product lingo confusing at times
Jami says
September 20 at 11:02 amHey Bethann! I don’t usually worry about calorie content (been there, done that) as eating a lot less and making it real food is what finally worked for me to be able to maintain a healthy weight (I wrote about it in my weight-loss series, if your interested – find the button in the sidebar). But thinking about calories has helped our daughter, so each of us has to find what works (though real food is for EVERYONE, ha!). You can go here: http://www.myfitnesspal.com/recipe/calculator to enter a recipes ingredients and it will calculate the calories for you. Hope that helps you out!
Tricia @ Simplicity in the South says
September 19 at 2:59 pmYou can’t go wrong with chocolate and peanut butter. Making them crispy sends them over the top!
Live in the Yard says
September 13 at 5:55 pmOh deer! These look delicious, I will definitely be trying this recipe soon!
Thanks for sharing. I love PB and Choc.
Charlotte Moore says
September 12 at 4:00 pmYummy!!! We have made the unhealthy several times, but it has been a few years. I need to try this version. I could roll some of them in unsweetened coconut for the ones that can’t eat chocolate. I could make sure the cereal was GF and the one in our family that needs that could also eat them.
daisy says
September 12 at 3:10 pmOoooh, those look luscious!
bonnie says
September 12 at 1:36 pmThere’s no better combination than peanut butter & chocolate! Will be making these as soon as I get some crispy rice cereal. I’m very new to your site, but have already made Addictive Tomato Chutney (LOVE it) and Unblanched Green Beans (tired of mushy, blanched freezer beans!). I’m a fan–thanks!
Crystal says
September 12 at 1:32 pmWe make these every year at Christmas time. I can’t wait to try this healthier version!! Thanks so much for the recipe!!
Mindy says
September 12 at 11:29 amYUMMY!!!