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Crispy Peanut Butter Balls are inspired by the version made with butter and powdered sugar, but these have a fruit-sweetened center and a satisfying crunch. 

chocolate covered peanut butter balls on a white plate with one cut in half.

Ingredients You’ll Need

This recipe calls for all-natural peanut butter, which you need to stir well when you open the jar. (Use a hand mixer with one beater attached to make this go quickly!) 

Paired with Medjool dates, ground flax seeds, and crispy rice cereal, these balls have a crispy texture with plenty of peanut butter flavor. They taste like a peanut butter cup! 

Use semi-sweet chocolate chips for a classic Christmas cookie flavor, or chop up a dark chocolate bar to melt for a lower-sugar treat.

gluten-free Tip

Rice Krispies® brand cereal is not gluten-free because they contain malt flavoring. Look for a rice cereal that is labeled gluten-free if you need this to be a gluten-free recipe.

pitted dates, peanut butter, salt, flax seeds, chocolate chips, and rice cereal labeled in small bowls.

How to Make Crispy Peanut Butter Balls

Remove the pits from the dates before measuring them. For this recipe, you’ll need 1 cup of tightly packed pitted Medjool dates, or 8 ounces if you want to use a food scale. 

These dates should be soft and squishy. They should split apart easily with your fingers so you can remove each pit. Transfer the pitted dates to the bowl of a 12-cup food processor fitted with an S-Blade. 

Secure the lid and process until the dates break down. They may form a big ball as they blend, which is also okay! 

medjool dates before and after blending them in a food processor.

Remove the lid and add 1/2 cup of creamy peanut butter. Also, add 2 tablespoons of ground flax seeds and 1/4 teaspoon of fine sea salt.

Secure the lid and process until the peanut butter mixture looks thick and sticky. 

peanut butter, flax, and salt added to date mixture in the food processor.

Remove the lid and pour in 1 cup of crispy rice cereal. Process until the mixture looks crumbly. You’ll know it’s perfect when you can press it between your fingers and easily form a ball. 

Use a tablespoon or cookie scoop to scoop the mixture. Then, roll it between your hands to form round balls. Repeat the process until you’ve made about 18 to 20 balls. 

rice cereal added to peanut butter mixture in food processor.

Place the balls on a baking sheet lined with parchment paper or wax paper.

Transfer them to the fridge or freezer to chill while you melt the chocolate. 

Fill a small saucepan with 1 inch of water and set it on the stovetop over medium-high heat. Place a heat-safe bowl on top of the pan, ensuring it fits snugly over the opening of the pot. 

Pour the chocolate chips into the bowl and let the heat from the steam below gently melt them. Stir until the chocolate looks smooth and melted. 

peanut butter crispy balls arranged on a parchment lined pan.

Note: A double boiler like this works better than a microwave because the melted chocolate stays warm with the hot water underneath. This will make dipping the balls much easier! 

Remove the balls from the refrigerator or freezer and dip each one in the melted chocolate with a fork or spoon. Let the excess chocolate drip off, then transfer them back to the cookie sheet lined with parchment paper. 

balls dipped in chocolate and arranged on a pan.

Sprinkle them with coarse sea salt if you like a sweet and salty treat.

Once the chocolate has firmed up, these are ready to enjoy! Serve them at room temperature or store them in an airtight container in the fridge to serve chilled.

When chilled, they should last for 2 weeks but you may eat them all before then. 

crispy peanut butter ball split in half on a pan.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I use a different sweetener?

The dates give these balls sweetness and structure, so the ratio will need to change if you want to use something like honey or maple syrup. Try adding rice cereal to my other peanut butter ball recipe if you want to start there.

Will other date varieties work?

Yes, you can use any variety you have on hand. Just be sure to use a tightly packed cup or 8 ounces by weight. 

Looking for more healthy dessert recipes? Try Healthy Pumpkin Bars, Magical Date Brownies, or Almond Flour Cookies

crispy peanut butter ball split in half on a pan.

Crispy Peanut Butter Balls (Healthier Recipe!)

4.86 from 14 votes
Crispy Peanut Butter Balls are inspired by the version made with butter and powdered sugar, but these have a fruit-sweetened center and a satisfying crunch. 
prep25 mins cook0 mins total25 mins
Servings:20

Ingredients
 
 

  • 1 cup Medjool dates , pitted
  • ½ cup creamy peanut butter , all-natural and drippy in texture
  • 2 tablespoons ground flax seeds
  • ¼ teaspoon fine sea salt
  • 1 cup crispy rice cereal*
  • ¾ cup chocolate chips
  • coarse sea salt (optional topping)

Instructions

  • Place the pitted dates in the bowl of a large food processor fitted with an "S" blade. Secure the lid and process until broken down. (Mine usually forms a big, sticky ball.)
  • Add in the peanut butter (you want it drippy in consistency, so use one at room temperature, rather than from the fridge), the ground flax seeds, and salt. Process again until a crumbly, uniform dough is created. I usually watch the mixture turn into a big ball first, and then it breaks down into crumbles if you continue processing for a minute or so. Scrape down the sides if necessary. 
  • Add in the crispy rice cereal and process briefly again, just until the cereal is broken down slightly. The mixture will look crumbly, but you should be able to pinch the dough with your fingers and roll it into a ball easily with the cereal inside. 
  • Use a tablespoon to scoop the dough and roll it between your hands to create 20 balls. Arrange them on a parchment lined baking sheet, then place them in the freezer to firm up.
  • Arrange a heat-safe bowl over a small saucepan filled with an inch of water to create a double boiler. Bring the water to a boil, and place the chocolate chips in the bowl to melt. Stir until the chocolate is smooth, then turn off the heat.  
  • Remove the peanut butter balls from the freezer and coat each one with melted chocolate. Return each coated ball to the parchment-lined pan, and sprinkle with coarse sea salt on top if you like a sweet and salty treat.
  • Place the pan of chocolate-coated peanut butter balls in the fridge or freezer until the chocolate has hardened. Then they are ready to serve. They will have the softest texture when served at room temperature. Store any leftovers in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 2 weeks.

Notes

Nutrition information is for 1 of 20 balls, assuming you use all of the melted chocolate. (You may not!) This information is automatically calculated and is just an estimate, not a guarantee.
• Gluten-Free Note: Kellog’s Rice Krispies cereal is NOT gluten-free, but there are several gluten-free brands of cereal available. Check the package for a “gluten-free” label, if needed.
• If you don’t want to use dates, try using this recipe instead.
• If you’d prefer to make your own naturally sweetened chocolate coating, use this recipe.
 

Nutrition

Calories: 100kcal | Carbohydrates: 13g | Protein: 2g | Fat: 5g | Saturated Fat: 2g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 1g | Monounsaturated Fat: 2g | Trans Fat: 0.01g | Cholesterol: 1mg | Sodium: 62mg | Potassium: 94mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 10g | Vitamin A: 26IU | Vitamin C: 0.04mg | Calcium: 18mg | Iron: 0.3mg
Course: Dessert
Cuisine: American
Keyword: crispy peanut butter balls

If you try these Crispy Peanut Butter Balls, please leave a comment and star rating below letting me know how you like them.

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Megan Gilmore leaning on her white countertop.

Megan Gilmore

Hi, I’m Megan. A former fast food junkie turned best-selling cookbook author. I create healthy recipes made with simple ingredients to make your life easier.

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Comments

  1. Is there any possible way to substitute the flaxmeal with another ingredient? Will an egg work or something like Ezekiel cereal that’s ground up? Thanks, this looks like a very yummy recipe that the kiddos would enjoy!

    1. I think you could add an extra 1/2 of cereal (or a little more) as a swap for the ground flax. Hope you enjoy them!

  2. I just made these and the “dough” was super dry. I added half again dates and peanut butter. I’m likely going to add a T of Coconut oil. They are making balls but only after I added more moisture.

    1. Hi Ann! Were your dates soft and squishy? If they are easy to split apart with your fingers to remove the pits, the dough shouldn’t turn out dry, but you can soak them in hot water for 10 to 15 minutes if they seem tough to pull apart. Hope you enjoyed the flavor!!