Save to Pinterest Festive, colorful candy balls that resemble holiday ornaments perfect for gifting or decorating your dessert table.
I enjoy making these candy balls every holiday season as a fun and delicious treat that everyone loves.
Ingredients
- Base: 2 cups vanilla wafer cookies, finely crushed, 1 cup powdered sugar, 1 cup finely chopped pecans or walnuts
- Binding and Flavor: 1/2 cup creamy peanut butter, 1/4 cup unsalted butter, softened, 3 tbsp milk, 1 tsp vanilla extract
- Coating & Decoration: 1 1/2 cups white chocolate chips or candy melts, assorted holiday sprinkles, colored sugars, or edible glitter, mini pretzel sticks or licorice strings (for ornament hooks)
Instructions
- Step 1:
- In a large bowl, combine crushed vanilla wafers, powdered sugar, and chopped nuts.
- Step 2:
- Add peanut butter, softened butter, milk, and vanilla extract. Mix until a thick, cohesive dough forms.
- Step 3:
- Roll dough into 1-inch balls and place on a parchment-lined tray.
- Step 4:
- Chill balls in the refrigerator for 15 minutes to firm up.
- Step 5:
- Meanwhile, melt white chocolate chips or candy melts according to package instructions.
- Step 6:
- Dip each chilled ball into melted chocolate, allowing excess to drip off.
- Step 7:
- Place dipped balls back onto the tray and immediately decorate with holiday sprinkles or edible glitter.
- Step 8:
- Before the coating sets, gently press a mini pretzel stick or small piece of licorice into each ball to create an ornament hook.
- Step 9:
- Refrigerate until set, about 10 minutes. Serve or package for gifting.
Save to Pinterest This candy ball recipe always brings my family together during the holidays for fun decorating sessions and tasty treats.
Required Tools
Mixing bowl, spoon or spatula, measuring cups and spoons, baking tray, parchment paper, microwave-safe bowl (for melting chocolate)
Allergen Information
Contains Peanuts or tree nuts (depending on nut choice) milk gluten (unless using gluten-free wafers) May contain soy (in chocolate) Always check ingredient labels for potential allergens
Nutritional Information
Calories 140 Total Fat 7 g Carbohydrates 17 g Protein 2 g per serving
Save to Pinterest These ornament candy balls are simple to make and sure to impress your holiday guests.
Recipe FAQs
- → What nuts can I use as an alternative in this treat?
You can swap pecans or walnuts for almond or sunflower seed butter to accommodate nut-free preferences.
- → Can I vary the chocolate coating?
Yes, you can use dark or milk chocolate melts instead of white chocolate for different flavors.
- → How should these be stored to maintain freshness?
Store the candy balls in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to one week.
- → Can this be made gluten-free?
Use gluten-free vanilla wafers to make the candy balls suitable for gluten-sensitive diets.
- → What is the purpose of the mini pretzel sticks or licorice strings?
They serve as ornament hooks, adding a decorative and festive touch to the candy balls.