Peanut Butter Balls – a Christmas tradition

Yesterday we had our traditional Christmas Tree Decorating Party.  We had our normal sparkling cider, deviled eggs, cheese ball, and Erik’s favorite chocolate balls.  We were missing the cresent rolls (no pop-top cans here), little smokies, and eggnog (haven’t worked up the nerve to make a homemade version yet), but did get to add samosas (yum, yum.)

Thankfully most of our ornaments are pretty light, as our Christmas tree branches aren’t as supple and full as the ones you get at Lowes.  All the heavy ones we just put next to the trunk.  (Yes, Dad, we could almost cut it down with a pocket knife!!)  The bonus, it’s in a pot so we can plant it after Christmas.

It was fun to continue one of our traditions from before, just in little different setting and with some minor changes.  Here’s the recipe for the chocolate balls – Erik’s favorite Christmas treat.  (I’ll try to get some pictures up soon – need to get Erik to show me how to upload pics with a small enough resolution that it doesn’t take all day!)

Grandma Hayes’ Peanut Butter Balls

4 cups (1 qt) peanut butter

2 cups (1 lb) margerine

8 cups (2 lbs) powdered sugar

about 5 cups (36 oz) chocolate chips (or bourneville candy bars)

wax/paraffin (for cooking)

Melt margerine, add peanut butter and powdered sugar. Shape into balls and chill in fridge. Melt chocolate and a few shavings of wax in microwave or over double boiler. Dip balls in chocolate/wax and put back in fridge. Makes about 125 large marble sized balls. Store in fridge.

An easier recipe (where you don’t have to make the balls and dip them in chocolate) is:

Reese’s Peanut Butter Bars

1/3 cup butter

2 cups peanut butter

4 cups powdered sugar

12 oz chocolate chips

Cream first 3 ingredients together. Press into 9”x13” pan. Melt chocolate and spread over peanut butter mixture. Cut into squares and then place in fridge to harden.