Walnut Balls Recipe

Rich, buttery, and utterly irresistible, these walnut balls are the perfect sweet treats for any occasion. With a creamy peanut butter center, crunchy walnut coating, and a sweet powdered sugar shell, they’re sure to satisfy your sweet tooth and impress your friends and family.

Ready Time

30 mins

Yields

10 servings

Ingredients

2 tablespoons unsalted butter, softened
1/2 cup creamy peanut butter
1/4 cup confectioners’ sugar
1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract
1/4 teaspoon salt
1 cup chopped walnuts
1 1/2 cups powdered sugar
Optional: 1/4 cup chopped pecans or hazelnuts

Instructions

In a large mixing bowl, cream together the softened butter and peanut butter until smooth and creamy. Add the confectioners’ sugar, vanilla extract, and salt to the bowl and mix until well combined.

Stir in the chopped walnuts and mix until the walnuts are evenly distributed throughout the peanut butter mixture.

Cover the bowl with plastic wrap and refrigerate the mixture for at least 30 minutes to allow it to firm up. Once the mixture has chilled, use a small cookie scoop or your hands to shape the mixture into small balls, about 1 inch in diameter.

You should end up with around 10 walnut balls.

Place the powdered sugar in a shallow dish and roll each walnut ball in the sugar to coat, pressing the sugar gently onto the ball to ensure it sticks. If desired, roll the sugar-coated walnut balls in chopped pecans or hazelnuts for an extra layer of texture and flavor.

Place the coated walnut balls on a baking sheet lined with parchment paper and refrigerate them for at least 30 minutes to set.

Once set, the walnut balls are ready to serve. You can store them in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 5 days.

Notes

Make sure to soften the butter to room temperature for easy creaming with the peanut butter.

If the peanut butter is too thick, you can microwave it for 10-15 seconds to loosen it up.

Don’t overmix the peanut butter mixture, as it can become too sticky and difficult to work with.

If using optional nuts, be gentle when rolling the walnut balls to avoid breaking them.

Keep an eye on the walnut balls while they’re chilling, as the powdered sugar can start to absorb into the peanut butter mixture if left for too long.

Perfect for a quick snack or as a sweet treat for a party, these walnut balls can be made ahead of time and stored in the refrigerator for up to 5 days.