Sometimes I’m absolutely astonished when I think about how long I’ve been creating low carb and keto-friendly recipes. I started this website as a hobby but it quickly became something more than I ever thought possible. And these Keto Peanut Butter Balls were one of the first desserts I ever made.
Long before store-bought keto treats were an option, I was busy experimenting to find ways to satisfy my sweet tooth. I often relied on that perennial favorite combo, chocolate and peanut butter. I practiced making things like Keto Peanut Butter Cups and Keto Peanut Butter Brownies. And of course, these delicious peanut butter truffles.
This recipe became an instant hit for both me and my readers. They are so easy to make, require no baking, and are perfect for everything from holiday cookie platters to keeping on hand for sudden cravings.
And I adapted this recipe to make other treats like Keto Peanut Butter Eggs. It’s a keeper!
Reader’s Thoughts
“These are fantastic!! My entire family said you can’t tell they are any different from the sugar filled recipe. Love them!!” — Michelle F.
Why You Will Adore This Recipe
- Easy no bake treat: These sweet treats take very little active time, and no oven required!
- Rich peanut butter flavor: The combination of peanut butter and peanut flour intensifies the flavor.
- Crisp chocolate coating: The balls are dipped in melted chocolate for the perfect crisp shell.
- Make ahead recipe: They freeze well, so you can make a big batch for parties and holidays.
- Naturally low-carb and gluten-free: They use peanut flour and keto sweeteners for a healthier sugar-free treat.
Ingredient Notes
- Butter: You can use coconut oil for a dairy free option.
- Creamy natural peanut butter: I recommend a brand that isn’t too oily, that’s already thick and rich.
- Sweetener: You can use any powdered sweetener you like best.
- Peanut flour: This is a very fine, powdery substance made by removing much of the fat. Peanut butter powder is the same thing, but make sure you use one that doesn’t contain sugar.
- Sugar-free dark chocolate: Your favorite brand will work, as long as it melts welly.
- Cocoa butter: I add this to the melted chocolate help make the coating less melty at room temperature. You can also use coconut oil.
- Salted peanuts: This is optional, but like to add a little chopped peanuts for a garnish.
- Pantry staples: Vanilla extract
How to Make Keto Peanut Butter Balls
- Melt the peanut butter: Melt the peanut butter and butter together in the microwave or in a pan on the stove over low heat.
- Add the dry ingredients: Whisk in the powdered sweetener and vanilla until dissolved. Then use a rubber spatula to work the peanut flour in until you have a stiff dough.
- Roll into balls: Roll the dough into 1-inch balls and place on a parchment lined tray. Freeze until firm.
- Prepare the coating: Melt the chocolate and cocoa butter in a heatproof bowl over a pan of barely simmering water.
- Dip the truffles: One at a time, add the frozen peanut butter balls to the melted chocolate and toss to coat.
- Garnish: If you plan to garnish with chopped peanuts, do it right away after dipping as the chocolate sets quickly.
Tips for Success
It’s important to use a powdered sweetener in this recipe, as it provide bulk and contributes to the consistency of the truffles. Granular sweeteners will make them gritty, and concentrated sweeteners won’t provide any bulk.
Make sure you choose a defatted peanut flour, rather than just using ground peanuts. Defatted flour is very fine and powdery, and important to the texture of the balls.
I always recommend melting the chocolate double-boiler style, where a heatproof bowl is set up over a pan of barely simmering water. This ensures gentle heat and reduces the chance that the chocolate will seize.
The chocolate coating will set very quickly on the frozen peanut butter balls, so be sure to add any garnish like chopped peanuts right after you dip each truffle.
You can easily turn these into classic Buckeye candy by dipping the truffles only part of the way into the chocolate. I like to spear them with a toothpick to do this.
More Keto Truffles You Will Love
Keto Peanut Butter Balls
Ingredients
Peanut Butter Filling
- 5 tbsp (71 tbsp) butter
- 1/4 cup (64.5 g) peanut butter
- 1/3 cup (60.67 g) powdered sweetener
- 1/2 tsp (0.5 tsp) vanilla extract
- 3/4 cup (90 g) lightly roasted peanut flour
Chocolate Coating:
- 3 ounces (85.05 g) sugar-free dark chocolate, chopped
- 1/2 ounce (14.17 g) cocoa butter , or 1/2 tbsp coconut oil
- 2 tbsp finely chopped salted peanuts, optional
Instructions
Cookie Dough
- Line a large baking sheet with waxed paper or parchment paper.
- In a large microwave-safe bowl, melt the butter and peanut butter together. Stir in the sweetener and vanilla extract until smooth.
- Add the peanut flour and stir until a stiff dough forms. Add more flour if your dough seems too sticky to roll into balls.
- Roll the dough into 1 inch balls and place on the prepared baking sheet. Freeze until firm, about 1 hour
Chocolate Coating
- Place the chocolate and cocoa butter in a heatproof bowl set over a pan of barely simmering water. Stir until melted and smooth.
- Drop the frozen peanut butter balls in chocolate and use a fork to roll around to coat. Lift out and tap the fork firmly against the side of the the bowl to remove excess chocolate.
- If making buckeyes, use a small skewer to dip the peanut butter balls most of the way into the chocolate, swirling to coat. Leave just the very top of the ball uncoated.
- Place back on the baking sheet and sprinkle with chopped peanuts, if desired. The chocolate will set quickly if the dough balls are frozen so sprinkle each truffle right after dipping in chocolate.
Notes
Nutrition
Frequently Asked Questions
This is a little trickier. The advantage to using peanut flour is that it’s very dry and powdery and creates a thick dough, whereas almond flour is more coarse and contains more fat. So you may find that you need some coconut flour to create the right consistency.
Peanut flour also provides much of the peanut butter flavor, so you may find that more mild when using almond flour.
Unless you live in a very hot climate, the peanut butter balls are fine on the counter in a covered container for up to 10 days. They can also be kept in the fridge for several weeks. To freeze, store the un-dipped balls in a covered container and then dip before serving.
You can also freeze the completed balls but the chocolate can take on a dull look from the freezing and thawing process.
This keto peanut butter ball recipe has 6.3g of carbs and 2.7g of fiber per serving. That comes to 3.6g net carbs for 2 truffles.
Nutritional Disclaimer
Please note that I am not a medical or nutritional professional. I am simply recounting and sharing my own experiences on this blog. Nothing I express here should be taken as medical advice and you should consult with your doctor before starting any diet or exercise program. I provide nutritional information for my recipes simply as a courtesy to my readers. It is calculated using MacGourmet software and I remove erythritol from the final carb count and net carb count, as it does not affect my own blood glucose levels. I do my best to be as accurate as possible but you should independently calculate nutritional information on your own before relying on them. I expressly disclaim any and all liability of any kind with respect to any act or omission wholly or in part in reliance on anything contained in this website.
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those truffles look outstanding!! I would have no problem devouring those tasty little treats…thanks for a great gluten free recipe!
Cheers
Dennis
I think you are cook, just now in the other way. You re making such cool things in the kitchen !! 🙂
These truffles look amazing 🙂 Can't imagine more perfect truffles at least yet 🙂
Beth and Lauren and anyone else…erythritol is a low carb sweetener so you could easily sub sugar in this recipe. If you wanted to, you could omit erythritol and stevia and put in 3/4 cup of sugar or so. You might have to experiment with it to get the sweetness you want.
Wow, those look incredibly decadent…with the perfect texture! Yummy!
oh WOW these look great! I'm curious along with Lauren – what does the erythritol do? My book club would love these, too – can't wait to test them out!
Peanut butter and chocolate are always a hit in my tummy. I love these little truffles you created. The look like the perfect companion to a good book and a cup of tea. P.S. I don't think book clubs are uncool 🙂
I love your truffles, so please ignore the fact that I'm mumbling under my breath about how you don't even look like you're old enough to have graduated college, let alone to have three kids, doggonit.
I wish I could find a book club by me, but I had to settle with being on our housing association's social committee. How lame is that? Not cool.
These look delicious. I love peanut butter and chocolate, especially dark chocolate. I don't know if I could stop at eating one or too.
I've never been cool 😉
These look fabulous! I am surprised you had leftovers, I would have been a bit greedy if I were a member of your book club hehe. I was thinking the other day that I wanted to make something peanut buttery chocolatey! These are perfect.
PS Lindt is my fave chocolate for baking!
These look super divine! Funny how life changes and what we think is cool just changes. You are now doing cool things just wrapped up a in a different package. I just recently joined a book club and really enjoy it. We are reading – "On the corner of bitter and sweet". Happy Sunday!!
yup, cookie dough balls are in trend, yours is the third one I read today :))
the photos are stunning as usual
i wanted to join a book club too but couldn't find one close to house 🙁
enjoy the rest of the weekend, Carolyn
Looks absolutely divine, just looking at it makes me drool…
Here's another low carb recipe that uses oats. It has sugar but you can easily substitute: http://easilygoodeats.blogspot.com/2010/11/no-bake-chocolate-oat-squares.html
These looks similar to the peanut butter balls I used to make. Glad you are discovering more ways to use the peanut flour and sharing it with us.
Peanut butter and chocolate the best combo ever! These look so good. You are convincing me to find some peanut flour and experiment!
This recipe is spot on! I have been craving peanut butter like crazy. I found some peanut butter powder that had only 2 carbs per search at my local health food store. I will be making this again!
What does the erythritol do? Is there anything else you could use as a replacement?
Can I use almond flour instead of peanut flour?
looks beautiful this would be lovely homemade gifts