Peanut Butter Balls

Since we got peanut butter on the brain after the Tasting Party, we thought this was the perfect time to talk about peanut butter balls. They are quick and easy and kids love them! Of course, as with most things in the kitchen, you can play around and get creative with the basic recipe and do whatever you want.

In the balls pictured up above, we used the Earth Balance Peanut Butter that was recently honored at the Peanut Butter Tasting Party along with Agave, one of our new best friends. Also, instead of using an entire cup of powdered milk, we used half milk and half protein powder just to add a little something in the way of extra protein and nutrients. Cascadian Farm Organic Purely O's was our choice of cereal today, because it contains no sugar and still tastes great - a winning combination in our book!

As far as how much cereal to use, I swear it depends on the day, the hour, and the minute you make them. I don't know, maybe the weather or the moon cycle or planet alignment has something to do with it, but from day to day, I never know how much cereal I'm going to need. It all comes down to the peanut butter and honey/agave and how well the cereal incorporates itself within that "dough". As you slowly pour the cereal into the mixing bowl, just keep an eye on how well the peanut butter grabs it and pulls it in. You don't want a bunch of O's flying around the bowl unable to stick to the dough. Remember, you have to be able to form little balls with this stuff, so start with 1-1/2 cups, keep your eye on the prize and make a judgement call when it comes to quantity.

Deep, deep, deep in my heart, I believe there's a connection between whether you choose agave or honey and how much cereal you will use. The half cup honey will give you more sticking power, so you will probably use more cereal and the mere three tablespoons of agave is probably going to stick less, so less cereal would be used. It's just a theory, but I'm sticking with it.....


Peanut Butter Balls

1/2 Cup Peanut Butter
2 Tablespoons Butter
3 Tablespoons Agave OR 1/2 Cup Honey
One Cup Powdered Milk
1-1/2 Cups Purely O's/Oatios/Cherrios
One Teaspoon Vanilla

Heat butter and honey or agave in pan until warm and thinned. Remove from heat. Drop your powdered milk, peanut butter, and vanilla in a mixing bowl and mix well. Add the warmed butter honey/agave to the mix and beat until it forms a sort of dough. Add cereal until well coated. Form into small balls, or BIG balls - whichever you want!

Eat immediately!

Or later!

Or both!

Just Have Fun!