Easy, no-bake vegan white chocolate peanut butter balls with Rice Krispies (peanut butter snowballs) require just 4 ingredients for a super crunchy, sweet, and delicious crowd-pleasing treat! Gluten-free, dairy-free, vegan, & optionally sugar-free!
4-Ingredient Peanut Butter Balls Recipe with Rice Krispies
If you love homemade rice Krispie treats, peanut butter, and/or peanut butter snowballs, then get ready to fall in love with a treat that combines all three- delicious, moreish white chocolate peanut butter balls with Rice Krispies (aka crispy peanut butter snowballs). But vegan, of course!
These simple no-bake rice crispy peanut butter balls combine creamy peanut butter, powdered sugar (or sugar alternative), and crispy rice cereal to create a decadent, sweet, crunchy filling rolled into balls and dipped into melted white chocolate (dairy-free) for a super simple yet decadent treat.
Following 15 minutes in the freezer to set, these family-friendly (aka child-approved) treats are packed with texture and ready to enjoy. Gobble them immediately or save them for lunch boxes, after-school snacking, parties, and the holidays (especially Christmas time)! I’ve even gifted them as part of a Christmas cookie tray (with PBJ thumbprint cookies and raisin oatmeal cookies), with plenty of praise.
Plus, this version is not only 100% dairy-free and vegan, but you could make it sugar-free, too, for healthy peanut butter rice crisp balls, or even increase the flavor with several add-ins and/or toppings listed below!
The Ingredients
Just four simple ingredients make up these super delicious, crunchy, no-bake peanut butter balls with Rice Krispies.
- Peanut butter: Use creamy peanut butter (rather than drippy natural peanut butter) for the best consistency. Smooth or crunchy peanut butter works in this easy peanut butter balls recipe.
- Powdered sugar: Use regular icing sugar or a sugar-free version, like powdered erythritol.
- Crispy rice cereal: Kellogg’s Rice Krispies aren’t actually vegan-friendly. However, there are several vegan-friendly puffed rice cereal options in grocery stores, health food stores, or online.
- Vegan white chocolate: Vegan white chocolate chips (melted) is what gives these peanut butter snowballs their ‘snowball’ look. However, you could also use semi-sweet chocolate for regular peanut butter balls with Rice Krispies. Use sugar-free chocolate if desired.
To make the dairy-free white chocolate easier to work with, you may also want to add a spoonful of either vegetable shortening or melted coconut oil.
What Could I Add To The Rice Crispy Peanut Butter Balls?
- Vanilla: Add a small amount of vanilla to enhance the dessert-like flavor of the peanut butter filling.
- Spices: Enhance the flavor further with a dash of spices such as cinnamon, pumpkin spice, chai spice, gingerbread, etc.
- Salt: If the peanut butter you use contains no salt, adding a pinch to the mixture will help to balance the sweetness and enhance the overall flavor of the rice crispy peanut butter balls.
Decorating Peanut Butter Rice Crispy Treats
After chilling the crispy peanut butter balls and dipping them in the melted vegan chocolate, feel free to add a topping to the melted dairy-free chocolate, like:
- Crushed nuts
- Crushed cookies (like Oreos)
- Sprinkles
- More vegan chocolate (drizzled in a zigzag pattern)
- Flaky sea salt
- Shredded coconut
How to Make Crispy Peanut Butter Snowballs?
Follow just four super simple steps to prepare this family favorite recipe for dairy-free chocolate peanut butter balls with Rice Krispies.
- 1) First, combine the peanut butter, icing sugar, and rice cereal in a bowl and mix well.
- 2) Using a small cookie scoop or melon baller, scoop the mixture into small balls and transfer them to wax or parchment-paper-lined baking tray. Transfer it to the freezer for around 15 minutes for the balls to harden.
- 3) Then, melt the vegan white chocolate chips in a tall bowl using a double boiler (placing a small heat-proof bowl over a pot of simmering water - make sure the water isn’t touching the bottom of the bowl). Alternatively, use the microwave (heat for one minute, then in 20-second increments, stirring in between to avoid scorching).
- 4) Use a fork to dip each of the frozen peanut butter bonbons into the melted veegan chocolate, then transfer them back to the sheet and return to the freezer until solid (about 15 minutes). Enjoy!
Tap the fork against the side of the bowl to remove excess vegan chocolate before transferring the crispy peanut butter balls back to the tray.
FAQs
That should work, though I recommend crushing up any firmer type of cereal, like flakes, vegan cheerios, etc., as they’re firmer. Graham crackers crushed into crumbs would also work.
You can omit the cereal if you want to make a more traditional peanut butter snowball recipe. However, both the peanut butter and confectioners’ sugar will need to be increased, using enough sugar to make a rollable dough consistency.
Yes, you can use a different type of nut or seed butter. I.e., almond butter, sunflower seed butter, cashew butter, pistachio butter, etc. You could even use a vegan Nutella. You may need to adjust the amount of confectioners’ sugar accordingly.
You could possibly use your favorite protein powder instead. I recommend using a vanilla or peanut butter flavored one. If using unflavored protein powder, I recommend still including some sweetener (to taste).
Top Recipe Tips and Notes
- Adjust the texture: Leave the cereal whole or crush it (a little or a lot), to adjust the inner texture of the peanut butter rice Krispie treats. However, the more you crush it, the more you may need, as you'll lose volume.
- If you can’t form the balls: If the mixture is too thin, add a little more powdered sugar, a couple of spoonfuls at a time, until it’s formable.
- Enjoy as balls or bars: Instead of balls, spread the mixture into a parchment-lined baking tin and pour the melted vegan chocolate over the top. After chilling, slice them into delicious peanut butter rice Krispie bars.
Storage Instructions
Store: After preparing the dairy-free white chocolate peanut butter balls, transfer them to an airtight container or Ziplock/Stasher bag and store them in the refrigerator for up to 5 days.
Freeze: These rice crispy peanut butter balls will last up to 3 months in an airtight container/freezer bag. Allow one to thaw at room temperature for about 10-15 minutes before enjoying it.
More Vegan Treats
- Easy Vegan Pumpkin Muffins
- Mini chocolate chip banana muffins
- Dehydrator Apple Chips [+ Air Fryer]
- Blueberry zucchini muffins
- Mango yogurt popsicles
- Soft gluten-free pumpkin cookies
- Vegan Peanut Butter Blondies [PB&J Blondie Bars]
If you try these easy peanut butter balls with Rice Krispies (peanut butter snowballs recipe), I’d love to know what you think in the comments below. I’d also really appreciate a recipe card rating!
Photos by Alfonso Revilla
Peanut Butter Balls with Rice Krispies
Equipment
- measuring cup
- measuring spoon
- baking tray
Ingredients
- ¾ cup of creamy peanut butter
- 1 cup of puffed rice cereal
- 1 Tablespoon of powdered sugar
- 1 ½ cups of vegan white chocolate chips
Instructions
- Combine the peanut butter, sugar, and rice crispies in a bowl.
- Using a small cookie scoop or melon baller), scoop the mixture into small balls and put on a cookie tray lined with wax or parchment paper. Put the tray in the freezer until the balls harden, about 15 minutes.
- Melt the vegan chocolate.
- Dip the frozen peanut butter bonbons into the melted vegan chocolate and put them back onto the wax paper and return to the freezer. Allow them to freeze, for about another 15 minutes. Put in an airtight container or a bag and leave in the fridge.
Notes
- Adjust the texture: Leave the cereal whole or crush it (a little or a lot), to adjust the inner texture of the peanut butter rice Krispie treats. However, the more you crush it, the more you may need, as you'll lose volume.
- If you can’t form the balls: If the mixture is too thin, add a little more powdered sugar, a couple of spoonfuls at a time, until it’s formable.
- Enjoy as balls or bars: Instead of balls, spread the mixture into a parchment-lined baking tin and pour the melted vegan chocolate over the top. After chilling, slice them into delicious peanut butter rice Krispie bars.
Nutrition
Disclaimer: Although foodsharingvegan.com attempts to provide accurate nutritional information, kindly note that these are only estimates. Nutritional information may be affected based on the product type, the brand that was purchased, and in other unforeseeable ways. Foodsharingvegan.com will not be held liable for any loss or damage resulting for your reliance on nutritional information. If you need to follow a specific caloric regimen, please consult your doctor first.
Choclette says
Your peanut butter balls look so good. It's hard to beat a crisped rice treat and these ones have gone on my list to make for the festive season.
Andrea says
They're the perfect festive sweet treat!
Camilla says
I loved making these. Quick and easy to make. The kids love them!
Andrea says
Gotta love and appreciate the easy ones! We're obsessed with this sweet treat!
Jess says
The perfect sweet treat!
Andrea says
Yess! It'll definitely satisfy your sweet tooth!
Holly says
I love these peanut butter balls! I took them to a Christmas dessert party and they were devoured! I'm now planning to give them as neighbor gifts. 😊
Andrea says
That's so awesome to hear! Hope everyone enjoys them 🙂
Katie says
These were insanely delicious, and they were so easy to make!
Andrea says
Gotta love the easy ones!
Tina says
These are so fun! I think they would be perfect for a cookie exchange.
Andrea says
Love that idea!
nancy says
who doesn't like a 4 ingredients rice kripsies. so easy to make and everyone loves
Andrea says
Right?! So simple and easy to make and enjoy!
Vaishali says
Love this recipe Tina..So easy and the step by step pictures are really helpful.
Andrea says
You and me both! It's a yummy treat!
Tavo says
That was super easy to make. I will undoubtedly continue to make this recipe over and over.
Andrea says
You and me both! So so good!
Andrea says
Such a fun tasty holiday treat!
nancy says
omg these are so addicting. pinned this white chocolate peanut butter balls for later
Andrea says
Love it! Hope you enjoy them 🙂