These simple, crispy 5 Ingredient Peanut Butter Balls are the perfect sweet snack to curb your sweet tooth, made with pantry ingredients.
This weekend, we successfully summited Gray’s Peak! I couldn’t figure out whether the feeling of euphoria I had the whole way down was due to the high of accomplishing my goal, or whether it was thanks to my epic trail mix that kept me fueled and moving.
Snacks have a way of motivating me to my next destination: make it to that next switchback? Definitely time for that Luna bar I stashed for hungry (hungry + angry, sorry Noah) moments at 14,000 feet of altitude.
I can’t wait to give you all a bit more of a recap of the hike, but I still have so much to process myself (update: read the recap here!). I honestly couldn’t believe how easy it felt to just do it!
So many things in life are easy to put off because we simply find excuses for ourselves, like not being strong enough or prepared enough. I do wish I had made these peanut butter balls a few days later, as they didn’t even make it on our hike because we kept popping them every time we passed the freezer as ‘pre-hike fuel.’ Mmmhmm.
- ½ cup chunky peanut butter
- ⅓ cup honey or brown rice syrup
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 2 cups rice crisp cereal
- 2 teaspoons cacao nibs or mini chocolate chips
- In the microwave or a saucepan, heat peanut butter, honey, and vanilla extract together until easily combined and warm.
- Add the rice cereal and any add-ins (cacao nibs, mini chocolate chips) into the peanut butter mixture.
- Wet your hands and roll the mixture into balls slightly smaller than golf balls. You may need to rewet your hands each time you roll a new ball, and slightly crunch the ball into your palm so it sticks to itself.
- Freeze the balls for 10 minutes and eat straight from the freezer.
I couldn’t even keep my hands off of this recipe as I was taking photos – evidenced by the bite marks below. If you are looking for a tasty treat to stash in the freezer for your sweet tooth, or you need actual fuel for a workout, these 5 Ingredient Peanut Butter Balls are the ticket.
Make them gluten-free with brown rice crisp cereal, and sub brown rice syrup to make them vegan.
If you’re looking for a chocolate version, check out my Crispy Chocolate Peanut Butter Balls.
I have been loving seeing people recreating my recipes on Instagram, Twitter, or via email, so always remember to email me a picture or hashtag #uprootkitchen. I hope to feature some of your great photos and suggestions soon in a post!
Now go do yourself a favor and go make these 5 ingredient peanut butter balls so you have a tasty snack in 10 minutes.
Looking for more Bite Size Snacks + Treats? Check out my roundup here!
Marisa
Rachel Lloyd says
These look AMAZING!!!!!
Marisa says
Thanks Rachel, I appreciate your enthusiasm!! 😀
Janet Frost says
They are amazing!! I added a teaspoon of cinnamon too.
Marisa says
So glad to hear it, Janet! I love the addition of cinnamon. Enjoy!
EA-The Spicy RD says
Congrats on your summit!! I’m a huge fan of hiking, so looks forward to reading about your big hike 🙂 These crispy peanut butter balls are going on my make ASAP snack list-so yummy! I’ve made PB balls before, but never with crispy rice cereal-great idea!
Marisa says
Thank you for the congrats – it was a blast, that’s for sure! I wanted to make some snack bites that veered away from my typical nut/date mixture, and I am a big fan of rice krispies!
Cassie says
I have all this rice cereal I don’t know what to do with… thank you for this recipe xo!
Marisa says
Happy to help you brainstorm anytime 😉 I also have a recipe for almond butter s’mores bars made with rice krispies on my site if you need more ideas!
Erin @ The Almond Eater says
Ahhh congrats! These balls look amazing but I really want to her more about the summit!
Marisa says
Thank youu!! It was totally a mental game, and the summit felt so exhilarating because I have built it up for so long. So happy I did it!
Alison @ Daily Moves and Grooves says
Congrats on the making the summit! That hike must have been epic.
I love convenient, healthy snacks like these (especially when they involve peanut butter)!
Marisa says
Thanks Alison! It felt awesome! I am on the peanut butter train too- sometimes I stray to almond butter, but I always come back! Haha.
genevieve @ gratitude & greens says
Mmm, these sound great for traveling! Congrats on making it to the summit 🙂
Marisa says
Yes, I love traveling with some type of bites! These aren’t as stable since there aren’t a ton of nuts and dried fruit in them, but worth it even if they get a bit smushed 😉 Thanks!
Laurel Schmitt says
Meghan just INSISTED we make these tomorrow! You may have a new #1 fan 🙂
Marisa says
That makes me so happy to hear!! Definitely send me a picture, ladies – they are equally as good pressed into the bottom of a loaf pan covered in saran wrap or parchment paper (I just remade them tonight per Noah’s request) and then sliced into squares once chilled.
Laura Dembowski says
These are the perfect snack! So wish I had some right now.
Kelsey says
Love your blog, I made the fried rice you posted! I want to try these but do you recommend any substitutes for the rice cereal?
Marisa says
Hi Kelsey! So happy to have you following my blog! You could attempt this recipe with other cereals (I would try crushing up some so its in small pieces) but I haven’t tried it myself. Let me know if you have success!
Daniela says
Can I use instant oats instead of rice cereal?
This recipe looks delicious 🙂
Marisa says
Hi there, Daniela! I have not tried that variation so I can’t confirm that they will bind in the same way. If you end up trying it, report back for us!
danneauxs says
Chop these up into small pieces and add them to a bowl of bran flakes or any cereal that could benefit from a taste boost.
danneauxs says
Oops that was meant to be 5 stars!
Marisa says
Love that idea! Thanks for trying my recipe and rating it.
Casi says
I’m so excited to make these! My kids will love them as much as me. Any idea of the calories and nutritional info for one ball?
Marisa says
Hi Casi – I do not calculate nutritional information since it varies based on which ingredients you use. Hope you and your kiddos enjoy them!
Mark says
Delicious,I added a few chopped nuts and coconut also
Jacquelyn says
Can you please tell me the nutrition information for these.? Thank you
Marisa says
Hi Jacquelyn – I don’t calculate nutrition information for my recipes, but you can easily input them in an online calculator based on your ingredients.