Peanut Butter Balls
Ingredients:
1 2/3 cups smooth or crunchy peanut butter
1 cup butter, melted
5 1/2 cups confectioner’s sugar
4 cups semi-sweet chocolate chips
1 teaspoon shortening
Directions:
In a large bowl, use a mixer and beat together peanut butter and butter, gradually adding powdered sugar. Beat until smooth. Use your hands to warm, roll and shape into 1 inch balls. Refrigerate on a baking sheet for abut 45 minutes. Using the double boiler method melt half the chocolate chips and half the shortening. Stir until smooth. You can also melt this very carefully checking every 15 to 30 seconds in the microwave. Dip cold peanut butter balls in chocolate, allowing excess to drip off. You can use a toothpick to roll and dip if you like. Place on a wire rack or waxed paper and refrigerate until firm. Repeat by melting remaining chocolate chips and shortening. Cover and store in the refrigerator. Makes about 5 dozen.
Notes:
You can freeze these. Also, instead of chocolate chips the chocolate discs available at hobby and cake decorating stores also work great for these. No shortening needed and you can melt them easily in the microwave.
