Bug bites chocolate peanut butter balls

Bug Bites Peanut Butter Balls Recipe

Looking for a fun, creative and creepy treat for your loved ones this Halloween? Look no further. Our Bug Bites recipe features peanut butter, chocolate, crispy rice cereal and pretzels in a delicious bite-size package. Simple and fun to make, they require just a little assembly while bringing plenty of creepy-crawly fun to your Halloween celebrations.

Yield: 10 to 12 bugs

Inspired? Create and share by tagging @hallmarkstores.

Ingredients

1 cup peanut butter
¼ cup butter, room temperature
1 cup powdered sugar
2 cups crisped rice cereal
Bamboo skewers for dipping
2 cups chocolate chips
2 Tbsp. vegetable shortening
Candy-covered chocolate pieces for eyes
Large pretzels, broken into curves, for legs

Directions

  1. In a large bowl, beat peanut butter, butter and sugar with an electric mixer on medium speed until thoroughly combined. Add cereal and mix well.
  2. Scoop rounded teaspoon-sized portions from the mixture and shape into balls with clean hands. Place on a parchment-lined baking sheet and refrigerate for 30 minutes.
  3. Attach peanut butter balls to skewers before dipping in chocolate. Set up an area where peanut butter balls can remain upright on the skewers while cooling/drying. Line area with waxed paper to catch drips.
  4. Melt chocolate chips and shortening in small saucepan, over low heat, stirring constantly. Dip peanut butter balls in chocolate. Add the candy eyes while the chocolate is still warm.
  5. Refrigerate for 15 minutes. Then carefully insert the pretzel legs into the peanut butter balls. Refrigerate for another 15 minutes. Remove skewers, and then serve.