Our favorite Christmas Cookie Recipe (Shhh…TOP SECRET!)

This week, the kids and I all got messy and dug our hands into a bowl of one of the yummiest Christmas memories I have from childhood.

My Grandma’s peanut butter balls.

She made hundreds of these in her lifetime and I’m pretty sure I have eaten hundreds in mine!

They are a favorite in our family and each Christmas we make these and give as gifts to friends.  I make them for every Christmas party we attend and my husband’s office anticipates these every holiday season.

I know, they are just that good!

And today I am sharing my top secret recipe with each of you because I like you SO much.

One one condition.  Please remember my Grandma when you make them.

Grandma Irene’s Peanut Butter Balls

Ingredients:

1 stick butter

1 18 oz. jar of Peanut Butter (creamy is my favorite)

2 1/2 cups Rice Krispies cereal

1 lb. powered sugar

1 Bar Paraffin Wax (Gulf Wax is the brand I use)

1 bag (12 oz.) Semi-Sweet chocolate chips

Directions:

First soften butter and peanut butter in a bowl together.  You do not want it runny so DO NOT melt completely.

Stir and mix the two well together.

In a large bowl, stir the Rice Krispies and powdered sugar together.  Add the peanut butter mixture.

This is the part where it gets messy but fun.  Mix all the ingredients together until well blended.  I usually start with a big spoon but have found my hands to be the best tool in mixing it all up!

Then roll the mixture in balls about the size of walnuts.  Cake ball size if you will–just enough for about two bites.

Put the balls in the freezer for about an hour or longer.  I usually leave mine in overnight.

Melt 3/4- 1 bar of the paraffin wax and the FULL bag of chocolate chips in a double broiler pan. (If there is too much wax, the chocolate will be runny and will not coat the balls well.  I would recommend starting with less than a full bar of wax, then add if you need it.)

Once the chocolate is melted, dip the peanut butter balls in the chocolate.  I use toothpicks.

Place on some wax paper when finished to dry.

Makes 40-50 balls.  (I usually double this recipe and I think you will too!  They go quickly!)

I freeze them until I am ready to eat them or give them away!

I love celebrating family traditions and keeping special recipes alive.  What is your favorite Christmas dish to make?