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Do It Yourself Healthier Reese’s Peanut Butter Bites

January 14, 2013   36 Comments

Did you grow up with the commercial where the chocolate bar ended up in the peanut butter? I am probably dating myself.

DIY Reeses Peanut Butter Cup

Who doesn’t love the combination of chocolate and peanut butter? The good news is that peanut butter is a healthy food (without the added sugars and oils), so if you keep the amount of chocolate in check, you could have a relatively healthy candy.

Instead of using the oven to make these, you use your freezer. Because these are made by YOU instead of Hershey’s they need to be kept in the refrigerator or they will melt. Sad, I know. I’m not sure how they do it - though it may be that they use something called “TBHQ”.

Since you don’t have any TBHQ, you will have to use your fridge. If you do have TBHQ, can you tell me what it is?

These are simple to make and kids love them. They are a bit messy when you start to swirl them into the chocolate so don’t wear your best silk blouse.

I love these with my afternoon coffee or as a portion controlled dessert. Don’t tell your partner that you made them or they might end up gone. My husband found these addictive.

What is your favorite peanut butter and chocolate recipe?

Peanut Butter Chocolate Bites

1.6 from 25 reviews

(makes 20)

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Ingredients

½ cup crunchy natural peanut butter (with no additives)
¼ cup crushed salted pretzels
½ cup chocolate chips, melted

Instructions

To crush the salted pretzels, place them in a plastic bag and smash with your hand or the back of a large spoon. Mix peanut butter and pretzels in a small bowl and chill in the freezer until firm for 20 minutes. Using a teaspoon measure, make 20 balls and place them on a parchment paper lined baking sheet. Freeze balls for 2 hours or overnight.

Melt chocolate in microwave on medium for 1 minute. Stir, then continue microwaving for 20 second intervals until melted. Roll frozen peanut butter balls in melted chocolate and refrigerate until chocolate is set, about 20 minutes.

Nutrition Facts

For one ball: 64 calories, 4 g fat, 1 g saturated fat, 5 g carbohydrates, 3.0 g sugar, 2 g protein, 1 g fiber, 53 mg sodium, 2 SmartPts

Points values are calculated by Snack Girl and are provided for information only. See all Snack Girl Recipes

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36 Comments:

I make something similar, but use mini cupcake paper and pour melted chocolate on top, then freeze. Kind of a lazy version. Love the idea of using crushed pretzels.

I do experimental baking and use my office mates as guinea pigs (they love it) and I will definitely make these and bring them in. No experiment here!!!

I make a protein packed peanut butter snack that my kids think is candy, but so much healthier. Combine equal amounts (I use 1/2 c.) peanut butter, powdered milk, wheat germ, and honey to make a dough. Roll bite size pieces in cocoa powder and wrap in wax paper squares. I keep them in the refrigerator.

Huge hit! Kids love'em too!

Yum!!! Thank you! Also like the cupcake liner idea above.

So happy to have found your blog... Love this recipe. Great way to satisfy a craving. I'm thinking I may make these and pop them in the freezer!!

Melanie please publish the recipe. How much powdered milk etc. thanks

Hmmm - I think I'll try mixing the peanut butter protein recipe (thank you Melanie - equal parts, got it!) with some pretzel balls, then drizzling dark chocolate over the top of each cluster. I'll still get all the flavors but not so many calories.

Thanks Snack girl!

Thanks for the suggestion! I'd make a healthier version with raw almond butter, gluten-free pretzels, and melted 90% dark chocolate. And/or experiment with ground nuts, cacao nibs, coconut, flax seeds, chia seeds, etc. in lieu of the pretzels. Options are endless. Yummy!

Fabulous recipe! I love chocolate, pretzels and peanut butter together! Yummy!!

I bet that if you used the dark or milk chocolate candy melts that are designed for this purpose, instead of chocolate chips, they wouldn't need to be refrigerated after they are set up...

"You got your peanut butter on my chocolate!"

"You got your chocolate in my peanut butter!"

"Mmmmmmmm!"

Oh yea, I remember those. I always thought the way that commercial candy makers did it was to use wax in the chocolate. Could TBHQ have something to do with wax perhaps?

Actually, never mind. I found the TBHQ by googling that plus the word candy. Here it is: http://www.kraftchemical.com/products/food/candy/tbhq.aspx

Also had googled and this is the first two paragraphs:

(NaturalNews) TBHQ is used in many foods, ranging from crackers to crisps to fast foods. It is also found in certain brands of pet foods, as well as in cosmetic and baby skincare products, varnish, lacquers and resins. It is used in the stabilisation process of explosive compounds. The risks and side-effects of this preservative product far outweigh the benefit of it being used as a highly unsafe preservative ingredient.

Tertiary Butylhydroquinone, or TBHQ as it is more commonly referred to as, is in fact a chemical preservative which is a form of butane. It is used in foodstuffs to delay the onset of rancidness and greatly extends the storage life of foods. It's no wonder that certain fast foods and convenience foods seem to last a lifetime on the shelf these days.

Learn more: http://www.naturalnews.com/031318_TBHQ_food_preservatives.h…

In Ohio, we call these Buckeyes leaving a little of the PB exposed to look the tree nut it is named after. There is nothing healthy about them because we use lots of butter and sugar. This will be a good alternative to try out!

I have read that coconut oil with make hard shell chocolate out of regular chocolate. That might work.

Chocolate and peanut butter...probably the best combination there is in the food world. For times when you need a fix, I have just found "UNREAL" chocolate. Interesting concept of trying to unjunk our treats. I must say their chocolate peanut butter cups are amazing. Half the sugar, no additives, preservatives, GMOs, corn syrups, etc. Snack girl...would love you to give them a review!!!

Snack Girl, could you use the PB2 versus real peanute butter?

Can I use PB2 for this recipe?

Whoopsy, didn't notice someone already asked that same question...sorry...

read the China sStudy and you will never eat peanut butter again ! extremely cancerous! I grew up on it!

I make lots of candy at the holidays and use the chocolate chips but add a little of parafin wax which gives a shine and will harden.

I think my kids would love making these as much as eating them. Could you make these with a semi-sweet chocolate? I am booking marking the recipe.

Peanut butter and chocolate combination, sounds really yummy.

TBHQ. I noticed it at Halloween on the Reese's mini cups that unapprovingly made their way into our home. When I found out it was a form of butane, I gave them to the devil neighbor kids. Interestingly, Aldi carries some mini peanut butter cups that do not contain TBHQ!

I love your No Bake Peanut Butter Cookie Balls recipie with some modifications. I use my food processor to grind old fashioned oats. I reduce the flour by half (replacing with ground oats) and use white whole wheat flour (instead of white flour). Then I mix in low sugar whipped peanut butter and agave nectar. I roll the mixture into balls and then roll the balls into mini-chocolate chips and refrigerate or freeze them. Everywhere I take them, people love them. The Agave Nectar is a low glycemic liquid sugar which is great for diabetics and it's not too sweet. I just love any peanut butter and chocolate combo that is healty.

In regard to the candy needing to be in the fridge, it's the same as the oil in the peanut butter at room temperature. Think of a shortening vs. oil at room temperature. The more solid the fat, the more solid it will be at room temperature. (also the more solid it will be in your arteries!) Food scientists use different combinations of fats, finding the one that works best in the candy so it won't melt at room temperature or in your hand. (think M&M's - melts in your mouth, not in your hand. )

I didn't have good luck with this recipe. Even after freezing overnight the pb and pretzels were still runny. I used Trader Joe's natural peanut butter. I'm thinking that may have been the problem. Has anyone else had success and can share so I have better luck next time? Thanks.

Hmmm... I can't have peanut butter or chocolate (and oh, how I miss them) but I can do sunbutter. My fave part of these would probably be the filling anyway. I may have to try something in the place of the pretzels (unless I try g-f ones). I have been making something else but they include powdered sugar and I can't find something healthier to replace it.

Lisa, you are awesome!

Tami, FYI and I haven't managed to actually get around to making these yet, but since we have one who just doesn't like pretzels (not me!!!) I am planning to use Rice Krispies, as I am fantasizing some kind of platypus-thing which combines the Reese's PB cups w/ a Nestle's Crunch. We'll see!

Even Jif Creamy peanut butter would add 12g sugar for the recipe or 0.6g per ball (assuming natural PB has no added sugar) and no trans fats. Unless I'm missing something, the argument against "regular" peanut butter seems to be paper thin (and really, in case I am missing something I'm looking to learn).

If I were to not use pretzels.. How many calories would that make the candy?

What do you think of "Better then Butter" faux peanut butter? I purchase it at Trader Joes. Taste wise it fine. Works for me but nutritionally..... Thoughts?

Those chocolate/peanut butter thingies sound yummy!

Whenever I have to crush pretzels (or cookies, crackers or wafers) I put them in a plastic bag and crush the in a few passes with a rolling pin to the consistency I want! Sure is a lot faster and easier for me!

oh. em. gee. i just made these and they are SO good! any tips on NOT eating them all in one sitting?? :-)

Hi Lisa!

First of all, I love your web site...so thank you for publishing ways to make recipes healthier!!!I am searching for healthy desserts and I have a question...in the Peanut Butter Chocolate Bites...what type of chocolate chips do you recommend? The recipe just states chocolate chips. Depending on the type would change the fat and sugar content I would think. Thanks so much!

Have a great day! Trish

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