Peanut Butter Balls

I made a batch of these with green sprinkles for St Patrick's Day. They're sooooo yummy!! I'm not sure if there will be any left by the 17th!  You could make them for any occasion by simply changing the sprinkle colors or leave off the sprinkles. The taste is very similar to homemade peanut butter eggs that the local churches sell around Easter time. If you like the combination of peanut butter and chocolate you will absolutely LOVE these!!

1 cup creamy peanut butter
1 1/2 cups powdered sugar
5 tablespoons butter or margarine at room temperature
1/2 teaspoon vanilla
1 bag chocolate chips (semi sweet or milk chocolate)
sprinkles (optional)

Mix the first 4 ingredients in a large bowl until it forms a dough.  Roll dough into 1" balls and set on a wax paper-lined cookie sheet; chill 1 hour.  Melt chocolate chips in a double boiler or in the microwave (50% power, 20 sec increments) stir until completely melted.  Dip peanut butter balls in melted chocolate to coat.  Place in mini cupcake papers, top with sprinkles and chill until chocolate is set.  Makes about 40 peanut butter balls.

Here's what this same recipe looks like as peanut butter eggs

Recipe adapted from "Parents" magazine