Peanut Butter Pretzel Balls

Jonathan and I are really loving it here in Iowa.  We've made some sweet friends already, and one couple likes to have us over for game night, so this is one of the treats I made for snack-time between games :)  I saw the recipe online and it looked simple, and boy, was I glad I made them!  For some crazy reason, the combination of peanut butter, pretzels, and chocolate resulted in a sweet and salty treat that tastes so similar to a Butterfinger.  My friends loved them, too!  Here's the recipe:

1/2 cup creamy peanut butter, plus 1 Tbsp. (divided)
1/4 cup plus 1 Tbsp. confectioner's sugar
1 Tbsp. unsalted butter, at room temperature
1 cup crushed pretzels
5 ounces melted chocolate

Stir together 1/2 cup peanut butter, powdered sugar, butter, and pretzels.  Form into 1" balls and set on plate or cookie sheet.  Put in freezer to firm up (about 30 minutes).  Melt chocolate over low heat or in microwave (monitor closely in microwave to prevent scorching).  When chocolate is almost melted, add 1 Tbsp. peanut butter and stir into chocolate.  Continue melting until smooth.  Dip balls into chocolate, coating evenly.  Refrigerate or freeze until set.

Erin's tip:  To dip balls into chocolate, place into chocolate, roll ball around in the chocolate with a fork to coat, then pick up the ball onto the fork and tap the fork on the side of the bowl.  This helps remove excess chocolate so you don't have a puddle of chocolate form at the base of the ball.  It also helps you not have a crazy mess on your hands (literally!).

Finger-licking good!

Adapted from:  Blog is the New Black