Farmhouse Peanut Butter - Chocolate Balls (no Cook!)

Total Time: 3 hrs Preparation Time: 1 hr Cook Time: 2 hrs

Ingredients

• 2 cups crushed graham cracker crumbs
• 2 cups powdered sugar
• 2 cups creamy peanut butter (see note in step #2)
• 1/4 cup melted butter
• 2 -3 cups chocolate chips (or 1 lb dipping chocolate)
• 1 -2 tablespoon shortening
• wax paper
• baking sheet

Recipe

• 1 in a large mixing bowl, mix crumbs, sugar, peanut butter and melted butter.
• 2 test its "hold-together-ness" by compressing a handful in your hand; if it doesn't hold together easily, then add some more peanut butter and mix again.
• 3 form into small balls using your hands; place close together on a large cookie sheet.
• 4 chill the balls for at least an hour (i put mine in a cabinet in the back porch overnight -- it's like a freezer out there in december!).
• 5 make the dipping chocolate: melt chips & shortening in small mixing bowl in microwave (only 2 or 3 minutes), stirring until smooth. add an extra tablespoon of shortening if the chocolate is thick-ish -- you want it to be drippy.
• 6 spread waxed paper on the counter or table, with a cookie sheet beneath.
• 7 using a fork under the ball, dip into the chocolate; scrape fork off against side of the bowl; set the ball on the waxed paper.
• 8 repeat until all balls are dipped.
• 9 note: you may have to zap the chocolate in the microwave if you don't work quickly to get it all drippy again.
• 10 do not add water thinking it will make the chocolate more liquid-y!
• 11 chill the balls again until chocolate is set.
• 12 store in lidded container with waxed paper between layers of balls.
• 13 or store in small candy paper cups (like the real candy-makers use).