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Home Recipes Desserts No Bake
4.7 from 6 reviews

No Bake Peanut Butter Crunch Balls

10 mins
GF Gluten-Free DF Dairy-Free V Vegan VG Vegetarian EF Egg-Free
by: Lindsay Grimes
January 26, 2018 (Updated: March 2, 2022)
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This is a side image of a chocolate coated peanut butter ball with a bite taken out of it. The ball sits on a white counter with a white background and more peanut butter balls blurred in the background.
Crunchy No Bake Peanut Butter Balls made with puffed quinoa are the perfect sweet treat! They’re the perfect vegan + gluten free snack!

Ok story time. When I was younger, there was this food store by us called Zagara’s. I always thought the name was pretty fun to say.

They tasted like a Reese’s peanut butter cups in ball form with crunchy rice crispies spread throughout. Ugh, they were so good. At some point when I was in high school, Zagara’s closed and those crunchy peanut butter balls of delight were no more.

This is an overhead image of chocolate coated peanut butter balls. The chocolate is still shiny and melted. The balls sit on a white background.

I trecked on. I went back to my peanut butter cup ways and went on with my life. But, I never forgot. They were filed in the back of my brain as a love lost. Whenever I saw something that resembled my beloved peanut butter ball, my heart would fill with hope. Would they have that same special crunch?

They never did.

And then puffed quinoa came into my life. In some breath of fate, I knew what needed to be done. So, I crafted these delicious Peanut Butter Crunch Balls in loving memory of Zagara’s. They taste pretty much the identical. And, in the last week since first crafting this recipe, I have made them three times.

This is an overhead image of chocolate covered peanut butter balls. Some balls are sliced in half revealing a crunchy texture. The balls sit on a white background.

Ingredients for crispy peanut butter balls:

  • natural peanut butter
  • agave nectar (honey or maple syrup works)
  • vanilla
  • almond flour
  • sea salt
  • puffed quinoa

How to make no bake peanut butter balls:

Whisk together the natural peanut butter, agave nectar (honey or maple syrup works), and vanilla. Add the almond flour and sea salt. Whisk it or fold it together until completely combined.

Fold in the puffed quinoa.

Use a cookie scooper to scoop the balls and keep them uniform. Then, roll them between your hands to make them smooth.

If desired, melt chocolate chips and dip each ball into the chips. Sprinkle each ball with pink Himalayan sea salt. Place them on a cutting board or baking sheet lined with piece of parchment paper and store in the fridge for the chocolate to harden.

This is a side view looking into a blue and white bowl sitting on a white counter, Inside the bowl is a crunchy peanut butter mixture.
  • this is an overhead image of a peanut butter mixture being rolled into balls. The balls sit on a white piece of parchment paper. The peanut butter mixture is in a white and blue bowl on the white counter. A cookie scooper is laying in the bowl.
  • This is a side view of peanut butter energy balls on a white piece of parchment paper sitting on a white counter with a white background.

More no-bake treats to try:

  • Chocolate Peanut Butter Crunch Balls
  • Carrot Cake Bliss Balls
  • Vegan Gingerbread Bliss Balls
  • Chocolate Chip Almond Butter Energy Balls
  • Cinnamon Roll Bliss Balls

Did you make this? Leave a review below and tag me on Instagram, Facebook, or Pinterest!

Recipe
GF Gluten-Free DF Dairy-Free V Vegan VG Vegetarian EF Egg-Free

Peanut Butter Crunch Balls

Crunchy No Bake Peanut Butter Balls made with puffed quinoa are the perfect sweet treat! They’re the perfect vegan + gluten free snack!

Recipe by:Lindsay Grimes
5 Stars 4 Stars 3 Stars 2 Stars 1 Star 4.7 from 6 reviews
Prep: 10 minsCook: 0 minTotal: 10 mins
Print recipe Rate recipe Pin Save recipe
Servings: 12 1x

Ingredients

  • 1/2 cup natural peanut butter
  • 1/3 cup agave nectar
  • splash vanilla extract
  • 1 cup blanched almond flour
  • 1/4 teaspoon sea salt
  • 1/2 cup puffed quinoa

Instructions

  1. Whisk together the natural peanut butter, agave nectar (honey or maple syrup works), and vanilla.
  2. Add the almond flour and salt.
  3. Whisk it or fold it together until completely combined.
  4. Fold in the puffed quinoa.
  5. Use a cookie scooper to scoop the balls and keep them uniform.
  6. Then, roll them between your hands to make them smooth.
  7. If desired, melt chocolate chips and dip each ball into the chips.
  8. Sprinkle each ball with salt.
  9. Place them on a cutting board or baking sheet lined with piece of parchment paper and store in the fridge for the chocolate to harden.

Nutrition Info:

  • Serving Size: 1 ball
  • Calories: 117
  • Sugar: 8.7g
  • Sodium: 42mg
  • Fat: 6.5g
  • Saturated Fat: 1.1g
  • Unsaturated Fat: 0g
  • Trans Fat: 0g
  • Carbohydrates: 11.4g
  • Fiber: 1g
  • Protein: 4g
  • Cholesterol: 0mg
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Reader Interactions

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  1. AvatarStephanie says

    Posted on 2/20/19 at 11:42 am

    Hi there! I made these and they are so good! Mine didn’t “set up” like it looks like they should have…do you think it is because I puffed my own quinoa (not very successfully) haha? … or do you think it could be that I didn’t use natural peanut butter?

    Reply
    • Lindsay Grimes Freedman says

      Posted on 10/14/20 at 3:08 pm

      haha it’s probably the puffed quinoa. I have never been successful at puffing my own quinoa so that’s probably the culprit :-/

      Reply
  2. AvatarDaniela M says

    Posted on 1/26/21 at 9:52 pm

    Do you think puffed brown rice will work too? 

    Reply
    • Lindsay Grimes Freedman says

      Posted on 1/28/21 at 7:37 am

      I think it may work as long as it has that same crispy crunch to it. I suggest a rice krispie type of cereal if you have it! Let me know how you make out! xo

      Reply
  3. AvatarAlix says

    Posted on 9/5/21 at 3:51 pm

    LOVE!!!! I made my own chocolate to pour over these and… perfection. Thank you so much

    Reply
    • Lindsay Grimes Freedman says

      Posted on 9/8/21 at 9:32 pm

      Delish! I’m so happy you enjoyed!! xo

      Reply
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Lindsay

Nice to Meet You!

I’m Lindsay - cookbook author, blogger and chocolate lover! If gluten-free desserts are your jam, you’re in the right place! I live in south Jersey with my family and new puppy Roxie! Some of my favorite things are oat milk lattes, sunny days and warm, gooey chocolate chip cookies.

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This is an overhead image of chocolate coated peanut butter balls on a white background. Some peanut butter balls are cut in half revealing a crunchy texture. Text overlay reads "no bake peanut butter balls vegan & gluten free."