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    Home » Recipes » Candy

    Peanut Butter Ball Pumpkins and Cats

    By Wendy Sondov · Published: Oct 30, 2017 · Modified: Sep 17, 2020 · This post may contain affiliate links · As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.

    Jump to Recipe Print Recipe

    Peanut Butter Ball Pumpkins and Cats are the answer to your search for Fall or Halloween cuteness. Why settle for plain peanut butter balls (Buckeyes) when you can make candy with personality? The soft, sweet peanut butter center is dipped in chocolate, then decorated until irresistibly adorable. Peanut Butter Ball Pumpkins and Cats in little white bowls and in tan cupcake papers.

    This past summer, my daughter, Meira, had the incredible opportunity to travel to Japan. A college friend, who lives in Japan, was getting married. Her wedding was a mini reunion of a group of friends who, since college, have been scattered across the world.

    Meira attended the wedding and then traveled and explored for two weeks. She had a wonderful trip. Her photos and stories fuel my wanderlust!

    One ubiquitous aspect of Japanese pop culture that I adore is the concept of kawaii  (可愛い), cuteness. In Japan, kawaii is adored in clothing, home décor, and food.  Think Hello Kitty to the max.

    The cuteness quality of Japanese baked goods is astounding. Meira brought back photos of cookies and cupcakes decorated like the most adorable animals and fictional characters. If a cookie can be designed to be lovable, Japanese bakers know how to create it.

     Peanut Butter Ball Pumpkins and Cats on an orange plate

    Peanut Butter Ball Pumpkins and Cats are my attempt at Halloween kawaii. I have always said that cute food tastes better!

    I took the super simple, 3 ingredient peanut butter ball dough, and dipped it in a crisp chocolate coating. All the flavor of a peanut butter cup, but made with ethically sourced chocolate.

    The pumpkins require very little time and effort. You will need more patience for the cats. If you are short on time or patience, I suggest creating mostly pumpkins with just a few cats added for overall kawaii.

     Peanut Butter Ball Pumpkins and Cats on a rectangular platter surrounded by artificial fall leaves

    The chocolate used for coating, effects the shelf life of Peanut Butter Ball Pumpkins and Cats. The problem is blooming, or turning fuzzy white, which happens when moisture in the air causes tiny sugar crystals to form on the surface of the chocolate.

    Untempered chocolate, like chocolate chips, will bloom within a day or two.  The chocolate is safe to eat, but it’s not pretty.

    For a chocolate coating without bloom, you can go through the delicate process of tempering or you can use compound chocolate. Compound chocolate uses cocoa powder, instead of chocolate liquor, and oil, instead of cocoa butter.

    When I used the compound chocolate on the Peanut Butter Ball Pumpkins and Cats, they were still dark brown a week after they were made.

     Peanut Butter Ball with a bite taken showing the peanut butter center and chocolate shell.

    To make the Peanut Butter Ball Cats, I dipped the balls of peanut butter dough in dark chocolate and allowed it to set before decorating. I found it difficult to decorate onto melted chocolate.

    The sprinkles slid around and it was too easy to smear the melted chocolate where it didn’t belong. Instead, I used a toothpick to add a dab of melted chocolate to the sprinkles to “glue” them in place on the set coating.

    Chocolate hook shaped tails, gold sprinkle sequins, details for 1 cat: chocolate tail, 2 mini chips, 1 pink and 1 navy round sprinkle, 2 gold sequins with lines for eyes, 2 gold sequins with 3 dots each for the nose

     Peanut Butter Ball Cats process: plain chocolate covered ball, add mini-chip ears,add eyes, add nose, add navy sprinkle above nose, pink sprinkle below nose.

    To make the Peanut Butter Ball Pumpkins, I used a lollipop stick to make vertical indentations around the peanut butter dough ball. Then, I used candy coloring in white chocolate to create orange and green coating.

    Don’t use regular food coloring which can cause the white chocolate to seize, or thicken into an unspreadable mess. Candy coloring is oil based and will not cause seizing.

    The pumpkins are dipped in orange coating and a 1” piece of pretzel stick is added for a stem. When the orange coating is dry, green leaves and vines are piped on.

     Peanut Butter Ball Pumpkins 3 steps: peanut butter filling shaped into ball then indented with pop stick, coat in orange chocolate and add pretzel stem, pipe on green chocolate vines and leaves

    Whether you are looking for one more quick Halloween treat, something special to add to your Thanksgiving dessert trays, or a gift for a cat loving friend, Peanut Butter Ball Pumpkins and Cats are the solution for some delicious kawaii.

     Peanut Butter Ball Pumpkins and Cats in small dishes

    More cute halloween treats

    Cinnamon Spritz Owl Cookies

    Halloween Pretzels

    Halloween Nutty Kataifi Monsters

    No-Bake Spooky Spider Cookies 

    Owl Marshmallow Pops

     

    Peanut Butter Ball Pumpkins and Cats

    Peanut Butter Ball Pumpkins and Cats

    This peanut butter ball recipe creates adorable Buckeye candy decorated like pumpkins and cats.
    5 from 5 votes
    Print Rate
    Course: Dessert
    Cuisine: American
    Prep Time: 2 hours
    Total Time: 2 hours
    Servings: 30
    Calories: 201kcal
    Author: Wendy Sondov

    Ingredients

    Peanut Butter Balls

    • 3 cups confectioners’ sugar
    • 1 cup creamy peanut butter
    • 6 tablespoons unsalted butter room temperature

    Decorations for 15 cats

    • 1 cup dark melting chocolate
    • 30 mini chocolate chips I use Whole Foods 360 brand fair trade chips
    • 60 gold confetti sprinkles 4 sprinkles for each cat
    • 15 black or dark colored nonpareil sprinkles
    • 15 pink nonpareil sprinkles
    • Black food marker fine tip

    Decorations for 15 pumpkins

    • 8 little pretzel sticks broken 1” from each end
    • 1 lollipop stick
    • 1 cup white melting chocolate
    • Orange candy coloring
    • Green candy coloring

    Instructions

    Peanut Butter Balls

    • In a medium mixing bowl or in the bowl of an electric mixer, combine all of the ingredients and mix until a soft dough forms. The dough should be the consistency of playdoh. If it is sticky, add a bit more confectioners’ sugar.
    • Divide the dough into 2 teaspoon portions and roll into balls.

    Cats

    • Line a small baking sheet (that will fit in the refrigerator) with wax paper. Set aside.
    • Melt the dark chocolate in a small bowl.
    • Using a fork under a peanut butter ball, dip the ball into the melted chocolate to coat completely. Tap excess chocolate back into the bowl and place the coated ball onto the wax paper lined baking sheet.
    • Work in small batches. After dipping 4-6 balls, refrigerate for about 5 minutes or until set.
    • When all of the Cat Peanut Butter Balls have been chocolate coated, place 1-2 tablespoons of the remaining chocolate into a small ziplock bag. Cut a tiny piece off a bottom corner of the bag and pipe 1” candy cane shaped tails onto a small piece of wax paper. Refrigerate to set.
    • When ready to decorate: Use a toothpick to apply the leftover melted chocolate as “glue” for attaching the decorative details; mini chocolate chip ears, gold confetti sprinkles for eyes and snout, nonpareil sprinkles for nose and mouth. Use a black food marker to draw pupils on the eyes, whisker dots on the snout, and whiskers on both sides of the snout. Add a chocolate tail.
    • **NOTE** The tails are fragile. If you are shipping these Cat Peanut Balls, do not add the tails.

    Pumpkins

    • Line a small baking sheet (that will fit in the refrigerator) with wax paper. Set aside.
    • Use the lollipop stick to make about 6 vertical indentations around each peanut butter ball.
    • Melt the white chocolate in a small bowl.
    • Remove 1 tablespoon of the melted chocolate and place in a small ziplock bag. Add green candy coloring and massage the coloring into the melted chocolate. Cut a tiny piece off a bottom corner of the bag. Set aside until ready to pipe on leaves and vines. The green chocolate will probably need to be re-melted by placing the bag into the microwave for about 15 seconds on 50% power.
    • Add orange candy coloring to the remaining melted white chocolate.
    • Using a fork under a peanut butter ball, dip the ball into the melted chocolate to coat completely. Tap excess chocolate back into the bowl and place the coated ball onto the wax paper lined baking sheet.
    • Immediately press a pretzel stick piece into the top center of the coated pumpkin.
    • Work in small batches. After dipping 4-6 balls, refrigerate for about 5 minutes or until set.
    • When the pumpkins are all set, pipe on leaves and vines. Refrigerate to set.
    • Peanut Butter Ball Pumpkins and Cats can be stored at room temperature in an airtight container for 5 days, or refrigerated for several weeks.

    Notes

    Packing tips
    • Only send chocolate to and from cool or cold weather locations.
    • The Cat Peanut Butter Balls should be mailed without tails. The fragile tails will break.
    • Place each Peanut Butter Ball into a candy paper or mini cupcake liner.
    • Fit the candies snuggly in a lidded tray.
    • Fill any space between the balls and the lid with crinkles tissue paper or wax paper to ensure that there is no movement during transit.

    Nutrition

    Calories: 201kcal | Carbohydrates: 23g | Protein: 3g | Fat: 11g | Saturated Fat: 5g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 1g | Monounsaturated Fat: 4g | Trans Fat: 1g | Cholesterol: 8mg | Sodium: 49mg | Potassium: 116mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 20g | Vitamin A: 76IU | Vitamin C: 1mg | Calcium: 22mg | Iron: 1mg
    Tried this Recipe? Pin it for Later!Mention @TheMondayBox or tag #themondaybox!

     

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    Comments

    1. Helen at the Lazy Gastronome

      October 20, 2018 at 8:21 am

      Yikes - I'm so far behind! But I wanted to make sure I thanked you for sharing at our What's for Dinner party! Hope you bring more deliciousness this Sunday! Have a great weekend. But I had time to pin this one!!

      Reply
    2. Miz Helen

      October 15, 2018 at 9:18 pm

      5 stars
      What fun little creatures! Thanks so much for sharing with Full Plate Thursday and have a great week!
      Miz Helen

      Reply
      • The Monday Box

        October 15, 2018 at 9:36 pm

        Thanks, Miz Helen! They are so much fun to make and to eat!

        Reply
    3. Michele

      October 10, 2018 at 1:07 pm

      5 stars
      These are absolutely precious!! I'm in love. 😀 What a perfect Halloween treat!

      Reply
      • The Monday Box

        October 11, 2018 at 9:50 pm

        Thank you, Michele! I made these in honor of my son's two cats....and because I love peanutbutter! 🙂

        Reply
    4. Amy

      October 05, 2018 at 2:43 pm

      So cute, and sound delicious. Thank you for sharing at Friday Frenzy.

      Reply
      • The Monday Box

        October 05, 2018 at 3:27 pm

        Thank you, Amy! Cute food tastes better. 😉

        Reply
    5. Shannon @loveatfirstbento

      December 01, 2017 at 9:36 am

      OMG, I literally just about screamed at the cuteness when I saw these on Pinterest, and I am sooooo glad I stopped by your beautiful blog to check these out! Those peanut butter kitties are SO freaking cute, I can't even handle it! Love your details on how you go about making them, I always find info like that very helpful. I live and breathe Japanese kawaii culture myself, so I know all about it and can tell you with certainty that these peanut butter kitties definitely hit the kawaii mark! I think I'll definitely have to give these guys a try, they're just too cute to resist!

      Reply
    6. Jason

      November 13, 2017 at 2:12 pm

      Never has a peanut butter ball had so much personality!

      Reply
      • The Monday Box

        November 13, 2017 at 2:34 pm

        Thank you, Jason!

        Reply
    7. Carrie @ Carrie's Home Cooking

      November 07, 2017 at 8:42 pm

      I love these! Pinned! Thanks so much for sharing with us at Whisk It Wednesday. Have a momentous week and come back to see us real soon! ~Carrie

      Reply
      • The Monday Box

        November 08, 2017 at 7:16 pm

        Thanks, Carrie! The cats, especially, were fun to make! Thanks for pinning and for hosting.

        Reply
    8. Miz Helen

      November 03, 2017 at 5:21 pm

      Your Peanut Butter Ball Pumpkins Cats will be a very special treat! Thanks so much for sharing your special post with us at Full Plate Thursday. Have a great weekend and come back to see us real soon!
      Miz Helen

      Reply
    9. Monica

      October 31, 2017 at 9:53 am

      This project is wonderful in so many ways. I particularly love how your daughter's trip to Japan inspired this. I didn't know there was an actual term for it but the Japanese people's love of cuteness is really extreme and wonderful! I have always loved Hello Kitty myself but it goes so far beyond that, doesn't it. Your peanut butter treats are not only adorable but perfectly delicious. What a labor of love...plus fun and cuteness.

      Reply
    10. Tricia @ Saving Room for Dessert

      October 31, 2017 at 5:23 am

      These are just so darn adorable! I love this post and always enjoy your creative creations Wendy. Bravo!!!

      Reply
      • The Monday Box

        October 31, 2017 at 7:30 am

        Thank you, Tricia! These little guys were fun to make. 🙂

        Reply

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    I'm Wendy, a baker, care package maker, and smile creator. On The Monday Box you’ll find care package inspiration and recipes for delicious treats that make it easy for you to share home baked love. Let’s spread happiness, one cookie at a time!

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