3-Ingredient Peanut Butter Cream Cheese Balls - Easy Low-Carb Fat Bombs

Satisfying Low-Carb Sweet Cravings with 3-Ingredient Peanut Butter Cream Cheese Balls

When following a low-carb or keto diet, indulgent sweets and desserts are typically off the menu. However, these 3-ingredient peanut butter cream cheese balls make the perfect solution for curbing any sweet cravings in a keto-friendly way.

With just peanut butter, cream cheese, and a touch of sweetener blended together, you get a tasty no-bake fat bomb that hits the spot. Keep reading to learn how to make this easy peanut butter cream cheese ball recipe at home.

Keto-Approved Ingredients

The simplicity of only having 3 ingredients is what makes this peanut butter cream cheese ball recipe so brilliant for keto dieters. With so few ingredients, it makes it easy to stay low-carb and track your macros.

Here's what you'll need:

• Cream Cheese - Full-fat cream cheese provides a rich, creamy base with zero carbs per serving. Using regular instead of low-fat or fat-free is key!
• Peanut Butter - Look for natural peanut butter with just peanuts and maybe a touch of salt for best results. Skip reduced-fat or highly processed versions. Peanut butter offers healthy fats, protein and fiber.
• Low-Carb Sweetener - A keto-friendly sweetener like erythritol, monk fruit or stevia is ideal to add a touch of sweetness without spiking blood sugar or knocking you out of ketosis.

Macros for Keto Diet Success

One of the major benefits of these peanut butter cream cheese balls is that the macros check all the boxes for keto-compliance:

• High Fat
• Moderate Protein
• Very Low Carbs

This macro breakdown provides fuel for your body and brain in the form of ketones without disrupting the production of ketones that occurs when eating low-carb.

Curb Cravings and Fat Bombs

When first transitioning to keto, cutting out sugar, desserts, breads, pasta and other carb-heavy foods can be challenging both physically and mentally.

Having a stash of these peanut butter cream cheese balls available for when those inevitable sweet cravings strike makes it much easier to stick with keto. They offer the sweet fix your body may be used to without knocking your body out of ketosis.

Additionally, the high fat content classifies these as fat bombs, which provide the ample healthy fats needed to succeed with a very low carb, high fat ketogenic diet.

How to Make Peanut Butter Cream Cheese Balls

Part of what makes this peanut butter cream cheese ball recipe so brilliant is the ease of throwing it together. With just 3 ingredients and no baking required, even keto newbies can master this technique in minutes.

Ingredients

• 8 oz cream cheese, softened to room temperature
• 12 cup peanut butter
• 14 cup powdered low-carb sweetener (optional)

Instructions

1. In a large mixing bowl, combine the softened cream cheese and peanut butter together until smooth and thoroughly blended.
2. Stir in powdered low-carb sweetener to taste if desired for added sweetness.
3. Use a cookie scoop or spoon to portion out tablespoon-sized balls of the mixture. Place on a parchment-lined plate or baking sheet.
4. Refrigerate for at least 30 minutes, or until firm before enjoying. Store leftovers covered in the fridge for 5-7 days.

Customizations

Once you master the classic peanut butter cream cheese ball, the options for customizing with different mix-in ingredients are endless!

Try rolling them in chopped nuts, dipping them in melted chocolate, mixing in spices like cinnamon or pumpkin pie spice, or swapping almond or sunflower seed butter for the peanut butter instead.

Low-Carb Peanut Butter Cream Cheese Ball Recipes

Ready to put this easy keto-friendly sweet treat technique to work? Here are some irresistible peanut butter cream cheese ball recipes to try:

Chocolate Peanut Butter Fat Bombs

For an extra decadent dessert, roll the balls in melted chocolate or cocoa powder after refrigerating. The chocolate pairing takes these peanut butter explosion to the next level.

Maple Pecan Fat Bombs

Add a few teaspoons of sugar-free maple syrup and a pinch of cinnamon to the cream cheese mixture and roll in chopped pecans for a seasonal fall treat.

Cookie Dough Fat Bombs

Stir in a tablespoon or two of almond flour into the mixture along with vanilla extract for an edible keto cookie dough experience minus the dough.

Lemon Poppyseed Fat Bombs

Blend some tangy lemon zest and poppy seeds into the mix and refrigerate until firm. Bright, fresh flavor in just 3 ingredients!

Pumpkin Spice Fat Bomb

Blend in pumpkin pie spice and a spoonful of canned pumpkin for a sweet snack that tastes like slice of pumpkin cheesecake.

Storing and Freezing Peanut Butter Cream Cheese Balls

One batch of this 3-ingredient peanut butter cream cheese ball recipe makes around 20 balls, which is plenty to last a week or more.

Refrigerator Storage

In an airtight container, these will last for 5-7 days stored in the fridge. The balls firm up even more overnight which allows for easy on-the-go portability.

Freezer Storage

For longer storage, freeze the shaped balls in a single layer on a parchment-lined baking sheet before transferring to an airtight freezer bag or container. Frozen peanut butter cream cheese balls will keep for 2-3 months.

Thawing

Take out only as many balls as needed and allow to thaw slightly at room temp for 10-20 minutes before enjoying. Otherwise they may crumble when biting into them while fully frozen.

Tips for Making Perfect Peanut Butter Cream Cheese Balls

Follow these pro tips for peanut butter cream cheese ball success:

Room Temp Ingredients

Be sure the cream cheese and peanut butter are both at room temperature before blending together. This allows them to mix together smoothly.

No Sweetener Required

The peanut butter offers plenty of natural sweetness on its own. But a low-carb sweetener can be used to taste for those who like it a bit sweeter.

Scoop vs Spoon

Using a cookie scoop or melon baller for portioning out the balls ensures they are all uniform in size before refrigerating.

Parchment Paper

Line the storage container or baking sheet with parchment paper first so the balls dont stick together while chilling in the fridge.

Mix-Ins

Customize to your tastes with different mix-in ingredients, coatings or by rolling in nuts, chocolate or sprinkles before serving.

No-Bake Peanut Butter Balls without Cream Cheese

If you dont have cream cheese on hand or want to make this recipe vegan, you can skip the cream cheese entirely and just mix together peanut butter with powdered sweetener plus any additional mix-ins until combined.

The texture will be slightly different without the creaminess from the cream cheese. But they still make for an easy no-bake fat bomb to enjoy.

Dairy-Free Peanut Butter Balls

For a vegan option, use softened nut butter like almond or cashew butter instead of dairy-based cream cheese blended with peanut butter.

Coconut Oil Peanut Butter Balls

Melted coconut oil can provide plant-based fat and creaminess to help bind together the peanut butter mixture when omitting cream cheese.

No-Bake Peanut Butter Ball Recipes without Cream Cheese

Even without cream cheese, you can still get creative with different add-in mix-ins. Here are some favorites:

Cookie Dough Peanut Butter Balls

Blend together peanut butter, almond flour, vanilla and sweetener for edible cookie dough flavor.

Rocky Road Peanut Butter Balls

Add mini chocolate chips and chopped nuts like a rocky road candy bar in ball form.

Chocolate Covered Peanut Butter Balls

For the classic Buckeye balls, form peanut butter mixture into balls then dip into melted chocolate coating.

Satisfy Sweet Cravings the Keto Way

When following a low-carb ketogenic diet, being prepared with sweet snacks like these 3-ingredient peanut butter cream cheese balls can make all the difference in sticking with it long-term.

They provide the perfect bite-sized solution for conquering sugar cravings without all the carbs. With some advanced meal-prep, youll stay on track towards reaching your health goals in no time.

Disclaimer: This article is for informational purposes only and does not constitute medical advice. Always consult with a healthcare professional before starting any new treatment regimen.