Gramma's Maple Peanut Butter Balls

Christmas peanut butter balls from my gramma's recipe box. The maple flavored extract is the key ingredient.

Original recipe (1X) yields 30 Peanut Butter Balls approximately.

BONUS: When packaging in container for gift giving ... Drizzle with melted peanut butter chips for a festive holiday look.

 :: Ingredients ::

¼ cup Butter

½  tsp Corn Syrup

1 ½ cups Peanut Butter

2½  to 3 cups Confectioners' Sugar

½  teaspoon Vanilla Extract

½  teaspoon Maple Flavored Extract

 :: For Dipping ::

 

2 cups semisweet chocolate chips

½  teaspoon crisco shortening (not oil)

 :: Directions :: 

1. Combine the butter, corn syrup, peanut butter, confectioners' sugar, vanilla and maple flavoring. Cream well and knead well.

2. Melt the chocolate chips and shortening over low heat in a double boiler. Roll the dough into 1 inch balls. Dip ball into melted chocolate mixture.

3. Refrigerate overnight (or at least for about 15 minutes) on a cookie sheet lined with wax paper.

*Note: if you do not have a double boiler, you may melt shortening and chips in a microwave at 10 sec increments, stirring constantly. 

** I personally use a small crockpot set to "warm" for melting my choc almond bark and to keep the chocolate from cooling off.