Low-Point Peanut Butter Balls (WW-Friendly Dessert Recipe)
Introduction
Peanut butter balls are a classic dessert that everyone loves. With their creamy, nutty flavor and delightful sweetness, they’re a go-to treat for holidays, parties, or just when you need a quick, indulgent bite. However, traditional peanut butter balls can be high in sugar, fats, and calories, making them difficult to fit into a healthy, balanced eating plan. If you’re following Weight Watchers (WW), you may feel tempted to pass up this indulgence, but don’t worry! This WW-friendly Low-Point Peanut Butter Ball Recipe will let you enjoy your favorite dessert without derailing your goals.
This Low-Point Peanut Butter Ball recipe has been carefully crafted to satisfy your sweet tooth while keeping the SmartPoints low. By making a few simple ingredient swaps and adjusting the proportions, we’ve lightened the recipe to fit seamlessly into your WW meal plan. Whether you’re following the Green, Blue, or Purple plan, this peanut butter ball recipe is a guilt-free treat that can be part of your daily or weekly routine.
In this post, we’ll walk you through the step-by-step process of making these delicious treats, provide the SmartPoint breakdown for each WW plan, and offer helpful tips to customize them to your tastes. Read on to learn how you can create a healthier version of this fan-favorite dessert.
Why This Recipe is WW-Friendly
Peanut butter balls are typically made using a combination of peanut butter, powdered sugar, butter, and chocolate – all of which can be high in calories and fat. However, this Low-Point Peanut Butter Ball Recipe swaps some of those higher-calorie ingredients with lighter, healthier alternatives. Here’s why this recipe works for your WW plan:
- Lower Calories: By using natural peanut butter, sugar-free sweeteners, and reducing the amount of chocolate, we’ve dramatically reduced the calorie count, allowing you to enjoy a small portion while keeping within your SmartPoints.
- High in Protein: Peanut butter is a great source of protein, helping you feel fuller longer and contributing to muscle repair and recovery.
- Lower Sugar: Instead of traditional powdered sugar, we’ve opted for a sugar substitute, which helps cut down the sugar and carbohydrate content while still delivering sweetness.
- Healthier Fats: Using natural peanut butter with no added oils, sugars, or preservatives ensures you’re getting healthier fats compared to traditional peanut butters.
With these ingredient swaps, you can enjoy these Peanut Butter Balls as part of your healthy, low-point lifestyle without feeling guilty!
Ingredients for WW Low-Point Peanut Butter Balls
This recipe yields approximately 16 peanut butter balls, but you can adjust the serving size based on your preferences. Here’s what you’ll need to make this delicious and WW-friendly dessert:
Ingredients:
- 1 cup natural peanut butter (unsweetened, creamy or chunky)
Choose peanut butter that contains no added sugars or oils. The ingredients should simply list peanuts and salt. Natural peanut butter is the best option to keep the fat content healthy and the sugar content low. - ⅓ cup sugar substitute (such as Stevia, Monk Fruit, or Erythritol)
A sugar substitute like Stevia, Monk Fruit, or Erythritol will provide the sweetness without adding extra calories or sugar, making this a great option for those on a low-carb or low-sugar diet. - 1 cup rolled oats (old-fashioned oats)
Rolled oats are a great source of fiber, which helps support digestion and will make these peanut butter balls more satisfying. If you’re on a gluten-free diet, you can use gluten-free oats. - 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
Vanilla adds a comforting flavor that enhances the overall taste of these peanut butter balls. It provides an extra layer of sweetness and complexity. - 2 tablespoons ground flaxseed (optional)
Adding flaxseed to the recipe boosts the fiber content even more while providing healthy fats. If you prefer not to include it, you can omit this ingredient without affecting the overall flavor or texture. - ⅓ cup dark chocolate chips (preferably 70% cocoa)
Dark chocolate adds a rich, slightly bitter flavor that complements the sweetness of the peanut butter. Choose 70% cocoa or higher chocolate to keep the sugar content lower. You can also use sugar-free chocolate chips if preferred. - Pinch of salt
A pinch of salt balances out the sweetness of the peanut butter and helps enhance the overall flavor of the balls.
Step-by-Step Instructions for Making WW Low-Point Peanut Butter Balls
Making these Low-Point Peanut Butter Balls is incredibly easy. With just a few simple steps, you’ll have a batch of delicious, guilt-free treats ready to enjoy. Follow the instructions below for the perfect, healthy dessert.
Step 1: Prepare Your Ingredients
- Start by measuring out your peanut butter, sugar substitute, rolled oats, and other ingredients into separate bowls. Having everything ready makes the process much easier and ensures you don’t forget anything along the way.
Step 2: Mix the Wet Ingredients
- In a large mixing bowl, combine the natural peanut butter, sugar substitute, vanilla extract, and pinch of salt. Use a spoon or a hand mixer to stir the ingredients until they are well combined. The peanut butter will act as the base of the mixture and will hold everything together.
Step 3: Add the Dry Ingredients
- Next, fold in the rolled oats and ground flaxseed (if using). Stir everything together until the mixture is evenly distributed. If the dough feels too dry, add a small amount of water or unsweetened almond milk, just a teaspoon at a time, until the mixture comes together.
Step 4: Form the Peanut Butter Balls
- Once the mixture is ready, use your hands or a tablespoon to scoop out small portions of the dough and roll them into 1-inch balls. If the dough is sticky, you can slightly wet your hands with water to help with rolling.
Step 5: Coat the Peanut Butter Balls with Chocolate
- Melt the dark chocolate chips in a microwave-safe bowl by heating them in 20-30 second intervals, stirring each time. Once melted, dip each peanut butter ball into the chocolate, ensuring it is coated evenly.
- You can drizzle chocolate over the balls instead of fully coating them, depending on your preference.
Step 6: Chill the Peanut Butter Balls
- Place the coated peanut butter balls on a baking sheet lined with parchment paper or a silicone baking mat. Refrigerate for at least 1 hour to allow the chocolate to harden and the flavors to meld together.
Step 7: Serve and Enjoy!
- Once chilled, remove the peanut butter balls from the refrigerator. They’re now ready to be served! Enjoy one as a satisfying treat after a meal or as an afternoon snack.
Nutritional Information for WW Low-Point Peanut Butter Balls (Per Serving)
Here’s the breakdown of the nutritional information per peanut butter ball, based on a yield of 16 balls:
- Calories: 105 kcal
- Total Fat: 8 g
- Saturated Fat: 1 g
- Cholesterol: 0 mg
- Total Carbohydrates: 7 g
- Fiber: 2 g
- Net Carbs: 5 g
- Sugar: 1 g
- Protein: 4 g
- Sodium: 50 mg
SmartPoints Breakdown (WW)
This recipe provides you with a low-point dessert that fits into your WW meal plan without sacrificing taste. Based on the ingredients used, here’s the breakdown of SmartPoints:
- Green Plan: 3 SmartPoints per peanut butter ball
- Blue Plan: 3 SmartPoints per peanut butter ball
- Purple Plan: 2 SmartPoints per peanut butter ball
You can enjoy 1 or 2 of these tasty treats without blowing your SmartPoint budget, making them perfect for a quick dessert after dinner or a sweet snack throughout the day.
Helpful Tips and Customizations
- Use Different Nut Butters: While we used peanut butter for this recipe, you can substitute it with almond butter or cashew butter for a different flavor.
- Sweeteners: If you’re not fond of Stevia, try Monk Fruit or Erythritol, both of which are great sugar substitutes for WW plans.
- Add-ins: Want to make these peanut butter balls even more exciting? Add small amounts of mini chocolate chips, raisins, or chopped nuts like almonds or cashews.
- Storage: These peanut butter balls store well in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 7 days. You can also freeze them for up to 3 months, allowing you to always have a low-point treat on hand.
- Vegan Option: To make these peanut butter balls vegan, ensure you use vegan chocolate chips and a plant-based sugar substitute like Monk Fruit or Erythritol.
Conclusion
These WW Low-Point Peanut Butter Balls are the perfect solution to your dessert cravings, offering a healthier, low-calorie alternative to traditional peanut butter treats. With just a few simple ingredient swaps, you can indulge in this delicious dessert while still staying on track with your weight loss goals. Whether you’re following the Green, Blue, or Purple WW plan, these peanut butter balls fit perfectly into your SmartPoint budget.
Enjoy them as a snack, a post-meal treat, or even as a dessert for a special occasion — they’re sure to satisfy your sweet tooth while keeping your points in check! Try making these today and experience how easy it is to make healthy desserts that taste amazing.
Happy cooking!