Frugal Food Thursday: Peanut Butter Balls

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When my kids are looking for a snack, I'll sometimes whip them up some peanut butter balls.  They're sweet and yummy, but aren't just sugar; they also have protein from the peanut butter and the dry milk.  I originally got this recipe from The Tightwad Gazette by Amy Dacyczyn.

The ingredients can be expensive, but can be bought cheaply if you look out for sales.  I often buy peanut butter at CVS - yes, groceries at drug stores! - when they have their deals on Unilever brand products like Skippy, Lipton tea, and Ragu pasta sauce.  I often get a jar there for about $1 after the sale price, coupons, and Extra Care Bucks.

I've often gotten honey at Walgreens - yes, another drug store.  Once in a while, there will be a coupon in their weekly flyer for a 32 oz bottle of honey for $3.99.  One time I combined that coupon with a 20% Friends and Family sale and got the honey for only $3.19.  That's what you might pay for a 16 oz bottle at the grocery store.

As for the dry milk, that can be harder to find.  Publix and Walmart carry a brand name, but I buy dry milk at Winn-Dixie, which has a smaller house brand for sale.  I'm not sure about the price, but I know it was the best deal in my area for a small quantity.

And lastly, the sprinkles.  When Albertsons went out of business in my area, on the final day they had cake decorating supplies for 95% off.  I bought a bunch of sprinkles, which have lasted a while.

And that's it!  They're easy and fun for the kids to help make.  Enjoy!

PEANUT BUTTER BALLS

1/2 cup peanut butter
1/2 cup honey
1 cup dry milk powder
Sprinkles or other items to roll the balls in (cocoa powder, chopped nuts, coconut, etc.)

Mix the peanut butter and honey until smooth.  Add the dry milk powder a little at a time and mix, first with a spoon and then later with your hands, until you reach a Play-Doh-like consistency.  Remove small chunks and roll into a ball with your hands, then roll into sprinkles or other items.  Makes about 16-20 balls.

There are lots more cheap recipes posted here at Frugal Follies.  Click here for the list!

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