Mudballs

This is my most requested holiday goodie. Is it a cookie or is it a candy? Who cares!


Ingredients

• 3 cups rice crispies
• 3 cups powdered sugar
• 1 stick butter
• 1 regular-size jar of peanut butter
• 2 1/2 cups chocolate chips
• 1/4 bar paraffin wax (usually sold near the jello, candles, or canning supplies in supermarkets)

Directions:
In a large bowl, or the bowl of a stand mixer fitted with a paddle attachment, mix together the rice crispies and powdered sugar. In a microwave-safe bowl, melt the butter and peanut butter together in the microwave and stir into a soupy mess. Pour the melted mixture over the cereal mixture and combine, mixing with your hands or the stand mixer on low speed, until mostly uniform. (Do not try this with a hand mixer!)

Chill this mixture, then roll into walnut-sized balls (I use a melon baller for this step), and place on wax-paper-lined cookie sheets, and chill again. Meanwhile, chop up the paraffin into little bits, and melt the chocolate and paraffin together (use the microwave or a double-boiler), stirring until smooth and liquid.

Using small tongs, dip each peanut butter ball quickly into the chocolate, turning to coat, and then return to the wax-paper-lined trays and chill once more to set the chocolate. Store in a sealed container in a cool place, or in the fridge.