Peanut Butter Balls (Mouse Balls)

Difficulty: easy Prep Time: Fifteen Minutes Total Time: More than 1 hour
1/3 cup melted butter
1 1/2 cups crunchy peanut butter
2 tsp pure vanilla extract
2 3/4 cups icing sugar, sifted
1 1/2 cups crisp rice cereal (eg. Rice Krispies)
2 cups pure semisweet chocolate chips
3 tbsp shortening

Melt butter and peanut butter together. Remove from heat and stir in vanilla. Add icing sugar and mix well. Fold in crisp rice. Form into 1” balls and place in the fridge until set hard. Meanwhile, melt the chocolate and shortening together gently, just until smooth. Using a fork or toothpick, dip the peanut butter balls in the chocolate and place them on a parchment-lined pan. Place pan in the fridge for cookies to set. Makes about 2 dozen balls.