This classic buckeyes recipe always makes an appearance around the holidays! If you’ve never had them before, buckeyes are soft, fudgy peanut butter balls dipped in melted chocolate. They’re super easy to make, perfect for snacking and gifting.
My Favorite Buckeyes Recipe
I don’t know about you, but at our house, no holiday dessert table is complete without a big bowl of buckeyes. Buckeyes are wildly simple to make, so it’s no wonder they’re a favorite for so many of you, too. They’re also a great option to make ahead of time, and I love giving these classic peanut butter candies as hostess gifts when I’m not serving them up on my Christmas charcuterie boards.
If you’ve never made peanut butter buckeyes before, you’re in for a literal treat. And if you’re already a fan, this recipe is one you’ll want to save for this year’s dessert platter.
Why You’ll Love Buckeyes Candy
- Chocolate peanut butter goodness. Biting into a buckeye, you’re met with the chewy sweetness of the chocolate shell, followed by the rich, sugary peanut butter fudge filling. Peanut butter buckeyes look like chocolate truffles and taste like Reese’s peanut butter cups. The best of both worlds!
- Easy to make. As far as homemade candy is concerned, nothing is easier than buckeyes. These take 15 minutes to make. Afterward, all you do is chill them in the fridge for the chocolate to set.
- Versatile. Buckeyes might go hand in hand with the holidays, but that doesn’t mean you can’t enjoy such an easy dessert year-round. I serve buckeyes at Thanksgiving, Christmas, and at potlucks and parties. These even make great gifts for teachers, neighbors, family, and friends. They’re impossible to resist.
p.s. Homemade candy is such a fun way to add a personal touch to a dessert table. Want even more ideas? Try more holiday treats like these easy peanut clusters, festive reindeer chow, and rum balls!
Why Are They Called Buckeyes?
Peanut butter buckeyes are partially dipped in chocolate to resemble the buckeye nut native to Ohio. I have a similar version that I make with rice krispies that’s fully dipped in chocolate. So, if you love these buckeyes, try these krispie peanut butter balls, next.
Buckeye Ingredients
These buckeyes need only a handful of key ingredients. Below is a quick overview with notes. Scroll to the recipe card for a printable list with the full recipe details.
- Creamy Peanut Butter – You’ll want to use shelf-stable, creamy peanut butter at room temperature. Avoid natural peanut butter, which tends to be oilier.
- Powdered Sugar – Also called confectioner’s sugar. I highly recommend sifting the powdered sugar through a mesh sieve beforehand, to remove any clumps.
- Dark Chocolate – You can use chocolate that comes in bars or chocolate chips. Feel free to use milk chocolate if you prefer.
- Coconut Oil – Alternatively, use shortening. When melted with the dark chocolate, coconut oil helps the chocolate coating harden up again after the peanut butter balls have been dipped. It also gives the chocolate a nice lustrous shine.
How to Make Buckeyes
There isn’t much prep involved in making buckeyes. And, of course, zero baking! But they do call for a bit of chilling time. These peanut butter balls are perfect to make ahead in the days before you’re expecting a holiday crowd.
Let’s get started, and you’ll find printable instructions in the recipe card.
- Prepare the peanut butter fudge. First, beat the butter together with peanut butter, powdered sugar, and vanilla until smooth.
- Scoop the peanut butter balls. I like to use a small cookie scoop to portion rough scoops of peanut butter fudge onto a baking sheet. Afterward, chill the peanut butter scoops in the fridge or freezer before rolling them into smooth balls. Place the balls back into the freezer for 10 minutes.
- Melt the chocolate. Meanwhile, prepare the dark chocolate coating by microwaving the chocolate with coconut oil until melted. I recommend doing this at half-power in increments, stirring in between (see my tutorial on how to melt chocolate so that it doesn’t burn).
- Dip! Working in batches, dip the cold peanut butter balls into the melted chocolate, just enough to cover most of the peanut butter while leaving the top uncoated. I find this is easiest to do using toothpicks stuck into the top of the fudge. Transfer the dipped buckeyes to a separate baking sheet lined with parchment paper.
- Chill the buckeyes. Once all the buckeyes are dipped and the chocolate has hardened, you can remove the toothpicks. I use my fingertip to smooth away the hole left at the top of the buckeyes before returning them to the fridge. Leave the buckeyes to chill right up until you’re ready to serve them.
Recipe Notes
- Use creamy peanut butter. Think shelf-stable brands like Jif or Skippy. Natural peanut butter does not work with buckeye recipes. There’s way too much oil that tends to separate.
- If you’re using coconut oil, make sure to use refined coconut oil (this is the neutral-flavored kind).
- Work in batches. When dipping the peanut butter balls, take out 3-4 balls at a time, and leave the rest in the fridge until you’re ready to dip them.
- Why are my peanut butter balls so sticky? This could be because you didn’t add enough powdered sugar to the peanut butter mixture, the wrong type of peanut butter is used or your peanut butter balls weren’t given enough time to chill and firm up in the fridge. Make sure that you chill them long enough, as they’re much easier to work with!
- Don’t forget the parchment paper. Or, use a silicone baking mat to keep the dipped peanut butter balls from sticking to the baking tray. Make sure the chocolate is completely set before removing the buckeyes from the tray, and use a flat-edge spatula if needed.
- Add sprinkles and garnishes before the chocolate has set. If you’d like to decorate your buckeyes with sprinkles, add them right after you dip the balls in chocolate.
How to Store
- Refrigerate: Store buckeyes in an airtight container in the fridge when you’re not serving them. The chocolate and peanut butter start to soften up the longer the buckeyes are at room temperature. Properly stored, they’ll last for up to a month!
- Freeze: Pre-freeze the hardened buckeyes on a baking sheet, then transfer them to an airtight container or freezer bag to store. You can keep them frozen for up to 3 months, and defrost them in the fridge before serving.
More Holiday Desserts
Buckeyes Recipe
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Chilling Time: 3 hours
- Total Time: 3 hours 15 minutes
- Yield: 30 buckeyes
- Category: Dessert
- Method: No-bake
- Cuisine: American
Description
No holiday is complete without buckeyes. This 6-ingredient recipe makes the best fudgy peanut butter balls dipped in melted chocolate. It’s super easy!
Ingredients
- 6 tablespoons (85g) unsalted butter, at room temperature
- 1 cup (264g) creamy peanut butter
- 2 1/2 cups (325g) powdered sugar, sifted
- 2 teaspoon (10ml) pure vanilla extract
- 8 ounces (226g) dark chocolate bar (1 ¼ cups chocolate chips)
- 1 teaspoon coconut oil or shortening
Instructions
- Line a baking sheet with parchment paper.
- In a medium-sized mixing bowl combine the butter and peanut butter and beat until completely smooth and free of lumps.
- Add the powdered sugar and vanilla extract and beat until well combined.
- Use a small size cookie scoop and portion the balls on the baking sheet. Refrigerate for 2-3 or freeze for 30 minutes.
- Remove them from the refrigerator and roll the between your hands to form a ball. When you are ready to start dipping, pop the tray in the freezer for 10 minutes to harden. Prepare a second tray lined with parchment paper or a silicone mat.
- In a microwave-safe bowl, melt the chocolate and coconut oil at 50% power in 30-second intervals; stir after each interval and continue until the chocolate is melted and smooth. Reduce time in the microwave as needed so the chocolate does not burn.
- Work in small batches (3-4 at a time) and keep the remaining peanut butter balls in the freezer until ready. Stick a toothpick into the top of each one. Holding the toothpick, dip each buckeye ball into the melted chocolate about ¾ of the way. Place on the prepared tray and allow the chocolate to set before removing the toothpick. Smooth over the top of the buckeye using your fingertip or a knife. Return the buckeyes to the refrigerator to reset.
Notes
- Storage: These are best kept stored in the refrigerator. After 15 minutes or so at room temperature, the buckeyes will begin to soften. They will keep in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to a month.
- Freezing: Once set, pre-freeze the buckeyes on a baking sheet, then transfer the frozen candies to an airtight container or freezer bag to store. You can keep them frozen for up to 3 months, and defrost them in the fridge.
- To remove the Buckeyes from the parchment paper, wait until the chocolate and peanut butter is reset, cold, and firm. A flat-edge angled spatula can be helpful, as well as ensuring you’re using parchment paper or a silicone mat.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1
- Calories: 174
- Sugar: 15.9 g
- Sodium: 37.8 mg
- Fat: 10.4 g
- Carbohydrates: 18.5 g
- Fiber: 1.1 g
- Protein: 2.5 g
- Cholesterol: 6.7 mg
Can vegan butter be used , I’d love to try these ?
I have not tested it with vegan butter