Peanut butter and chocolate are a match made in heaven so who could resist a buckeye ball or two?? Buckeyes taste like peanut butter cups with an emphasis on the peanut butter! Not too sweet, really creamy, and so satisfying.
What You’ll Need for This Recipe
Chocolate: Semisweet chocolate chips work well for this recipe but chocolate in bar form is easier to melt. You can use bittersweet, dark chocolate, or milk chocolate if preferred.
Coconut oil: This optional ingredient makes it easier to get a thin dipping consistency. You can sub in shortening or even butter if needed.
How to Make Buckeyes
1. Add the peanut butter, butter, and vanilla to a stand mixer fitted with a paddle attachment and mix on low.
2. After 30 seconds or so stop and scrape the bowl down and mix until thoroughly combined.
3. Slowly add confectioners’ sugar and mix on medium low. Really important to scrape the bowl down here too!
4. Pinch off about a tablespoon of the mixture and roll balls in the palms of your hands. Chill to firm.
5. Melt the chocolate and coconut oil in a medium bowl and mix to combine. Set aside and allow to cool to room temp.
6. Using a toothpick, dip each chilled peanut butter ball into the chocolate. Remove toothpick and smooth hole over with a knife.
Pro Tips for Making this Recipe
- If your butter isn’t room temp then just cut the sticks into a few slices and microwave on 50% power in 5 second bursts. Flip the butter with every burst.
- These buckeyes will keep in the fridge for up to two weeks, just make sure they’re covered.
- Its so important to scrape that bowl down after adding the powdered sugar. I forgot to once and the top was super firm but the bottom of the bowl was VERY soft.
- Coconut oil helps thin the chocolate so it’s easier to dip your buckeyes but you can use shortening if that’s what you have on hand.
- The butter can be reduced a tablespoon for a firmer ball if desired.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why are they called buckeyes?
This no bake peanut butter treat closely resembles buckeye nuts! The buckeye is the state tree of Ohio and as you can imagine this dessert is pretty popular in Ohio and the neighboring states. Before I looked it up I thought they were named after the football team.
How do you dip them?
- Chill the balls and insert a toothpick or wooden skewer about 3/4 the way in.
- Dip into the cooled chocolate and gently wipe the bottom on the side of the bowl to remove excess chocolate.
- Place buckeyes on a sheet of parchment paper and chill.
- Twist toothpick or skewer to remove from ball and use a small knife to smooth the hole over.
Whats the best peanut butter to use for these cookies?
- For best results use a smooth, salted peanut butter for your buckeyes.
- There’s no need to use a sweetened peanut butter but if that’s what you have on hand it will work just fine. You can always decrease the sugar if desired.
- If you’re using a natural peanut butter without stabilizers make sure to mix really well after opening the jar. The oil heavy top of that jar will make very runny buckeyes.
If you love this recipe try these out!
If you’ve tried this buckeye recipe then don’t forget to leave a rating and let me know how you got on in the comments below, I love hearing from you!
Buckeyes
Video
Equipment
- Bowl
Ingredients
- 1 cup peanut butter smooth, 240g
- 5 tbsp unsalted butter 70g
- 2 cups powdered sugar 240g
- 1 tsp vanilla extract 5mL
- 2 cups semisweet chocolate 340g
- 2 tbsp coconut oil 30mL, optional
Instructions
- Cream the peanut butter and butter together with the vanilla extract.
- Add powdered sugar and mix on low until combined. Scrape down bowl and mix again.
- Pinch off tablespoon sized pieces and roll into balls. About 20g if you're weighing.
- Transfer balls to a baking sheet and chill until firm. At least 20 minutes.
- Add chocolate and coconut oil to a medium bowl and melt on 50% power in the microwave. Stir to combine and set aside to cool to room temperature.
- Use a skewer or toothpick to dip the peanut butter balls into the chocolate. Leave a bit of the peanut butter exposed for that signature buckeye pea look.
- Chill to allow the chocolate to firm up and enjoy. If you want to remove the holes left from the skewers, run a small knife or spatula over the tops.
Notes
- These will keep in the fridge for up to two weeks, just make sure they're covered.
- So important to scrape that bowl down after adding the powdered sugar. I forgot to once and to top was super firm but the bottom of the bowl was VERY soft.
- Coconut oil helps thin the chocolate so it's easier to dip things but you can use shortening if that's what you have on hand.
- The butter can be reduced a tablespoon for a firmer ball if desired.
Nutrition
I tried these with natural peanut butter and they were incredibly soft. I’ve had these candies in the past and they were stored at room temp, but mine are too soft to be kept outside the fridge. My husband and I found them to be too sweet, but my kids are all over them.
Made these for my brother-in-law’s birthday because he LOVES chocolate and peanut butter. They were a hit! So easy and fun to make! Thank you!