Description
This Easy Homemade Buckeyes recipe creates classic chocolate peanut butter candies that are perfect for any occasion. Creamy peanut butter balls are dipped in melted chocolate, leaving a small portion exposed to resemble the nut they’re named after. With simple ingredients and straightforward steps, these delightful treats are ready in about 45 minutes and yield 36 servings.
Ingredients
Scale
Peanut Butter Mixture
- 8 tablespoons unsalted butter, room temperature
- 1 ½ cups creamy peanut butter (do not use natural peanut butter)
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- ⅛ teaspoon kosher salt
- 3 ½ cups powdered sugar
Chocolate Coating
- 10 ounces milk chocolate melting wafers (e.g. Ghirardelli)
- ½ cup semi-sweet chocolate chips
Instructions
- Prepare the pan: Line a sheet pan with parchment paper to prevent the buckeyes from sticking after dipping.
- Cream the butter and peanut butter: Using a mixer, blend unsalted butter and creamy peanut butter together until smooth and fully combined, about 2 minutes.
- Add flavor and salt: Beat in vanilla extract and kosher salt until evenly incorporated into the mixture.
- Incorporate powdered sugar: Add 1 ½ cups powdered sugar and mix on low speed until mostly combined. Increase to high speed and beat for one minute. Repeat twice more, adding 1 cup powdered sugar each time. The mixture should be smooth, slightly crumbly, and not sticky to your fingers.
- Shape the buckeyes: Scoop the peanut butter mixture and roll into 1-inch balls. Place evenly spaced on the prepared baking sheet.
- Chill the balls: Freeze peanut butter balls for 30 minutes or refrigerate for 2 hours until very firm to make dipping easier.
- Melt the chocolate: Combine milk chocolate melting wafers and semi-sweet chocolate chips in a microwave-safe shallow bowl. Melt in 30-second increments at 50% power, stirring between each until smooth and fully melted. Avoid overheating.
- Dip the buckeyes: Using toothpicks or wooden skewers, dip each peanut butter ball into the melted chocolate, leaving the top exposed to resemble a buckeye nut. Gently wipe excess chocolate on the bowl edge before returning dipped buckeyes to parchment-lined sheet.
- Remove toothpicks: Carefully twist and remove the toothpick or skewer. Smooth over the small hole left with additional peanut butter mixture or a lightly wet finger, or leave as is.
- Set the chocolate: Allow the dipped buckeyes to sit until chocolate coating has fully set. Chill in the refrigerator until ready to serve.
Notes
- Do not use natural peanut butter as it makes the mixture too oily and affects texture.
- Use a mixer for creaming the butter and peanut butter for the smoothest texture.
- Chilling the peanut butter balls before dipping helps the chocolate adhere better and prevents melting.
- Be careful not to overheat the chocolate as it can seize and become grainy.
- To make removal of toothpicks easier, gently twist instead of pulling straight out.
- Store buckeyes in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 1 week.
- Allow buckeyes to return to room temperature for a few minutes before serving for best flavor.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 30 minutes
- Category: Dessert
- Method: No-Cook
- Cuisine: American
