Buckeye Balls are simple, peanut butter and chocolate no bake candies. Buckeye candy is super easy to make and no one can resist these easy homemade candies!
What are Buckeye Balls?
Buckeye Candy is a super simple no bake peanut butter ball that is dipped in chocolate, leaving the top portion of the peanut butter ball exposed. The finished treat resembles the nut that falls from a Buckeye Tree! Hence the name, Buckeye Candy.
Ingredients for Buckeye Candy Recipe
To make Buckeye Candy you will need the ingredients and equipment listed below.
- Butter, softened (I generally use salted butter)
- Creamy peanut butter (make sure it isn’t the natural kind)
- Powdered sugar
- Vanilla extract
- A pinch of salt
- Semi-sweet chocolate chips
- Vegetable shortening or coconut oil
Equipment needed to make this Buckeye Recipe
- medium sized bowl for peanut butter candy
- small bowl for melting chocolate
- wooden spoon/silicone spoon
- small Cookie Scoop
- parchment paper
- cookie Sheet
- toothpicks
How to make Buckeye Candy
Making Buckeye Candy is very simple. To start, we will focus on the peanut butter ball. The peanut butter ball is made up of just a few ingredients and can come together with just a spoon and some elbow grease! You can use a stand mixer if you’d like though.
It is important to start with room temperature butter and peanut butter. Mix those together until smooth. Next we will add 1 1/2 cups of powdered sugar. Reserve that last 1/2 cup for later. Also add in the vanilla and salt.
Mix and stir until it becomes crumbly. At this point, turn it out onto the counter and knead by hand. This is where that remaining powdered sugar comes into play. Slowly knead in the remaining 1/2 cup of powdered sugar until you have a nice and smooth mixture. The texture should be similar to a stiff cookie dough.
Use a small cookie scoop to portion out the peanut butter mixture evenly. Roll the balls until smooth. You may need to put some powdered sugar onto your hands to help this step.
Place on a parchment paper lined cookie sheet and freeze for 15 minutes.
While the peanut butter balls are in the freezer, microwave the chocolate chips along with the shortening until melted. I recommend microwaving for 30 second intervals, stirring after each one, until smooth.
Use a toothpick to help while dipping the peanut butter balls into the chocolate. For best results, scrape the chocolate off of the bottom of the peanut butter ball. This will help so the chocolate doesn’t pool around the bottom.
Once all of the balls have been dipped, freeze for an additional 15 minutes. Remove from the freezer and use your finger tip to smooth over the hole that the toothpick left.
How to Store Buckeye Balls
You do not need to store these in the fridge, however I recommend it because they are so much easier to eat when the chocolate isn’t half melted. 😉 Just store in a zip top bag in the fridge. They will stay good for up to 1 week but, really, they won’t last that long!
What chocolate is best for dipping?
When making candy like this I really find that dipping chocolate just works best. However, you can use chocolate chips instead. I find it works best when you add a small amount – about 1/2 tsp- of shortening or coconut oil to the chocolate chips when you melt them in the microwave.
How do you melt chocolate in the microwave?
Melting chocolate in the microwave is easy if you go slowly. Always use a glass or ceramic bowl and chocolate that’s not old. To melt 1 cup of chocolate chips I’d begin with 1 minute in the microwave. After the 1 minute, let chocolate sit for 2-3 minutes. Then, gently stir and see if chocolate begins to melt smooth. If it’s still really solid, add 20 seconds in the microwave, then let it sit again. Often chocolate looks like it’s not melted when it really is, and you don’t know for sure until you gently stir it. If your chocolate melts but it’s too thick to work with, try adding 1/2 teaspoon of coconut oil or shortening, then letting it melt and stirring it in.
Buckeye Balls
Buckeye Candy is a simple, no bake dessert. The fudge-like peanut butter ball is dipped into melted chocolate to make this classic treat.
Print Pin Rate
Prep Time: 20 minutes
Chill time: 15 minutes
Total Time: 35 minutes
Servings: 20
Calories: 246
Ingredients
- 1/4 cup butter softened
- 1 cup creamy peanut butter
- 2 cups powdered sugar divided
- 1 tsp vanilla
- 1 pinch salt
- 12 oz semi-sweet chocolate chips
- 2 tsp vegetable shortening
Instructions
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In a medium sized bowl using either a wooden or silicone spoon, combine the butter and peanut butter until smooth.
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Add in 1 1/2 cups powdered sugar, vanilla and salt. Mix as well as you can and then turn onto the table and knead.
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Slowly knead in the remaining 1/2 cup of powdered sugar.
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Use a small cookie scoop to divide up the peanut butter mixer evently. Roll into balls.
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Place on a parchment paper lined cookie sheet and freeze for 15 minutes.
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Melt the chocolate and vegetable shortening for 30 second intervals in the microwave until smooth.
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Use a toothpick to hold the top of the peanut butter ball while dipping in chocolate. Dip into the chocolate leaving the top of the peanut butter ball exposed.
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Return to the parchment paper and repeat with remaining peanut butter balls. Use the tip of your finger to smooth over the hole the toothpick created.
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Freeze for an additional 15 minutes, until set. Enjoy!
Notes
You can easily make this recipe with a stand mixer or electric hand mixer if you would like!
Nutrition
Calories: 246kcal | Carbohydrates: 23g | Protein: 4g | Fat: 16g | Saturated Fat: 7g | Cholesterol: 7mg | Sodium: 83mg | Potassium: 180mg | Fiber: 2g | Sugar: 19g | Vitamin A: 80IU | Calcium: 17mg | Iron: 1.3mg
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This Buckeye Recipe is an amazing homemade candy recipe that involves no baking, and big smiles! This easy Buckeye Balls recipe is the perfect mix of chocolate and peanut butter. No one will be forgetting this unique buckeye candy recipe anytime soon.
