Easy Recipe for Buckeyes
These rich, fudge-like Peanut Butter Buckeye Balls are so easy to make with just 5 simple ingredients! I’ve perfected this no-bake treat recipe, and the results are incredibly delicious and perfect for gifting! If they’re not already part of your holiday traditions, I guarantee they will be once you try them!
The Best Creamy Buckeye Balls Recipe
It’d be almost impossible to find a dessert combination better than peanut butter and chocolate. If you love peanut butter cups, you’re destined to love these Buckeyes too!
There’s something truly special about Buckeyes—maybe it’s the nostalgia that comes with them. Since I started making these for the holidays a few years back, my family has become obsessed with the texture and flavor of these sweet little treats!
From their rich, fudge-like peanut butter centers to that perfect shell of chocolate, Buckeyes deliver delicious comfort and a little trip down memory lane in every bite.
Now these always make an appearance at our holiday gatherings, and they have become a tradition I look forward to every year.
This easy peanut butter bonbons recipe is similar to my Peanut Butter Balls but without graham crackers, allowing this Buckeye Candy to have a more fudge-like texture. It’s heavenly, trust me!
This easy recipe makes roughly 3 dozen rich and smooth buckeye balls, plenty to share or plenty to sneak a treat one by one without anyone noticing!
This is the very BEST recipe for peanut butter balls ever! The sweet, creamy peanut butter filling is insanely delicious! I make this recipe multiple times around the holidays, and they’re always a favorite! – Carol S.
Why You’ll Love This Easy Buckeye Recipe
- They Keep Well! Keep them in the refrigerator for up to 7 days or in the freezer for up to 3 months.
- It’s Easy! Only 5 ingredients stand between you and these creamy peanut butter balls!
- Taste & Texture! If you want to know what these taste like, imagine a piece of Peanut Butter Fudge dipped in chocolate; that’s it!
- Make Them Ahead Of Time! If preparing for a Christmas party or building up a dessert stash to put together your yearly treat containers for loved ones, whip these up first, then store them, and make your other treats closer to delivery day.
Buckeye Balls Recipe Ingredients You’ll Need
This easy Buckeyes recipe has a short ingredients list consisting of things you probably already have on hand, like:
- powdered sugar
- creamy peanut butter
- butter
- vanilla
- melting wafers
Easy Buckeye Recipe Substitutions
You can also easily substitute wafers for semi-sweet chocolate chips and add ½ teaspoon of coconut oil for every cup of chocolate chips used to help with smoothness.
Can I Use An All-Natural Peanut Butter?
I recommend using Jif creamy peanut butter since I have not tested this buckeye recipe with all-natural peanut butter.
How To Make Buckeye Balls
- Cream together the peanut butter, butter, and vanilla in a large bowl or a stand mixer, then sift in the powdered sugar and beat until smooth.
- After the peanut butter mixture chills in the refrigerator for about 30 minutes, roll it into balls, then place them on a baking sheet lined with parchment paper and chill in the freezer for another 20 to 30 minutes. I promise this mouthwatering sweet treat is worth every single minute of waiting!
- Continue by melting the chocolate just before you take the balls out of the freezer to dip with a toothpick.
- Once each ball is dipped in chocolate, allow them to set up at room temperature until the chocolate hardens, then waste no time eating the very first buckeye ball!
Rebecca’s Buckeye Balls Recipe Tips
- How Come The Chocolate Didn’t Stick To The Balls? If the peanut butter balls aren’t quickly dipped once they come out of the freezer, they begin to sweat, making it harder for the chocolate to stick. Try taking a small batch out of the freezer at a time to be dipped as you go.
- How Do You Prevent the Chocolate Coating From Cracking or Separating? The secret to ensuring your chocolate coating stays perfectly intact is all about temperature! If your buckeye balls are too cold when dipped, the sudden temperature difference can cause the chocolate to crack as it cools. To avoid this, let your chilled peanut butter balls sit out for a few minutes so they’re cold but not rock-solid before dipping.
- Using High-Quality Chocolate makes all the Difference! Use quality melting wafers or chocolate chips (try brands like Ghirardelli or Guittard for a smooth finish), and let your freshly dipped buckeyes set at room temperature. This helps prevent any sudden temperature shifts that might cause the chocolate to separate. Patience pays off for that gorgeous, glossy finish!
- How Do I Cover Up The Toothpick Hole After I Dip Them? Gently cover up the hole using your finger or a paring knife.
How To Store Buckeye Balls
For best results, store the buckeyes in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 2 weeks.
How Do I Freeze These Buckeyes?
Once the chocolate has hardened, place them in an air-tight container or bag, and separate each layer of balls with wax paper. Buckeye Candy will last up to 3 months in the freezer!
With peanut butter desserts being a crowd pleaser, be sure to check out my other peanut butter recipes, such as Peanut Butter Pie, Nutter Butter Balls, or Easy Peanut Butter Cheesecake.
More Perfect Peanut Butter Recipes!
- Creamy Peanut Butter Fudge – A classic enjoyed by everyone!
- Peanut Butter Frosting – Once you try this frosting recipe, you won’t use any other!
- Oatmeal & Peanut Butter Mug Cake – Get your sweet and salty fix in just 5 minutes!
- Peanut Butter & Banana Doggy Bites – Even a peanut butter treat for your pup!
Did You Make This Recipe?
If you’ve tried this recipe, please let leave a review in the comments below. I love hearing from you! Don’t forget to tag me – @sugarandsoulco – on Instagram and Pinterest with your photos, or join our Sugar & Soul Show-offs Community and share them there.
Buckeye Recipe (Easy!)
Ingredients
- 1⅓ cup creamy peanut butter
- ½ cup salted butter softened
- 1 teaspoons vanilla extract
- 3 cups powdered sugar an additional 1/2 cup may be needed – see recipe
- 3 cups chocolate melting wafers
Instructions
- Add the peanut butter, butter, and vanilla to a large bowl or stand mixer and cream together for 30 seconds.
- Sift 3 cups of the powdered sugar into the bowl and beat until smooth. If the mixture is still too soft, beat in an additional 1/2 cup. The mixture should stick together but not be sticky, moore of a set fudge texture.
- Chill the mixture in the refrigerator for 30 minutes.
- Line a cookie sheet with parchment paper and portion the peanut butter mixture out with a medium cookie scoop and roll into balls. Place them on the cookie sheet and chill in the freezer for 20 to 30 minutes.
- Just before removing the balls from the freezer, melt the chocolate melting wafers in a wide glass on 30-second intervals, stirring between each, until fully melted.
- Use a toothpick to spear the balls and dip them in the melted chocolate. Use a fork to help remove the toothpick from the ball and place back on the parchment paper.
- Use your finger or a paring knife to lightly cover the hole from the toothpick.
- Allow to set until the chocolate hardens.
Video
Notes
- Store in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 7 days or freeze in a freezer bag for up to 3 months.
- Jif creamy peanut butter was used in this recipe and I have never tested it with all-natural peanut butter.
- Chocolate chips may be used in place of the melting wafers. Add ½ teaspoon of coconut oil to every cup of chocolate chips for smoothness.
- There will be excess chocolate remaining since you need to be able to dip these balls almost fully without covering the tops, so you need the chocolate to be deep enough at all times for the balls to sink in.
- Don’t let the balls sit out too long before dipping because they can start to sweat and it will make it hard for the chocolate to stick.
- Do not freeze for more than 30 minutes prior to dipping. Place in the refrigerator if not ready to dip.
Nutrition
Did You Make This Recipe?
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Share your thoughts!
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This is the very BEST recipe for peanut butter balls ever! The sweet creamy peanut butter filling is insanely delicious! I make this recipe multiple times around the holidays and they’re always a favorite!
What if I do not have salted butter?
unsalted is fine to use, just add 1/4 teaspoon of salt to the recipe.
I’ve been making these for years! My favorite! But the first batch I just baked lost their shape n look more like a cookie they are not a ball what did I do wrong
Did you bake them? This is a no-bake recipe. Could it be that you didn’t add enough sugar or maybe too much butter? What kind of peanut butter did you use?
My mixture is crumbly should I add more of something??
Hi Clair, if the mix is crumbly, start by adding an additional 1/4 cup of peanut butter and see if that brings it together. You want the mixture to stick together but not be sticky.