These peanut butter buckeyes are a Midwestern classic! The combination of creamy peanut butter and semi-sweet chocolate is irresistible.
Buckeye Peanut Butter Balls
If you're from anywhere else in the country, you probably call this recipe peanut butter balls. But here in Central Ohio, where we bleed scarlet and gray, this is the recipe for buckeyes. No respectable Ohio State vs. Michigan bash would be complete without them, and a freezer full of these little delicacies is a holiday must.
No matter what you call them, one thing I think we can all safely agree on is that this cookie/candy is lip-smacking good! If you like Reese's Peanut Butter Cups, this buckeye recipe is infinitely better — creamier, more peanut butter-y, the ideal size, and they pair perfectly with a cold glass of milk.
Tips for making buckeyes or peanut butter balls:
- If your butter isn't room temperature, you can quickly soften it with this tip or microwave it in 10 second intervals until it's softened.
- Work the powdered sugar in a little at a time using a wooden spoon.
- Don't have a double boiler? Here's how to make one.
- When dipping the buckeyes, use the edge of the double boiler bowl to wipe off some of the excess chocolate on the bottom. If you set them down on the parchment paper too quickly, it will just run off and spread.
- Buckeyes will keep for approximately two weeks refrigerated in an airtight container, or for a real treat, try freezing them.
So which do you call them — buckeyes or peanut butter balls?
Printable Recipe ↓
Peanut Butter Buckeyes
Ingredients
- 2 cups creamy peanut butter
- ¼ cup unsalted butter room temperature
- ¼ teaspoon salt
- ½ teaspoon pure vanilla extract
- 2 ½ cups powdered sugar
- 9 ounces semi-sweet chocolate chips
- 2 tablespoon Crisco shortening
Instructions
- Mix together peanut butter, butter, salt, and vanilla extract.
- Work in the powdered sugar until it's completely incorporated.
- Roll the peanut butter mixture into 1" balls. Place on a parchment-lined baking sheet and freeze for 15-20 minutes.
- Melt the chocolate and shortening in a double boiler.
- Using a toothpick, dip the balls one at a time in the chocolate leaving a small circle undipped to resemble a buckeye. Or you can use two forks to roll the peanut butter balls in chocolate, completely coating them.
More Easy Homemade Candy Recipes
If you like this peanut butter buckeyes recipe, you might also enjoy these other delicious homemade candy recipes:
- 4-Ingredient Crack Candy Toffee
- Peanut Butter Fudge With Marshmallow Cream
- Old Fashioned Peppermint Bark
- White Chocolate Haystacks
Love buckeye balls but want a healthier fix? Then you will ADORE these peanut butter protein balls! They're made with just 5 ingredients and are packed with protein and healthy fats...
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Janet says
No one mentioned almond bark to coat the buckeyes. Why not?
John says
I do call them Buckeyes, being from Toledo originally and introducing them to people in coastal North Carolina. But they also know.....this is the only good version of a Buckeye........GO BLUE!!!
Sherrie says
Has anyone come up with a way to make buckeyes for those people with a peanut allergy. I make buckeyes all the time, but now my grandson has a peanut allergy and I don't want to tempt him with something he cannot have. Any suggestions?
Tara @ Unsophisticook says
I've not tried this, Sherrie, but perhaps you could try substituting Biscoff Spread for the peanut butter.
Jean says
Add mini chocolate chips to the peanut butter mixture after the other ingredients are mixed.. They are delicious. I made them like this for my candy shop.
Tara @ Unsophisticook says
Mmm, that sounds so good! Now I want to go make a batch just to try it.
Tana says
I worked at Purdue university for 18 years and one of my co-workers made peanut butter balls every Christmas. I think she called them both peanut butter balls and Buckeyes interchangeably.
b423 says
Woo hoo, I'm an OSU alum so I naturally LOVE BUCKEYES!
What can I substitute for the shortening? I don't own any and don't want to buy any.
Tara @ Unsophisticook says
I know you can use paraffin, but that's not something people generally have on hand. I'm not really sure beyond that. I tried using coconut oil in the past, but the chocolate didn't set up when I used it. :(
Terra says
We call them Buckeyes here in Nebraska too! Love making them and sharing them every Christmas!
debbie says
im in ky. we call them buckeye balls if not completely covered in choc but if there r then it's peanut butter balls :) :)
Gloria says
Last year I made 24 dozen to send to the troops .One of the soldiers that recieved a box was from Ohio and a nephew of one of my friends here in Alabama. He wrote and told her that he was just talking about holiday candy from Ohio and here comes a box full of Buckeyes .I will continue to make Buckeyes for our Troops !! God Love them All !! I've been in Alabama for 27 years but grew up in Ohio and always make Buckeyes for my Bama friends !!
Tara @ Unsophisticook says
What a great treat to send, Gloria!
Jamie | My Baking Addiction says
I'm from Ohio - so I love me some Buckeyes! Thanks so much for linking them up in the Holiday Recipe Exchange!
Delia Cuevas says
i like all that food look good its for dite polpe
Spiderman says
looks totally yummy!
Jenn says
Has anyone tried them with chunky/crunchy peanut butter?
Tara @ Unsophisticook says
I haven't tried it, Jenn, but I think that if you like crunchy PB it would be just as good!
Mariceladare says
Exactly the same idea I was thinking while looking at the ingredients! Its fun experimenting with recipes, after all - just make sure you brush your teeth well after eating. This stuff looks VERY sweet!
Nancy says
Making these with my grandchildren has become an annual tradition. Since they live out of state, we make them whether it's their summer vacation trip or Christmas. They are now teens, but when small and helping while standing on a step stool, one of them would grab a handful of dough and sneak it in his mouth. We call them peanut butter balls until we start running out of the melted chocolate ~~ the rest of them get half-dipped and become buckeyes!
Tara @ Unsophisticook says
That's so cute, Nancy — what a great tradition!
Patty says
Thanks so much for your help! :o)
Patty says
Ug! That should read: We've had ours one week . . . lol
Tara says
Oh, I would think they're still fine. Ours have never lasted that long though, LOL!
Jen Lanam says
All of the ingredients normally sit out at room temperature anyway, so they should be fine. The only thing that may have a shorter life at room temp is the butter, but as long as you don't get toast crumbs or jam in it, it's fine at room temp, too.
Patty says
How long do Buckeyes last at room temperature? We've had our one week, sitting in a tightly covered container at room temperature. They taste great but someone said throw them out because they are 7 days old. Just hate to waste them!! Thanks!
Kortney says
Don't Know but I'm glad that you found out. :-)
Jessica says
How long have these been around.And why did I just discover them. :-)
Kortney says
Me and my mom as a mother doughter bonde thing are making some for Christmas.I'm really wondering if they will last that long.By the way we call them buckeys in Florida:-)
Kortney Atkins says
I don't blame them these are so good there like heaven.
Alicia C. says
We did it! My kids both helped. I tossed a half-batch worth of ingredients into a bowl for my two-year-old and then tried not to notice the peanutbuttery mess he was making! My 12 year-old loved being in charge of the melting chocolate. We all ate way too many, but *someone* had to taste them to make sure they were good enough to hand out, right???
Tara says
Yay, sounds like fun! Mine definitely did not last as long as I would have liked. My five kids raided the refrigerator — I went to grab one a couple of days after posting this and only found an empty bowl!
Jen Lanam says
Alicia, CONGRATULATIONS for putting the fun with your kids over perfectionist results! Isn't that what baking with your kids is all about?
Lacey says
I just made my third batch this week. I added a roughly a tablespoon of the paraffin wax with the two tablespoons of Crisco and a bag of pealed Hershey kisses. Currently cheaper then chocolate chips. I arranged the mini cupcake liners on what ever I was serving them on. By placing the liners on serving tray then placing the warm chocolate ball in the liner it helped it to stick to the serving dish and make transport a breeze. They were not so stuck that it was odious to the party goers. And with the help of the wax the chocolate did not end up on any fingers. Yummy
Denise says
I'm from Maine originally, living in Florida now, and we've always known these as Buckeyes. But, I wanted opinions on whether or not anyone has ever tried food coloring in the peanut butter mixture? I was thinking about making holiday color buckeye 'ornaments', but I don't know...
Ciaira says
What's a good way to package these as a gift? I would love to hear ideas... I was thinking putting them in a jar, but I'm not sure if they would stick together or not. Please help, I'm new at this!
Tara says
I'd be afraid they might stick too... I'd suggest either arranging them in a box in individual mini cupcake papers or twisting them up individually in some waxed paper. Actually, I guess the jars might work if you loosely stack them row by row with a circle of waxed paper in between each row. The key would be not to pack them in too tightly.
Alicia C. says
We set ours into little candy cups (like a smaller version of cupcake liners) after we dipped them into chocolate. I bought cookie tins at the thrift store to put ours in. They seal tight and you can get them for around a dime each.
Kortney Atkins says
Put some flour or powdered suger inbetween so they wonl't stick.
Rachel says
As a former Buckeye (both from the State & the school) i love this!! Thanks!!
Deanna says
Ok, so I don't mean to sound like an air head, but what does it mean when its says melt the chocolate and shortening in a double boiler? And I know someone that makes them and they add parafan wax as well, but how much? OH.... here in California we call them Buckeyes too.
Tara says
A double boiler is kind of a pot that sits on top of another pot. You fill the bottom pot with water and bring it to a boil, and the top pot is what you melt the chocolate in. You don't really need a fancy getup though — just sit a heatproof bowl on top of a saucepan of boiling water.
Lacey says
I thought it was something fancy too until Giada used it on her Food Network show. She placed a glass mixing bowl inside of a sauce pan. The kind that has a rim on it. The one thing she said is that the boiling water should never touch the bowl. It is just the steam that melts the chocolate. She did not add the wax but I'm going to try it.
Lacey says
Can I use this at my cookie exchange? Not technically a cookie but to yummy not to pass on.
Tara says
Sure — share the buckeye love!
Marcia says
I am from PA and they are Buckeyes here also. I have heard that using a crockpot to melt the chocolate also works well.
Susan says
In KY, they're 'buckeyes' too! We have to have them every Christmas!
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Rachel F. says
LOL I'm from 10 miles away from Ann Arbor, MI and we call them Buckeyes also... It may be the only way U of M fans can chew the buckeyes up for a while! It sure doesn't happen on the football field! :) I LOVE buckeyes balls and make sure to eat a few every year! :)
Lynette @ Cleverly Simple says
That's funny. Go ....Bucks! I hope you win all your games...BUT ONE {of course} next year!
Liz@HoosierHomemade says
Well...over here in Indiana, we call them Buckeyes also :-)
And yours sure do look yummy! I wish I had one right now! Thanks for sharing Tara!
~Liz
Tia says
I'm also from Ohio and have always known these as buckeyes as well. We always add a little bit of wax (paraffin) in with the chocolate which keeps it from melting as easily and it makes the chocolate shiny. Just use a little and you can't tell it's there.
Tara says
Yes, paraffin is a great way to improve the stability if you want to leave them at room temperature for awhile. But you definitely want to be careful about how much you add, like you mentioned. I've had some where they just tasted waxy and not very chocolatey, a big disappointment.
Alicia C. says
I'm from Toledo and Buckeyes were a holiday staple - just as important as a tree and gifts. Over the years, I've forgotten how to make these and, eventually, even forgot Buckeyes even existed. I sure am glad to be an email sunscriber - they'll be made in southern Michigan this year! Thanks!
Tara says
Love it — go Buckeyes!!!