This classic Peanut Butter Buckeye recipe are no-bake creamy peanut butter balls dipped in chocolate, only require a few ingredients and come together in a matter of minutes. No Christmas cookie tray is complete unless it is overflowing with the BEST homemade buckeye candies! This is an easy Buckeyes recipe making these little chocolate peanut butter balls perfect for any holiday cookie exchange, bake sale or a great homemade gift.

Peanut Butter Buckeyes

When it comes to the classic combination of peanut butter and chocolate, these Peanut Butter Buckeyes candy is a winner every time!

Some of my favorite recipes include Chocolate Peanut Butter Pie, Homemade Reese’s Bars and even my Buckeye Dip.

So really, adding the BEST Peanut Butter Buckeyes recipe into the mix was only a matter of time.

Now, I make these little old fashioned peanut butter balls all year long because they only need a handful of ingredients and are the perfect easy no-bake dessert to treat your family and friends.

But when it comes to the holidays, every Christmas cookie tray has to have the BEST Buckeyes. They are delicious, easy to make and totally pop-able!

You can clear an entire quadrant of the serving tray in a matter of minutes if you set your mind to it.

BEST BUCKEYE RECIPE

Let’s be honest, there are a million Buckeye candy recipes on the internet. So what makes this one so special? Why do you need these peanut butter candies in your life TODAY? Let me give you the 411…!

Chocolate + Peanut butter = Happiness
This easy Buckeye recipe delivers super creamy peanut butter balls coated in a semi-sweet chocolate shell that gives you that amazing ‘snap’ with every bite.
This Buckeye recipe is made using just a few pantry ingredients you already have on hand. No extra trips to the grocery store needed…
I’ve always used the classic Jif Peanut Butter Buckeyes recipe but there’s a tiny little secret ingredient in my recipe. You can leave it out if you like and you will still have amazing Buckeyes but if you add in just a pinch of espresso powder, you will thank me for it later.
Reese cups are awesome but there are only two in a package.. this homemade Buckeyes recipe can give you 48.

To make these sweet peanut butter balls of happiness, you will need:

Creamy peanut butter
Butter
Powdered sugar
Vanilla extract
Semi-sweet chocolate chips
Shortening
Salt
Espresso powder (optional)

HOW DO YOU MAKE BUCKEYES

To make these Peanut Butter Buckeyes, start by combining peanut butter, butter, vanilla and salt in a large mixing bowl until smooth and creamy.

Mix in 3 cups sifted powdered sugar until well blended.

Shape a spoonful of peanut butter into a 1-inch ball. Your peanut butter batter should be easy to work with and shouldn’t stick to your hands.

Once your peanut butter balls are rolled, place them on a cookie sheet lined with parchment paper. Chill for 30 minutes in the freezer or 45 minutes in the refrigerator.
Pour chocolate chips, a touch of espresso powder and add the shortening to a work bowl on top of a double boiler. I use a standard cook pot and place a glass or stainless bowl so that it sits on top.

Add 1 cup of water in the bottom pan of the double boiler and simmer on medium. As the top bowl warms from the steam of the hot water below it, stir the melting chocolate until it is smooth.

Remove the melted chocolate from the stove.

Grab your chilled peanut butter balls and insert a toothpick into the top of each ball.

Gently dip 3/4 of ball into the melted chocolate, leaving the top uncovered. Allow excess chocolate to drip from the buckeye then place the buckeye back onto your parchment paper lined baking sheet.

Return your peanut butter buckeyes to chill again for another 15 minutes then remove the toothpick and smooth over the holes with your fingertip.

THE TRICK TO NOT LOOSING YOUR BALLS

Yup. I said it.

No matter how chill you get your Buckeye candies, it’s inevitable that you will stab your ball with your toothpick and lower it into the melted chocolate and (gasp!!), your peanut butter ball slides off your toothpick!!

What to do?

Before you make a colossal mess, simply reinsert your toothpick and continue rolling your Buckeye around in the chocolate until properly coated. Then slightly angle your peanut butter to the side before pulling straight up. Crisis averted!

EASY WAY TO MELT CHOCOLATE

Until recently, I have always struggled with melting chocolate. I would always try to melt my chocolate in the microwave and every time I would end up with a big blog of seized up unhappiness. Want to know the secret?

Low and slow! Use the double boiler method and you will succeed every time. A double boiler is basically a pan that sits on top of another smaller pan.

Water simmers in the bottom pan and the chocolate melts in the top pan from the heat of the water boiling below it.

Be sure to keep the water in the bottom pot simmering at Medium to Medium-Low heat.

If your water gets too hot, your chocolate will also get too hot and that is usually what causes chocolate to seize up.

WHAT IS A BUCKEYE CANDY?

According to Ohio State Buckeyes, a buckeye is a small, dark brown nut with a light tan patch that comes from the official state tree of Ohio, the buckeye tree.

But if we are taking food, a Buckeye is an easy, tasty no-bake dessert! These Buckeyes are creamy peanut butter balls dipped in chocolate that look like those dark brown and tan nuts from Ohio.

Except these Buckeyes taste better!

PRO TIPS FOR PERFECT PEANUT BUTTER BUCKEYES

These peanut butter candies take a bit of pre-planning. Remember to plan time and refrigerator space for chilling your peanut butter balls before and after dipping them in the chocolate.
If your peanut butter batter is crumbly, add more peanut butter. If it is too wet and sticks to your hands, add more powdered sugar.
Natural peanut butter is too oily to be used in this recipe. You want to reach for a traditional jar of peanut butter like Peter Pan or Jif.
For this no bake candy recipe, feel free to use semi-sweet chocolate, dark chocolate or milk chocolate.. whichever you prefer.
Use high-quality chocolate so that it melts smoothly and easily.
Adding espresso powder will bring out an extra depth to the chocolate flavor.. but totally OK to leave it out if you want. Either way, these are amazing!!!
If your peanut butter ball slides off it’s toothpick when dipping, simply reinsert your toothpick and continue rolling your Buckeye around in the chocolate until properly coated. Then slightly angle your peanut butter to the side before pulling straight up.
Buckeye balls can be kept in an airtight container in the fridge for several weeks.. like they aren’t going to be devoured before then?
These Peanut Butter Buckeye freeze beautifully so you can always have them on hand for a quick grab and go snack. Simply move them to an airtight container or freezer zip top bag for up to 3 months.

MORE NO BAKE DESSERT RECIPES YOU WILL LOVE

Enjoy!

DID YOU MAKE THIS RECIPE?

I would love for you to leave a rating and a comment below! Let me know, how’d you do?! ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐