Easy Buckeye recipe for the classic peanut butter balls dipped in chocolate. A no-bake candy treat with only 6 ingredients! Check it out!
Chocolate Dipped Candies are a huge hit during the holidays! They are an easy treat perfect for parties and cookie exchanges plus they make a great homemade gift! Make a tasty treat box with chocolate dipped peanut butter balls, Graham Crackers and Oreos.
Table of contents
Sabrina’s Easy Buckeye Balls Recipe
These classic chocolate peanut butter bites taste similar to homemade Reese’s peanut butter cups with almost none of the effort! They’re no-bake and only take six ingredients plus so you can make these ahead of time and put them in the freezer until you need them. And with my toothpick dipping trick, it’s a great beginner recipe for any little aspiring bakers in your family.
Video Guide
Ingredients
- Peanut Butter: These are best made with creamy peanut butter. You don’t want to use natural peanut butter because the oil separates easily.
- Unsalted Butter: Adds richness and a buttery flavor and helps bind everything.
- Vanilla Extract: Enhances the flavor with sweet, warm notes.
- Powdered Sugar: Sweetens and thickens the peanut butter dough.
- Semi-Sweet Chocolate Chips: The chocolate gives extra sweetness and adds that signature buckeye look. You can use dark chocolate chips too.
- Shortening: Adds gloss to the chocolate when it sets and aids in smoother dipping for a picture perfect coating.
How to Make
Time needed: 2 hours
- Prepare Dough
In a stand mixer, combine 1 ½ cups of peanut butter, ½ cup of unsalted butter (at room temperature), 1 teaspoon of vanilla extract, and 3 cups of powdered sugar. Beat the mixture until it forms a stiff dough.
- Shape
Roll the dough into balls using approximately 2 teaspoons of dough for each. Place the balls on a baking sheet lined with parchment paper.
- Chill
Refrigerate the peanut butter balls for at least 1 hour.
- Prepare Coating
In a microwave-safe bowl, melt 6 ounces of semi-sweet chocolate chips and 1 tablespoon of shortening in 30-second increments, stirring in between each increment. This should take around 60-90 seconds in total.
- Dip and Coat
Dip each peanut butter ball into the melted chocolate, leaving the top exposed to resemble a buckeye. Use a fork to help coat the balls evenly and scrape off excess chocolate.
- Chill to Set
Place the coated buckeye balls back on the parchment-lined baking sheet using a toothpick to transfer them. Refrigerate for at least 30-45 minutes to allow the chocolate coating to harden.
Recipe Card
Ingredients
- 1 1/2 cups peanut butter
- 1/2 cup unsalted butter , room temperature
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 3 cups powdered sugar , unsifted
- 6 ounces semi-sweet chocolate chips
- 1 tablespoon shortening
Instructions
- To a stand mixer add the peanut butter, butter, vanilla and powdered sugar and beat it until it forms a stiff dough then then roll the dough into balls made with 2 teaspoons of dough.
- Put the balls on a baking sheet lined with parchment paper then refrigerate for at least an hour.
- Using a microwave safe bowl to melt the chocolate and shortening in 30 second increments until fully melted (mix in between each 30 seconds, for 60-90 seconds total).
- Dip the balls almost all the way leaving the eye of the peanut butter ball showing before scraping the fork across the lip of the bowl to remove excess chocolate and using a toothpick to push the buckeye ball onto the parchment paper.
- Let harden for at least 30-45 minutes in the refrigerator before eating.
Video
Nutrition
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Chef’s Note: A Year Round Treat
Buckeye Balls make a great holiday gift and they are easy enough to add to the busiest holiday baking schedule. But you don’t have to save them for Christmas, they are easy to make all year round!. You can dip them in festive sprinkles for all different special occasions. Different holidays, different colored sprinkles from Thanksgiving to Christmas, to Valentine’s Day, the 4th of July, or even Easter.
Can I Make These in Advance?
Yes! They last awhile in the fridge or the freezer after they are made. But you can also make the peanut butter ball part a couple days in advance and then dip them in chocolate later.
Kitchen Tools and Equipment
- Stand Mixer: A stand mixer with a paddle attachment makes blending the peanut butter mixture easy. However, you can also use a hand mixer if you don’t have a stand mixer.
- Baking Sheet: Use a baking sheet lined with parchment paper to place the formed peanut butter balls for chilling.
- Bowl: Use a microwave-safe bowl to melt the chocolate and shortening for the coating. Ensure it’s heat-resistant and suitable for microwave use.
- Toothpicks: Toothpicks are useful for the dipping process to transfer them to the parchment without using your hands or having the chocolate pool under the fork.
- Fork: A fork is handy for dipping the peanut butter balls into the melted chocolate and for removing excess chocolate.
Nutritional Facts
Tips and Tricks
- I make this recipe with shortening to help thin the chocolate, but you can leave it out if you don’t have any.
- Make sure you line your cookie sheet with parchment paper or the balls will stick to the sheet.
- Don’t skip refrigerating (or freezing) the peanut butter balls before you dip them in chocolate. This is the key to getting the balls to hold their shape while you’re dipping!
- Make sure the peanut butter you use has sugar in the ingredients. You need a shelf-stable creamy peanut butter that has sweetness and holds up better than the natural version.
- When you’re rolling out the peanut butter balls, a trick you can use is to rub a small amount of butter between your hands. This will make sure the dough doesn’t stick to your hands while you’re forming the balls. Then use a toothpick to dip them into the chocolate, but not all the way, that’s what gives them their signature look.
- Buckeye Balls dipped with toothpicks can be smoothed over with a quick pinch and pat, so you can see the difference in the pictures to see which way you prefer. Either way, they’re just as delicious!
How to Store
- Store: To keep your Buckeye Balls fresh, place them in an airtight container in the refrigerator. Refrigerate for up to a week for the best taste.
- Freeze: Place them on a baking sheet in the freezer until they’re firm, then transfer them to a freezer-safe bag. They will taste best within the first 3 months. Enjoy them frozen or let them thaw in the fridge or at room temperature.
Frequent Questions
Buckeye Balls are made from creamy peanut butter, vanilla, butter, and powdered sugar rolled into a ball and dipped in melted chocolate. They’re creamy, nutty, chocolaty – everything you want in a bite sized treat!
The name came about because Buckeyes are a round nut on the Ohio state tree that has a dark outside and light inside. The peanut butter inside and chocolate coating look similar to the nut and that’s how this candy recipe got it’s name
Chilling the dough beforehand helps, but if it’s still sticky, add a little powdered sugar to your hands. You don’t want to use flour because these treats aren’t baked.
Yes, you can omit the shortening, but it helps create a smoother and glossier chocolate coating.
Variations
- Before the chocolate sets, add some sea salt or dip them in sprinkles, crushed cookies, or chopped peanuts. You can also drizzle them with caramel sauce or melted dark chocolate for decoration.
- Dip the peanut butter center in white chocolate almond bark instead of chocolate for a white chocolate Reese’s flavor.
Related Recipe
More No Bake Truffle Candies
Photos used in a previous version of this post.
Just made these and they are great! I’m not great at dipping, mine are not pretty. But either way, they will be ate up and enjoyed by many. Simple recipe to follow and oh so good. thanks!
Hello,
I saw this makes 24 servings, but how many individual buckeye balls does it make?
I made a double batch of these for Christmas. I like that the peanut butter with the confectionery sugar is not overly sweet. Very good and recommend freezing your peanut butter balls before dipping in chocolate so much easier. This recipe is a keeper thank you.
Great feedback Patty and appreciate the 5 star rating.
Am I correct to think the recipe can be doubled or tripled ?
Yes! Enjoy!
I’m from Ohio and use a similar recipe. Making 5 or 6 dozen Buckeyes at a time gets tedious making the balls. Now I take a large amount of the peanut dough and make a log the size you want for your Buckeyes. Take a knife make cuts on the log about 1 inch wide.
All you have to do is round out the edges and bingo, balls. I put them in the refrigerator or freezer until it’s time to dip in the chocolate. It makes the process so much easier. Give a try.
Sharon C,
Brilliant!
Turned out perfect. Directions were great and they look terrific. Everyone loved them. Not nearly as fussy as I expected.
Question about the shortening. I don’t use shortening. Do I have to use shortening to melt with the chocolate or is there another alternative? Thank you.
a tiny bit of coconut oil, you want something that is more solid at room temperature.
Can I use coconut oil instead of shortening? Same amount?
I don’t have shortening can I just use butter or margine
Should be fine!
Can’t wait to make these!! Question — does 24 servings mean it makes 24 buckeye balls, or does it make more than that?
Thanks so much for sharing this!
It means there are 24 count of balls. Hope you enjoy!
These look great !!!
I am going to make these for Christmas, and I think I will put a peanut butter m&m inside !!!
Thank you.
Yummy additions!
Why won’t my Toll House brand cho chip & candy bar melt?
Oh no! I used Ghirardelli semi-sweet chocolate chips to melt for this recipe. I’ve never had an issue with that brand. If you click on the ingredient in the recipe card, it’ll take you to a link to purchase if you need it. Hope this helps for next time.
These little nuggets are sooo good! My family loved them! They are so easy to make. Thanks for the share.
You’re welcome, Linda.
These are great! But the toothpick hole isn’t what gives it the “eye.” They look like buckeye nuts. You can smooth over the hole with your finger or the back of a spoon.
Hi Happy Holidays, this is my first time making these buckeye peanut butter balls, im not good at cooking or baking so i figured id try something simple & a treat i loved most growing up..im just wondering why you say add to a stand up mixer, is a stand up mixer better to make these? Can i use a hand held mixer? Also ive seen many recipes for these and most say salted butter, yours says unsalted, does that make a difference in the way they taste or come out differently?
I prefer a stand mixer because it allows me some freedom and not have to stand over the mixing at all time. A hand held mixer would work just fine for this recipe too. Personally, I like to use unsalted butter because I like to have control of how much salt is actually going into a recipe. Brands can differ on the saltiness making it hard to know exactly the amount. I really hope you decide to give these a try this holiday season. Enjoy!
Delicious. Everyone loves them.
I have been making these balls for over 40 years. Love them and give as a treat for the holidays. Easy to make.
Thank you Suzanne!
First time I tried these, my son brought from Ohio and were made by his girlfriend’s grandmother. I had no idea what they were but, found the name amusing. Oh WOW!!! when I tasted them, I was addicted, so I was looking for the recipe and how to make them. Be very careful, you can’t eat just one or two. Had no idea they were so easy to make. Delicious!!!
They definitely are hard to resist, haha! Glad you enjoy them so much, Ana.
The original Buckeye ball recipe calls for about 1/8 bar of parifin wax in with the melted chocolate. It makes the chocolate stay firm, shiny and less messy. I have never added shortening. You can’t taste the wax. This recipe goes back to the 50s in Ohio.
Interesting! I think most of our readers would not feel as comfortable baking with wax, so we use a more accessible ingredient, but I love that method too!
These are a favorite from my childhood and what a treat!
I do have a question…we always used creamy Jif peanut butter in the past, but the last few times the results aren’t the same. The balls never firm up in the fridge. It’s like Jif has changed their peanut butter and it’s just too creamy to give the same results. What brand of peanut butter do you use? Thank you and Merry Christmas!
I’m so glad you love these! We’re obsessed with PB&Co peanut butter in our house so that’s what we used. They have some pretty epic flavors too. Happy holidays!
The recipe calls for too much confection sugar and butter. It turned out to be too light and fluffy. Because I lost the recipe, Which I’ve made Buckeyes before, it didn’t turn out like it was supposed to.
I’m sorry it wasn’t to your taste, feel free to adjust to your liking if you try it again!
Mine turned out perfect using this recipe. So rich and creamy tasting. I wouldn’t change a thing!
Thanks for coming back to let me know, Tammy. I appreciate the 5 stars.
I loved this recipe!! So easy and turned out perfect. I played with some flavors and used maple instead of vanilla and white chocolate instead of milk chocolate. So many possibilities and it takes so little time!!! Thank you
I added more peanut butter to mine!!
This recipe looks great! I love how easy they are to make!
Thanks! They are super easy!
Oh my gosh, we have been making these for years. I mean years and they are so delish! My mom used to make them when we were children. I am so thrilled to see someone else carrying the torch and keeping the Holiday Tradition of Buckeyes going. Totally cool!!! I actually think when made right they taste one 1000 x better than a Reeses Cup!
Agreed – so much better than Reeses cups! Happy to see I’m not the only big fan of them!
My kids really loved this!! Such a nice treat!
So happy to hear that! My kids love them too!
What type of peanut butter do you use? Link isn’t working.
Thanks for catching that! We used Jif.
Buckeye balls are one of my favorite holiday desserts! Your recipe looks so easy and delicious.
It is super easy and I hope it’s spot on to what you are used to!
These buckeye balls will be the perfect addition to my Christmas food gift basket for my neighbors.
They are great for gifts!
my husband loves these plus he is a buckeye which makes it even better
That’s awesome! So glad he likes it and gets to relive his college days with candy 🙂 🙂
I am totally drooling over this goodness! Need to make these immediately!
Enjoy!!
Peanut butter and chocolate are so great together! These balls look like heaven!
They are a match made in heaven!
These are one of my holiday favorites! So easy to make, too!
Definitely a great classic!
Such a simple recipe! My kids will love these!
I’ve always loved these buckeye balls! I’m making them for a holiday cookie exchange!
Such a great addition!
I’m a sucker for anything chocolate and peanut butter! Yum!!
Oh, yes!!