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    Home » Recipes » Candy

    Published: Sep 10, 2022 by Paula Montenegro · Income from ads and affiliate links Leave a Comment

    Buckeyes Recipe

    Jump to Recipe
    Greyish white plate with buckeyes candy. Brown and white text overlay.
    Red and brown text overlay on close up of several buckeyes on whitish plate. Top one is bitten.

    This no-bake candy consists of creamy peanut butter balls coated with chocolate. It has only 6 ingredients, is easy to assemble, keeps well, and is naturally gluten-free. It's great for gift-giving, taking to potlucks, picnics, or just because you crave the awesome combination of peanut butter and chocolate.

    Close up of buckeyes on stack of white plates with a grey cloth. One is bitten. White background.

    The combination of peanut butter and chocolate is fantastic, and this easy buckeyes candy recipe is one you must make if you're a fan.

    It's simple, uses few ingredients, and can be planned as they keep well.

    Table of Contents Hide
    About this recipe
    Ingredients
    How to make buckeye candy
    Chocolate coating
    Variations
    Frequently asked questions
    Kitchen notes
    Related recipes you might like:
    Easy Buckeye Candy

    About this recipe

    • No-bake: few ingredients and a chocolate coating. That's all there is to this recipe.
    • Crowd-pleaser: few combinations of flavors are as popular as peanut butter and chocolate. Take these buckeyes to potlucks, picnics, holiday parties, barbecues, and tailgating. It never fails.
    • Make ahead: they last several days and can be frozen.
    • Easy holiday candy: it's a great project to make with kids and for gift-giving.
    Buckeye candies on white plate with parchment paper. A grey cloth in the background.

    Ingredients

    • Peanut butter: use thicker commercial type, like Skippy creamy peanut butter.
    • Chocolate: you need one that melts easily. I use melting chocolate like Ghirardelli melting wafers or Callebaut chocolate callets. You can use semisweet chocolate chips that you know melt well. I love Ghirardelli premium baking chocolate chips and Nestle toll house semisweet chips. 
    • Unsalted butter.
    • Vanilla: I use pure vanilla extract or pure vanilla paste when available, but a good vanilla essence (artificially flavored) also works. 
    • Powdered sugar: also called confectioners or icing sugar, can easily buy it online. Domino powdered sugar is a very popular one.
    • Salt: I like to use kosher salt when baking. But regular table salt works just fine.

    See the recipe card at the end of this post for quantities.

    White marble surface with bowls containing ingredients for buckeyes including chocolate, peanut butter, butter, vanilla, powdered sugar, and salt.

    How to make buckeye candy

    It's so easy!

    These peanut butter balls come together in a few minutes, and all the equipment needed is a large bowl, a spatula, and a saucepan to melt the chocolate.

    Make sure you make space in the refrigerator for the cookie sheet.

    Glass bowl on a white surface with peanut butter, butter, and vanilla.

    Beat peanut butter, butter, and vanilla until very smooth.

    Flour added to peanut butter mixture in a glass bowl on a white marble surface.

    Add dry ingredients (powdered sugar and salt) and beat until incorporated.

    Peanut butter sugar dough in a glass bowl on white marble.

    The dough is soft but stiff without being dry.

    Baking tray with parchment paper and peanut butter balls. White marble surface. .

    Make balls and refrigerate until firm enough to coat with chocolate.

    Chocolate coating

    Metal saucepan white chocolate chips and butter on a white marble surface.

    Melt chocolate and butter in a saucepan on a double boiler over low heat or in the microwave directly in a glass bowl.

    Dipping a peanut butter ball in melted chocolate in a glass bowl. White marble surface.

    Insert a toothpick in each peanut butter ball and dip until coated a little above the halfway mark.

    Buckeye candy balls on a whitish plate with parchment paper on white marble.

    Cool in the refrigerator on wax or parchment paper, chocolate side down, until dry enough to grab.

    Vintage Kitchen tip: use chocolate that melts easily, such as good chocolate chips or melting wafers. That way, the coating will not be too thick.

    Variations

    • Nut butter: you can use almond butter interchangeably, as long as it's similar in texture and not all-natural, which tends to be more fluid. Cashew butter or tahini can also be used, but you might need more powdered sugar for them to hold their shape well.
    • Chocolate: use different coatings, like milk chocolate or white chocolate, if you like a sweeter candy.
    • Flavorings: add ground cinnamon or almond extract to the peanut butter dough and the vanilla.
    Cream colored plate with buckeye candy on a parchment paper. White surface, grey cloth. Top view.

    Frequently asked questions

    What does buckeye candy taste like?

    It's sweet and somewhat grainy, similar to peanut butter cups. Or chocolate-covered old-fashioned fudge. It can be slightly salty depending on the ingredients.

    Why is buckeye candy called that?

    It's said to resemble the eye of a buck (male deer). It originated in Ohio, known as the Buckeye State.

    How long can you keep buckeye candy?

    They keep for 3-4 weeks in the refrigerator and for 2-3 months in the freezer. Always well covered or in airtight containers. Do not store at room temperature.

    How do you store buckeyes candy?

    Keep them in tins or an airtight container. If storing them in two or more layers, put wax paper between them.

    Close up of bitten buckeye candy ball among whole ones on a whitish plate with grey cloth in the background.

    Kitchen notes

    • Organization: read the recipe first and ensure you have ingredients at the correct temperatures, equipment, and enough workspace. This will make the process so much easier!
    • Peanut butter: use thicker commercial type, like Skippy creamy peanut butter. The balls might lack consistency if you use the more fluid all-natural ones.
    • Butter: regular or non-dairy butter, both work for this recipe. I use unsalted and add salt, but you can use salted butter.
    • Chocolate: you need one that melts easily. I use melting chocolate like Ghirardelli melting wafers or Callebaut chocolate callets. You can use semisweet chocolate chips that you know melt well. I love Ghirardelli premium baking chocolate chips and Nestle toll house semisweet chips. 
    • Storing: keep them in tins or airtight containers for several weeks in the refrigerator or a few months in the freezer. Storing them at room temperature is not recommended.

    Related recipes you might like:

    • Peanut Butter Swirl Brownies (with video!)
    • Buckeye Fudge
    • Chocolate Peanut Butter Oat Bars (no-bake)
    • Loaded Brownies

    Let me know in the comments below if you made this recipe and loved it and if you had issues so we can troubleshoot together. I love to hear what you think, always. Thanks for being here. It's much appreciated.
    You might also consider subscribing to our FREE email series to Boost your Home Baking Skills! And our regular newsletter.
    And let's connect via Facebook, Instagram, and Pinterest.

    Print
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    Easy Buckeye Candy

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    This no-bake candy consists of creamy peanut butter balls coated with chocolate. It has only 6 ingredients, is easy to assemble, keeps well, and is naturally gluten-free. It's great for gift-giving, taking to potlucks, picnics, or just because you crave the awesome combination of peanut butter and chocolate. 

    • Total Time: 1 hour 30 minutes
    • Yield: 30 buckeyes

    Ingredients

    Units

    For the peanut butter balls:

    • 1 ¼ cup creamy peanut butter
    • 5 tablespoons (70g) unsalted butter, softened
    • ¾ teaspoon vanilla extract
    • ⅛ teaspoon salt
    • 3 cups powdered sugar

    For the chocolate coating:

    • 1 cup semi-sweet chocolate chips or melting chocolate wafers
    • ½ tablespoon butter

    Instructions

    1. Beat peanut butter, butter, vanilla, and salt in a medium mixing bowl. Use an electric mixer, mix on high until well creamed. 
    2. Add powdered sugar slowly while continuing to mix until it’s all well integrated.
    3. Scoop out 1 tablespoons portions of dough and shape into balls with your hands. 
    4. Place them on a parchment-lined baking or cookie sheet and chill in the freezer for 20-30 minutes.
    5. Meanwhile, melt chocolate chips or wafer with butter in the microwave or in a double boiler over low heat. 
    6. Transfer to a small bowl for dipping.
    7. Carefully insert a toothpick into each ball, then dip them into the chocolate mixture to coat a little above half of the ball. Let the excess chocolate drip. 
    8. Transfer each ball to the cookie sheet, chocolate side down, and to the fridge to set.
    9. Repeat until all of the peanut butter balls are coated.
    10. Chill in the fridge for about 60 minutes, or until the chocolate sets. 

    Notes

    • Organization: read the recipe first and ensure you have ingredients at the correct temperatures, equipment, and enough workspace. This will make the process so much easier!
    • Peanut butter: use thicker commercial type, like Skippy creamy peanut butter. The balls might lack consistency if you use the more fluid all-natural ones.  
    • Butter: regular or non-dairy butter, both work for this recipe. I use unsalted and add salt, but you can use salted butter.
    • Chocolate: you need one that melts easily. I use melting chocolate like Ghirardelli melting wafers or Callebaut chocolate callets. You can use semisweet chocolate chips that you know melt well. I love Ghirardelli premium baking chocolate chips and Nestle toll house semisweet chips. 
    • Storing: keep them in tins or airtight containers for several weeks in the refrigerator or a few months in the freezer. Storing them at room temperature is not recommended. 
    • Author: Paula Montenegro
    • Prep Time: 30 minutes
    • Refrigeration time: 60 minutes
    • Category: Candy - Sweets
    • Method: Mixing
    • Cuisine: American

    Keywords: buckeyes candy

    Did you make this recipe?

    Tag @vintagekitchenblog on Instagram and hashtag it #vintagekitchenblog

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    About Paula Montenegro

    I'm Paula, a baker for more than 30 years and your designated recipe developer, sharing the best ones here with simple ingredients + easy-to-follow instructions.

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    A baker for more than 30 years and your designated recipe finder, sharing the best ones on this blog, with simple ingredients + easy-to-follow instructions.

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