How long it takes: 30 minutes hands on, an hour to chill Equipment you’ll need: mixing bowl, mixer, cookie sheet or try, toothpick Servings: x Just a casual search on my site will bring you recipes for no bake peanut butter bars (just like Reeses), chocolate peanut butter pie (another no bake treat) and peanut butter hot fudge sauce. (Unfortunately my peanut fantasies came to a screeching halt when it was discovered that both of my kids have severe nut allergies. Total bummer!) Aren’t these candies kind of cool looking? They look great on a Christmas cookie plate but be prepared with backups because the buckeyes will vanish in a blink of an eye (pun intended).
About This Buckeyes Recipe
These no-bake treats are easy to make. Involve the family and get some help with the rolling and dipping for a fun shared experience. The reward is a delicious chocolate peanut butter ball!
How To Make Buckeyes
Reminder: The process is simple but be sure to allow extra time for chilling the filling, at least 30 minutes, before you can shape it into balls, and another 30 minutes before you can dip the balls into chocolate. Make filling. To get started, measure out the peanut butter, softened butter, and vanilla into a large mixing bowl. Using a mixer, blend the mixture together until it’s smooth and creamy. Sift in the powdered sugar and continue beating until it’s fully incorporated. The mixture will become quite thick and you may have to stir it by hand when it gets too thick for your mixer to handle. The consistency should resemble play dough: thick, fairly firm, and not too sticky. If it looks pretty sticky yet, stir in additional powdered sugar. Chill. Stick the bowl into the refrigerator and let it chill for at least thirty minutes. Roll the filling in balls. Next, use a cookie dough scoop or a tablespoon to scoop out a small portion of the filling mixture. Quickly roll it into a ball and set it aside on a cookie sheet or tray. Continue rolling the balls; you should get around 40, give or take a few. It really depends how large you make them. Chill. Once they’re shaped, the little balls have to chill 30 minutes more in the freezer before dipping. Don’t freeze them more than that. If you aren’t ready to dip them after 30 minutes, put them in the fridge until you’re ready. Dip. Poke a toothpick into a ball and dip the ball into melted chocolate, but don’t submerge it completely. A fork is useful to dislodge the ball from the toothpick back on to parchment paper. You can smooth the hole with your finger or a paring knife so everything’s nice and pretty. Give the chocolate a little time to firm up and they’re ready to eat.
Recipe Variations
Try using chunky peanut butter instead of smooth. Keep in mind, the appearance will be different! Nut-free option: Substitute sunflower butter (Sunbutter) for the peanut butter. Sunflower butter tends to be a bit thinner in consistency than peanut butter, so you will probably need to add an additional ½ cup of powdered sugar. Dip the candies in dark chocolate or white chocolate. Make it a total dip. If you prefer, dip the entire ball into chocolate for a chocolate covered peanut butter ball. Make bars instead. If you’re looking for an easier option, try my buckeye brownies. All the deliciousness without the hassle of rolling and dipping!
Storage Tips
Do buckeyes need to be refrigerated? Perhaps you’re wondering about the best way to store the buckeyes. Once chocolate has fully hardened, store buckeyes in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 7 days or freeze in a freezer bag for up to 3 months. If you don’t keep them in the fridge, they will get soft, lose their shape, and get messy. Quick-Start Guide!
