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Peanut Butter Buckeye Candy is the ultimate no-bake treat for the serious peanut butter lovers! Made with just 5 simple ingredients and minimal prep, these creamy peanut butter balls are partially dipped in rich chocolate to resemble the nut from a Buckeye tree. They are a classic, crowd-pleasing candy you will make again and again!
Reasons to Love My Buckeye Candy Recipe
Growing up in Ohio, Buckeye candy wasn't just dessert, it was tradition. From Saturday tailgates to Christmas cookie trays, there was always one candy that made an appearance--peanut butter balls. Of course, to us Ohioans, they were never called anything but Buckeyes Balls!
So when I say I've had practice making them, I mean I've made enough Buckeyes to start my own candy shop. That's why you can trust this recipe to deliver every time!
- Easy, No-Bake Recipe. No special equipment needed. Just 5 ingredients and a few minutes are all you need to make these rich and decadent peanut butter Buckeyes.
- Peanut Butter Chocolate Perfection. Sweet and salty in every bite. Think peanut butter cup with a bit more peanut butter to chocolate ratio.
- Adaptable. You can make Buckeye candy using milk chocolate, dark chocolate, or semi-sweet--just the way YOU like! Even dairy-free chocolate works!
Trust me when I say this recipe for peanut butter Buckeye balls is tried, true, and delicious. Even the fans up north agree. 😉
Happy Cooking! xo Kristen
Buckeye Candy Ingredients
- Peanut Butter: This is a time when shelf-stable creamy peanut butter is best.
- Butter: Softened, unsalted butter is best.
- Powdered Sugar: To help thicken the peanut butter, making it easy to shape into balls.
- Chocolate: This recipe calls for semi-sweet chocolate, but feel free to use dark chocolate or milk chocolate. If needed, use non-dairy chocolate.
- Coconut Oil: Adding a bit of coconut oil to the melted chocolate, will make the chocolate easier to work with and help the chocolate solidify.
How to Make Buckeye Balls
Peanut Butter Buckeyes are one of the easiest homemade candies to make, but the following step-by-step instructions and photos are provided to help ensure success.
- Cream peanut butter with butter. Use a handheld mixer to mix the peanut butter and butter together until smooth and creamy.
- Add powdered sugar. Slowly add in the powdered sugar, a little bit at at time until combined and the mixture is crumbly, yet holds together.
- Form peanut butter balls. Scoop out a generous tablespoon of the mixture for each Buckeye, roll into a ball, and place on a parchment-lined baking sheet
- Chill the peanut butter balls. Place the peanut butter balls into the freezer for 20 minutes, which will help them hold their shape when dipped into chocolate.
- Melt the chocolate. Melt chocolate chips in 30-second microwave intervals, until melted. Stir in the coconut oil until smooth.
- Dip the peanut butter balls in chocolate. Using a toothpick, partially dip the peanut butter balls, into the melted chocolate to resemble a buckeye. Tap off excess chocolate, place back onto the parchment paper, and use your finger to smooth the hole left in the peanut butter ball.
Optional variation
Dip the balls completely in chocolate to turn these Buckeye candies into classic peanut butter balls.
- Let Harden. Let the Buckeye candy sit at room temperature to harden, or speed the process up by placing the baking sheet into the fridge.
Storage Tips
Buckeye Balls are one of those candies that is great to make make in advance for a party or the holidays. They last for up to a week in the fridge and can even be frozen for up to a month.
- To Refrigerate: Place the candies an airtight container and store the in the fridge for up to 7 days.
- To Freeze: Place the buckeyes onto a baking sheet and freeze until solid. Once frozen, transfer to a freezer-safe bag or container and store in freezer for up to 1 month. Defrost in the fridge overnight and blot dry with a paper towel if needed.
More Peanut Butter Chocolate Treats
Did you make this recipe?
If you enjoyed this recipe, please leave a comment with a 5-star review at the bottom of the post. Thank you!
Peanut Butter Buckeye Candy
Video
Ingredients
- 1¾ cups powdered sugar
- 1 cup peanut butter, creamy, shelf-stable
- 5 tablespoons unsalted butter, room temperature
- 2 cups chocolate chips, semi-sweet, milk chocolate, or dark chocolate
- 1 tablespoon coconut oil
Instructions
- Line a baking sheet with parchment paper.
- In a large mixing bowl, use a hand held mixer to cream together 1 cup peanut butter with 5 tablespoons unsalted butter (softened) until smooth and creamy.
- Add 1¾ cups powdered sugar, ½ cup at a time, beating after each addition. The mixture should be crumbly but hold together. If too dry, mix in 1 tablespoon of peanut butter at a time; if too wet, add powdered sugar 1 tablespoon at a time until the right consistency is reached.
- Using a generous tablespoon of the peanut butter mixture per candy, roll into a ball and place onto the prepared baking sheet. Repeat the process until all the candies are shaped and then place into the freezer for 20 minutes.
- When ready to dip the in chocolate, place 2 cups chocolate chips into a microwave-safe bowl and microwave in 30-second intervals, stirring between each interval, until the chocolate is melted. Add 1 tablespoon coconut oil to the chocolate and stir until fully combined.
- Using a toothpick, dip the peanut butter balls about ¾ of the way into the melted chocolate. Gently tap on the side of the bowl to remove any excess chocolate, and then place back onto the baking sheet. Repeat the process until all the peanut butter balls are dipped into chocolate.
- Let sit at room temperature for several hours until the chocolate has hardened or place into the fridge for 15-30 minutes to speed up the process.
Equipment
Notes
Nutrition
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
This post was originally shared in 2021 and updated in 2025.
Recipe is easy to follow & they seem to be turning out like they are supposed to. (I am making them right now) I would like to know if the recipe can be doubled? I couldn't see any reason why not. I would appreciate a reply, if possible. Btw, I was born & raised in Franklin, Ohio,& still live in another small town in Southern Ohio. I am 81.
Hi Sandy! I hope I am answering quickly enough. I was fast asleep at midnight when this message came through. But to answer your question, yes, this recipe can be doubled. 🙂 We will be headed to Ohio here shortly ourselves for the holiday to visit family.
Knew I loved your recipes - now I have an additional reason to love them - O-H!
I-O!!!!
I never knew how easy it was to make these! So delicious!
I am not a huge fan of college football but I am a huge fan of this recipe! I will watch all Ohio games if it means I can eat these! Delish!
I grew up in Ohio and love Buckeyes. I didn't see any measurements for the ingredients. Would love this information sent to my email. Thank you
Hi Diana and fellow Buckeye! The amounts are listed in the recipe card. I will send you an email as well.
Good memories and awesome candy! I am the 4th generation (at least to my knowledge) to make this candy! I probably won't be the last 😍