Peanut Butter Balls

Whether you call them buckeyes or peanut butter balls, this peanut butter chocolate candy is a favorite no-bake treat.

Buckeye Candy is not only for Ohio State Fans! These Peanut Butter Chocolate Balls are the perfect treat for any peanut butter chocolate lover.

Buckeye Candy

As a native Ohio girl, I am a bit obsessed with the Ohio State Buckeyes.

While I certainly LOVE college football, I really flip for the official candy of the Ohio State University--a Buckeye.

A Buckeye is a small, shiny, dark brown nut with a light tan patch that comes from the official state tree of Ohio, the buckeye tree.

Buckeye Candy is simply a peanut butter ball that instead of being fully coated in chocolate, is partially coated in chocolate, resembling an actual buckeye.

But friends, even Michigan fans can't resist these delicious candies. Peanut butter balls are downright irresistible for anybody that loves the combination of peanut butter and chocolate. In my book, that is the BEST combo ever!

These Peanut Butter Balls, or Buckeyes, are a simple no-bake treat that is perfect to serve at a football party or for a holiday treat.

Only 5 Ingredients Needed

• Peanut Butter: For this recipe, use shelf-stable creamy peanut butter, not refrigerated peanut butter for best results. You certainly can use natural shelf-stable peanut butter, or good old Jif--whatever you have in your pantry.
• Butter: When it comes to baking, use unsalted butter to control the sodium content. For this recipe, you also want your butter to be at room temperature. It will help the butter and peanut butter combine smoothly.
• Powdered Sugar: To sweeten and thicken the peanut butter, powdered sugar is the go-to choice.
• Chocolate: This recipe calls for semi-sweet chocolate, but feel free to use dark chocolate or milk chocolate. For more uniform melting, use chocolate chips or chopped chocolate bars.
• Coconut Oil: This is an optional ingredient, but adding a bit of coconut oil to your melted chocolate, it will make the chocolate easier to work with and helps the chocolate to solidify.

How to Make Buckeye Candies

• Prepare the peanut butter mixture. In a medium bowl, cream together the peanut butter and butter using a hand mixer until creamy and smooth. Add the powdered sugar and beat until fully combined. The mixture will be a bit crumbly, but should still be able to hold together. If your mixture feels too dry, add 1 tablespoon of peanut butter at a time until the mixture is crumbly, yet holds together well. If the mixture feels too wet or won't shape easily, add 1 tablespoon of powdered sugar at a time until the right consistency is reached.

• Form peanut butter balls. Using about 1 tablespoon of the peanut butter mixture, shape the peanut butter into 1-inch size balls and then place them onto a baking sheet that has been lined with parchment paper.

• Chill the peanut butter balls. Place the peanut butter balls into the freezer for 20 minutes. This will make the process of dipping the peanut butter balls into chocolate much easier, as the chocolate will set up faster and the peanut butter balls will hold their shape.
• Melt the chocolate. Right before removing the peanut butter balls from the freezer, melt the chocolate by placing the chocolate chips into a heat-safe bowl and microwave the chocolate in 30-second intervals, stirring between each interval, until the chocolate is melted. Once melted, stir in the coconut oil if using.
• Dip the peanut butter balls in chocolate. Remove the chilled peanut butter balls from the freezer and using a fork, toothpick, or wooden skewer, dip the peanut butter ball into the chocolate, leaving a small circle uncovered on top to resemble a buckeye if desired. Tap the ball on the side of the bowl to remove any excess chocolate.

• Chill. Chill for 10 minutes or until hardened before enjoying.

Storage Instructions

It is best to store Buckeye Candies in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 5 days. You can also freeze the Peanut Butter Balls for up to 30 days in a freezer-safe container, but you will want to defrost on a paper towel to absorb any excess liquid from the buckeyes as they defrost.

Recipe Modifications

While this Buckeye girl loves her peanut butter balls in the shape of Buckeyes, the options for serving peanut butter balls are endless.

• Dip completely in chocolate. If you aren't in the mood for a buckeye candy, dip your peanut butter ball completely in chocolate.
• Dress them up. While the chocolate is still wet, sprinkle the peanut butter balls with sprinkles, chopped nuts, toffee bits, or mini M&Ms.
• Drizzle with chocolate: Once the chocolate has been set up, you can drizzle with melted white chocolate, or additional semi-sweet chocolate for a beautiful drizzled peanut butter ball.
• Add texture. Instead of using creamy peanut butter, use crunchy peanut butter. Your peanut butter balls will be a bit harder to shape, but the additional texture adds a nice contrast to this homemade candy.
• Peanut Butter Eggs: For Easter, shape the peanut butter mixture into eggs before dipping it into chocolate for a copycat Reeses Peanut Butter Egg.
• Dairy-Free Buckeye Candy: If you want to make dairy-free peanut butter balls, use dairy-free chocolate chips and vegan butter, such as Earth Balance.

More Peanut Butter Chocolate Treats

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