Melt in your mouth creamy peanut butter dipped in chocolate and chilled. What can be better than that?!! If you're a fan of peanut butter cups, just wait until you try this recipe for Homemade Buckeyes!
Next time try White Chocolate Dipped Oreos or the Peanut Butter Snowballs. Easy to make and delicious!
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Why you'll love this recipe
Because they are creamy, dreamy, chocolatey and delicious! Tastes fancy but these little treats only take minutes to make!
✔️ like the Christmas Hugs, these are a great no bake treat!
✔️ easy to make.
✔️ think peanut butter fudge dipped in chocolate! YUM!
Ingredients
For the exact measurements, please refer to the printable recipe card at the bottom of this post.
- chocolate melts or chocolate chips - I used semisweet chocolate chips because that's what we had on hand. Dark chocolate or milk chocolate would also be yummy!
- powdered sugar
- unsalted butter
- pure vanilla extract
- coconut oil, corn or vegetable oil
- creamy peanut butter - though you can use chunky, the creamy makes the homemade buckeyes literally melt in your mouth!
- salt - this helps balance the sweetness of the candy.
Instructions
This is an overview of the instructions. For the complete directions just scroll down to the bottom!
- In a large bowl cream together the butter, peanut butter, salt and vanilla with an electric mixer.
- Add the powdered sugar in batches.
- Cream everything together until it's smooth.
- Scoop the batter into balls.
- Refrigerate.
- Next melt the chocolate chips mixed with coconut oil in the microwave stirring, every 30 seconds until smooth. (Of course you can use a double boiler, but I think the microwave is easier.)
- Insert toothpick into the top of each ball, dip all of the buckeye balls in chocolate.
- Allow excess chocolate to drip off.
- Refrigerate the homemade buckeyes so the chocolate can harden. Serve and enjoy!
FAQ's
As long as you use shelf stable nut butter, once the chocolate has hardened, they don't have to be refrigerated. Personally I prefer them chilled, but room temperature works too!
I prefer salted, creamy peanut butter. If all you have is chunky, you can still make this, they just won't be as silky smooth.
No, they aren't named after the football team, but actually named after a nut normally found in Ohio and the surrounding states.
Tips
- Coconut oil helps thin the chocolate so it’s easier to melt and dip the buckeyes. If you don't have coconut oil, you can substitute canola oil or corn oil.
- Be sure and scrape down the sides of the bowl when you're mixing the ingredients to ensure everything is evenly incorporated.
Variations
The homemade buckeye recipe below is a classic combination, but you can easily mix this up and instead of coating with melted chocolate, use;
- chopped nuts
- candy sprinkles
- powdered sugar
- cocoa powder
- cane sugar
Any of these would be beautiful and delicious!
I prefer the creamy peanut butter balls, but if you prefer, you can use crunchy peanut butter.
🍽️ Storage
Refrigerate - these will last up to a month! (Well... not in my house 😋, but you get the picture!) Store in an airtight container.
Freeze - up to three months - enjoy!
Related Recipes
- Haystacks Recipe - These super yummy butterscotch old fashioned haystacks are a super yummy no-bake treat!
- Another simple treat is this recipe for Chocolate Covered Cashews - so rich and ddeleiciouss these freeze great and are great for your cookie exchange!
- Another sweet treat are Strawberry Sandwich Cookies - Use a holiday cookie cutter for Christmas, a heart would be perfect for Valentine's Day. These are easy to make and gorgeous!
- Reindeer Rice Krispie Treats are a must make for your Cookie Trays - so cute!
- Check out this amazing recipe for Toffee Truffles, that literally has me drooling! And the Christmas Rum Balls are so pretty and festive!
Homemade Buckeyes Recipe
Equipment
- Ice Cream Scoop
Ingredients
- ¾ cups creamy peanut butter
- ½ cup butter softened
- ½ teaspoon vanilla
- ½ teaspoon kosher salt
- 2 ½ cups powdered sugar
- FOR THE CHOCOLATE COATING
- 2 cups dark chocolate chips
- 2 tablespoons coconut oil
Instructions
- Using an electric mixer or stand mixer, mix together the butter, peanut butter, salt and vanilla until smooth and creamy.
- Add the powdered sugar in a couple batches.
- Cream the peanut butter mixture together until it's smooth.
- Using a small cookie scoop, scoop the batter, roll into 1-inch balls and place a baking sheet lined with parchment paper or wax paper.
- Refrigerate for 10 minutes, roll into smooth balls. Pop into the freezer for 20 minutes or refrigerate overnight.
- FOR THE CHOCOLATE COATING
- Add the coconut oil to the chocolate chips. Melt in the microwave at 30 second intervals, stopping to stir every 30 seconds. Continue until the chocolate is completely smooth.
- Insert toothpick into the top of the chilled peanut butter balls. Then dip it in the chocolate coating.
- Allow excess chocolate to drizzle off and place it on a cookie sheet lined with parchment paper.
- Refrigerate the homemade buckeyes so chocolate can harden. Serve and enjoy!
Notes
- chopped nuts
- candy sprinkles
- powdered sugar
- cocoa powder
- cane sugar
Nicole J says
These are SO CUTE and I haven't made them in so long! Sounds like it is time to remedy that!
Bowl Me Over says
Most definitely Nicole, enjoy!
Amy Nash says
I've been meaning to make these for so long! I'm glad you shared this recipe because they are so easy and SOOOOO tasty!
Erin says
Buckeyes are my FAVORITE, but I've always let other people make 'em. Until now.
Yum! Seriously! I've eyeballed this recipe of Jennifer's for a long while now and am going to make it this season, so thank you!
JENNIFER STEWART says
I am so glad you chose this recipe! This is definitely one of my family's favorites, especially Brooks and Connor because they love all things PB and chocolate. And even though we love bourbon in ours, it is really easy to use vanilla if people aren't fans of that. or the kids are eating them LOL. Happy holidays to you guys!
Kathleen Pope says
Jennifer is the best, especially at bite sized treats! Buckeyes remind me of my Grandma, we used to make them together, thanks for a sweet memory, I really need to make these soon!
Debi says
These are always a yummy treat, I mean, how can you go wrong with peanut butter and chocolate!
Julie Menghini says
I'm loving this recipe. We've always made peanut butter balls but these buckeyes show off that yummy filling! I'm changing my ways.
Angela says
Its so crazy, I've never had a buckeye! We are big peanut butter fans here so these definitely won't last! I cant wait to make them.
Sheila @ Life, Love, and Good Food says
Buckeyes are my absolute favorite Christmas candy/cookie! Yours look like perfection!
Bowl Me Over says
Thanks Sheila, enjoy! Merry Christmas to you and yours!
Mary Jones says
This is my “kids” favorite Christmas cookie. I’ve been making these for over 30 years!! These are absolutely the yummiest and so easy to make.
Bowl Me Over says
Yay! I'm so glad to hear it's a favorite! Happy Holidays Mary!!!
Michaela Kenkel says
This is one of Jennifer's recipes I have ALWAYS wanted to make! They look amazing - and I bet there was no need to worry about how long they would last in the fridge! 😉 Perfect for a holiday cookie exchange!
Bowl Me Over says
They are amazing and a MUST try! What a treat and I'm so excited to share this recipe with my readers. Thanks Michaela!
Heather says
Would you believe that I have never made buckeyes? I am actually not sure I have ever even had them which is stupid because I LOVE chocolate and peanut better. Jennifer's website is LOADED with good things - can't wait to try these!
Bowl Me Over says
Oh my goodness, then you definitely need to get this a try Heather - this recipe is amazing! Thanks for stopping by!