This easy Buckeye Recipe produces the best peanut butter balls, dipped in chocolate and made with just 5 ingredients. They are a quick, no-bake treat loved by all.
If you love homemade candy, don’t miss these Homemade Almond Joys, Oreo Balls, Brownie Truffles, and Chocolate Covered Marshmallows!
Why I love these treats:
- Quick and No Bake – They’re an easy treat to make all year long without heating up the house, and we can make a batch in 30 minutes. The leftovers freeze great!
- Gift Friendly – They fun to load in cute cello bags during the Christmas season, or any time of year, to give neighbors, friends and teachers.
- Nostalgia – Our good family friends (Hey, Jolley fam!) brought Buckeye’s each year to our Christmas Eve party when I was a kid, so I have such special memories attached to these delicious treats.
Ingredients for Buckeyes:
- Chocolate: You can use Ghirardelli dark chocolate melting wafers, Bakers Chocolate, or any high quality chocolate, chopped, and melted in the microwave.
- Peanut Butter: Smooth; my preferred brand is Skippy.
- Powdered confectioners sugar.
- Vanilla extract.
- Butter. Salted or unsalted won’t make a huge difference.
How to make Peanut Butter Balls:
Combine Filling Ingredients: Cream butter and peanut butter until smooth. Slowly add the powdered sugar until they reach a smooth consistency, then mix in the vanilla.
Freeze Peanut Butter Balls: Form the mixture into small balls and allow them to harden in the freezer for at least 30 minutes.
Dip in Chocolate: Dip each peanut butter ball in melted chocolate.
Serve: Allow buckeye balls to cool on parchment paper then enjoy! Or store them in the refrigerator or freezer.
Make Ahead And Freezing Instructions:
To Make Ahead: Make buckeye recipe 1 day in advance then store in the refrigerator or freeze for up to for several months.
To Freeze: To freeze Buckeye candy, allow them to cool completely then freeze in a freezer bag or container for up to 3 months.
Recipe Variations:
- Paraffin Wax: For a more glossy finish, or to preserve it longer at room temp, you can use paraffin wax. Melt some with semi-sweet chocolate.
- Fully Dipped: You can cover the peanut butter balls completely in chocolate like traditional peanut butter balls or leave some peanut butter showing so they imitate buckeye nuts from a buckeye tree.
- Add Candy: You can add mini M&M’s or other chopped candies (or nuts!) to the peanut butter filling before dipping in chocolate.
More Candy Recipes:
- Peanut Brittle
- Homemade Caramels
- Chocolate Marshmallow Cookies
- Vanilla Creme Balls
- Christmas Cornflake Wreaths
- Caramel Cashew Clusters
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Recipe
Peanut Butter Balls (Buckeyes)
Ingredients
- 1 cup butter (2 sticks)
- 1 cups creamy peanut butter
- 4 cups powdered sugar
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 6 ounces semi-sweet melting chocolate, melting wafers, or chocolate almond bark
Instructions
- Use electric beaters to cream together the butter and peanut butter. Slowly add the powdered sugar until you get a smooth consistency. Add the vanilla and mix.
- Scoop about 5 dozen small peanut butter mounds onto a baking sheet and place in the freezer for about 30 minutes. Once cold, they will be easier to handle and roll into smooth balls.
- Meanwhile, melt the chocolate, melting wafers, or chocolate almond bark according to package instructions.
- Use a toothpick to dip and coat each peanut butter ball in chocolate. Allow excess to drip off and then place them on a parchment covered baking sheet and allow them to set.
- Store in an airtight container in the fridge or freezer.
Notes
Recipe Variations:
- Paraffin wax: for a more glossy finish or to preserve it longer at room temp, you can use paraffin wax. Melt some with semi-sweet chocolate.
- Fully dipped: you can cover the peanut butter balls completely in chocolate like traditional peanut butter balls or leave some peanut butter showing so they imitate buckeye nuts from a buckeye tree.
- Add candy: You can add mini M&M’s or other chopped candies (or nuts!) to the peanut butter filling before dipping in chocolate.
Nutrition
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I originally shared this recipe December 2018. Updated December 2020 and October 2023.
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After 3 fudge failures I needed to throw away my candy thermometer and have a success. These were just perfect. They were a real treat to make and to eat. I’ll definitely save the recipe for next year’s as well.
Looks delicious! Can it be made with cashew butter? We have a peanut allergy
Forgot the Star Rating, LOL
For a Christmas “dessert party” we hosted this week, I made your 1) Peanut Butter Balls, 2) Christmas Crack, 3) Fudge and 4)Oreo Cheesecake Pie recipes. All were a HUGE hit at the party! I sent everyone home with a plate of each of the goodies and attached copies of each recipe as well as your website address. I love your site…thank you and keep the great recipes coming!
Delicious and easy. Everyone loved them after a big Thanksgiving meal.
A favorite for years and it’s so easy. The taste is out of this world good and other time involved to roll the balls…involves few ingredients. Follow directions and you’ll be fine. These are on the Christmas, Easter and just cuz we love ’em platters every year and people marvel at how delish they are.
These were soooo soft and the peanut butter part was too sweet in my opinion, sort of overwhelmed the peanut taste. I would not make again, too difficult to handle the dough, even with chilling it and they must stay cold after you make them.
I tried your caramel recipe. Absolutely
Delicious! Worth the time stirring!
Made a nice size batch great for gifting.
Thanks Shari
The perfect party dessert!
Love Buckeyes! I think we used semi-sweet Baker’s Chocolate squares (or maybe Toll House chocolate chips) and, if had any around, added Rice Krispies Cereal to the peanut butter/powdered sugar mix before forming them into balls. Sooo delicious and crunchy!
These were a hit at the dessert table for Thanksgiving! I didn’t need to make as many, and even with winging it a little because of using less ingredient amounts, they turned out fantastic! Thanks so much for this great website.
Easy. to do and omg Amazing
Thanks Tricia! I’m happy to hear they were a hit!
The 1 to 1 butter to PB ratio made this a little softer than most. I went with 3 and a half cups of powdered sugar but would use the full 4 cups if making it again. These boys were softer than I would have liked. Still absolutely delicious!
I lived in Ohio (the Buckeye State) for years, and discovered these candies. They are FABULOUS (and fabulously addictive). Some hints from my experience: The peanut butter mixture can get very sticky and hard to form into balls. Remedy: chill the mixture awhile, and wipe your hands with a damp washcloth whenever they get too sticky. Hint: don’t let the balls come to room temp when you’re dipping them, or the toothpick hole will stretch and the ball falls off into the melted chocolate. Also, buckeyes have toothpick hole at the top. If that bothers you, use the back of a spoon and gently push the hole closed. You can experiment with different kinds of chocolate, depending on your taste. I’ve tried adding some darker chocolate with good results. If you refrigerate the buckeyes after dipping them (for storage), you may find light colored snowflakes on the chocolate. That happens when you don’t temper it, which I never had the patience to do. They are harmless. These are great–enjoy!!!