Buckeyes (Chocolate Peanut Butter Balls)

Buckeyes are chocolate lined peanut butter balls that resemble nuts from a Buckeye Tree. Candy and creamy, they’re an irresistible deal with!

Though me as “Iowa Woman Eats” — plot twist: I used to be truly born in Ohio! My household moved to Iowa after I was three and the remaining, as they are saying, is historical past.

That mentioned, practically all of my prolonged household on each side nonetheless lives in Ohio, aka The Buckeye State. Buckeye candies are no-bake, chocolate-covered peanut butter balls that resemble the nuts that fall from Ohio’s state tree, the buckeye tree.

Wager you didn’t see a geography lesson coming your manner if you opened this recipe publish!

What are Buckeyes?

The nuts from a buckeye tree are darkish brown with a tan heart, which function the visible inspiration for Buckeye candies. Creamy peanut butter fudge balls are dipped in melted chocolate leaving the tops uncovered to resemble buckeye nuts. Now, buckeyes from the tree are not edible. Buckeye candies although?

Dare you to cease at only one!

The sight and scent of Buckeyes candies immediately transports me to holidays spent with my household in Ohio, the place there have been all the time Buckeyes scattered amongst different vacation treats on my Aunt’s cookie plates. The years once we didn’t make the trek “house” for the vacations, my Mother all the time whipped up a batch in our Iowa kitchen. No Christmas was full and not using a tray.

Elements Wanted

I like that Buckeyes solely require a handful of on a regular basis elements to make. They’re not solely gluten free, however simply made vegan, too! Right here’s what you’ll want:

• Creamy peanut butter: you’ll need common peanut butter vs natural-style (aka drippy/runny) peanut butter for Buckeyes. I exploit Jif Naturals which, regardless of the identify, is just not runny/drippy.
• Butter: softened to room temperature. Be at liberty to make use of common or vegan butter.
• Vanilla extract: to provide cozy taste to every peanut butter ball.
• Powdered sugar: sweetens and thickens the Buckeye dough.
• Chocolate chips: soften darkish or semi-sweet chocolate chips to dip the peanut butter balls in. Use an allergy-friendly baking chocolate model like Get pleasure from Life in the event you want dairy free chips!
• Vegetable or coconut oil: only a bit helps the chocolate chips soften and coat the peanut butter balls easily.

What Does a Buckeye Style Like?

Buckeyes style just like the chocolate peanut butter cups everyone knows and love (drool). I wish to hold the powdered sugar and butter on the bottom finish doable with out the dough turning into sticky so the peanut butter can actually shine.

I like Get pleasure from Life’s Darkish Chocolate Morsels in distinction with the candy peanut butter fudge ball, although you need to use semi-sweet chocolate chips too. I feel milk chocolate would make the Buckeyes too candy total.

Retailer Buckeyes

Buckeyes are advantageous to sit down out at room temperature on vacation cookie plates for as much as 24 hours, although in the event you’re holding them round for longer than that, retailer in an hermetic container within the fridge the place they’ll keep recent for as much as 2 weeks.

Buckeyes additionally freeze tremendous nicely. Merely organize them in a gallon measurement Ziplock freezer bag then freeze flat.

Make Buckeyes

Step 1: Make the peanut butter dough.

Begin by creaming collectively peanut butter, softened butter, and vanilla extract till clean and creamy, about 30 seconds. You need to use a stand mixer, or massive glass mixing bowl if utilizing a handheld mixer.

Subsequent, step by step add powdered sugar till the dough could be very thick. Use a spatula to scrape down the edges and backside of the bowl, and the paddle attachment, to make sure all of the elements are mixed.

If utilizing a handheld mixer, beware that some peanut butter dough will go flying throughout your kitchen — it’s all a part of the method! 😉

Step 2: Roll the peanut butter dough into balls.

Use a cookie scoop to scoop out 1 Tablespoon peanut butter dough then place onto two parchment or wax paper-covered half sheet pans and roll into balls. If the dough begins to stay to your fingers, place the dough into the freezer for 10 minutes.

As soon as all of the balls have been rolled, place the sheet pans into the freezer and freeze for not less than Half-hour.

Step 3: Create a double boiler.

Since we’re dipping partially frozen peanut butter balls into heat chocolate, I wish to soften the chocolate chips utilizing a double boiler which helps hold the chocolate clean and melted.

Fill a small saucepan with a pair inches of water then deliver to a boil and place a glass or stainless-steel mixing bowl on high, guaranteeing the bowl doesn’t contact the boiling water.

Flip the warmth right down to low then add chocolate chips plus vegetable or coconut oil to the bowl and stir with a spatula till the chocolate is clean and melted, 3-5 minutes.

Step 4: Dip the peanut butter balls in melted chocolate.

One after the other, press a toothpick into every partially-frozen peanut butter ball (not too deep or it will likely be exhausting to take away) then dip into the melted chocolate, leaving the highest of the peanut butter ball uncovered.

Gently spin the toothpick between your fingers to take away extra chocolate then place the Buckeye again onto the sheet pan and use your finger to softly press it off the toothpick.

When you’re all accomplished, use your finger tip, a spoon, or toothpick to clean over the opening from the toothpick.

Voila, Buckeyes! I can’t precisely describe to you the way nostalgic these make me — so yummy! Place the sheet pans within the fridge till the chocolate has set, 20-Half-hour, then dive in.

Whether or not that is your first or fiftieth time consuming Buckeyes (the sweet!) — take pleasure in, take pleasure in!

Extra Simple Dessert Recipes

Buckeyes (Chocolate Peanut Butter Balls)

Description

Buckeyes are chocolate lined peanut butter balls that resemble nuts from a Buckeye Tree. Candy and creamy, they’re an irresistible deal with!

Elements

• 1-1/2 cups creamy peanut butter (not pure/drippy peanut butter)
• 6 Tablespoons butter, softened to room temperature
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
• 3 cups powdered sugar
• 16oz darkish or semi-sweet chocolate chips
• 2 teaspoons vegetable or coconut oil

Instructions

1. Line two half sheet pans with parchment paper or wax paper then put aside.
2. Add the peanut butter, softened butter, and vanilla extract to the bowl of an electrical mixer, or to a big mixing bowl if utilizing a handheld mixer, then beat on medium-high velocity till creamy, 30 seconds.
3. Add 2 cups powdered sugar, 1 cup at a time, beating on medium velocity till mixed between additions. Scrape down the edges of the bowl and the paddle attachment if utilizing then give the elements combine with a spatula to ensure there isn’t any powdered sugar caught on the backside of the blending bowl. Add the remaining 1 cup powdered sugar 1/2 cup at a time, beating till nicely mixed between additions. The dough will likely be very thick.
4. Scoop the dough out by the Tablespoon then roll right into a ball and place onto the ready sheet pans. If the dough turns into sticky, you may stick it within the freezer for 10 minutes. As soon as all of the dough has been rolled into balls, place the sheet pans into the freezer to harden for Half-hour.
5. Create a double boiler by including a pair inches of water to a small saucepan then bringing it to a simmer. Place a heat-resistant bowl like a glass bowl or stainless-steel mixing bowl on high, guaranteeing the underside of the bowl doesn’t contact the water, then add the chocolate chips and oil to the bowl. Flip the warmth right down to low then stir the chocolate chips with a spatula till they’re melted and clean.
6. Working with one sheet pan of peanut butter balls at a time (depart the opposite one within the freezer), stick a toothpick within the heart of a ball then dip it into the melted chocolate, leaving the highest of the peanut butter ball uncovered. Do not stick the tooth choose in too far in any other case it will likely be exhausting to take away. Gently spin the toothpick between your fingers to take away any extra chocolate then place the peanut butter ball again onto the baking sheet. Use your finger to softly press it off the toothpick. Repeat with remaining peanut butter balls then use your fingertip or a toothpick to clean out the holes on high of the Buckeyes. Refrigerate for 15-20 minutes to set the chocolate.
7. The Buckeyes are advantageous to sit down out at room temperature for twenty-four hours on a cookie plate for instance. Retailer in an hermetic container within the fridge for as much as 2 weeks when not consuming.

Notes

• A drippy/runny pure peanut butter won’t work for this recipe. I like Jif Naturals Creamy Peanut Butter which, regardless of the identify, is just not runny/drippy.
• Buckeyes freeze very nicely. Place the sheet pans with the Buckeyes into the freezer till frozen strong. Switch to a gallon Ziplock freezer bag then freeze for as much as 3 months.

This recipe is courtesy of Iowa Woman Eats, http://iowagirleats.com.

Photographs by Ashley McLaughlin