Only a few ingredients are required for this easy Buckeye recipe. These classic peanut butter candies come together in a matter of minutes and are dipped in dark chocolate for a snappy shell around a creamy peanut butter center.
I’ve been holding out on you.
I made this buckeye recipe a few weeks ago, but have waited until now to share it on the blog.
I was hesitant to share it at all at first: it’s so simple, and does the internet really need another buckeye recipe?
Ultimately I decided yes, it does, and I simply couldn’t go on unless I shared my slightly modified version of buckeyes with you.
Buckeyes are among the easiest candies out there. They call for only a handful of ingredients, require no oven, stovetop, or candy thermometer, and request a modest 15 minutes of chilling before you can coat the creamy peanut butter centers in dark chocolate.
My first experience with a buckeyes actually came in the form of Buckeye Brownies. I made those brownies dozens of times over before I ever tried my hand at a buckeye recipe, and while the brownies might always be my favorite peanut butter/chocolate dessert, buckeyes in their true form hold a close second, and definitely come first in terms of ease.
This simple buckeye recipe received several tweaks from its classic form that I think you will appreciate. I added two heavy spoonfuls of brown sugar for a little bit of depth of flavor (peanut butter and brown sugar together = heaven… and add some dark chocolate and you have complete nirvana)
A lot of powdered sugar goes into the mix, but that’s what helps these buckeyes hold their shape and makes them easy to dip into your chocolate. If your buckeye mixture is too soft to hold a solid ball or sticks to your fingers when you try to roll it, you can always add more powdered sugar (a tablespoon at a time) until the desired consistency is reached.
Despite all of the sugar, thanks to the peanut butter (and an honorable mention to the dark chocolate), this buckeye recipe doesn’t seem overly sweet once it’s finished.
Enjoy!
Full printable recipe is just below the video.
Easy Buckeye Recipe
Ingredients
- 2 cups creamy peanut butter (not "natural" peanut butter) (475g)
- 1/2 cup salted butter softened (113g)
- 2 Tablespoons brown sugar* packed
- 1 1/4 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 3 1/4 cups powdered sugar (405g)
- 12 oz dark chocolate melting wafers (340g)
Instructions
- Combine peanut butter and butter in the bowl of a stand mixer and beat until well-combined.
- Add brown sugar and vanilla extract. Stir well.
- Gradually add powdered sugar until completely combined. Scoop into Tablespoon-sized balls and roll with the palms of your hand until smooth and round.**
- Place on wax-paper lined cookie sheet and freeze for 15-20 minutes.
- While peanut butter balls are chilling, prepare your chocolate according to package instructions. Pour into a deep dish (I use a wide cup).
- Remove peanut butter balls from freezer, spear the top of each peanut butter ball with a toothpick and, holding the toothpick, dip each buckeye ball into the melted chocolate.
- Return to cookie sheet and remove toothpick. Use the pads of your fingers to smooth over the toothpick mark.
- Allow chocolate to harden before eating and enjoying.
- Buckeye balls are best kept refrigerated.
Notes
Nutrition
You Might Also Like:
Chocolate Peanut Butter Thumbprint Cookies
Monet says
July 16, 2019 at 1:39 pmFound this recipe several years ago and absolutely love it! I have used it to make these around Christmas each year! They are amazing and any peanut butter lover will be obsessed. Thank you for sharing!
Sam says
July 16, 2019 at 2:46 pmI am so glad everyone enjoys the buckeyes so much, Monet! 🙂
Maddie says
May 30, 2019 at 7:38 pmOk I’m not understanding how anyone could use less powdered sugar as some mentioned and be able to roll these out. I used 2 cups of PB and less than 1/2 cup coconut oil (dairy free) and near 4 cups of powdered sugar and there’s literally no way this would form a dough…. its just as viscose as the plain peanut butter. Trying to chill it to roll balls but I remain skeptical. I guess definitely don’t use coconut oil?
Sam says
May 31, 2019 at 9:19 pmThe coconut oil must be the problem, it’s a very stiff dough typically.
Ashley says
March 13, 2019 at 10:49 amOverall, Delicious! I ran into some problems when dipping the chilled peanut butter balls in to the chocolate – the chocolate seemed to melt the balls. Upon dipping they’d become soft and squishy and slip off the toothpick. The warm chocolate would also run off the side of the cold ball and not stick. Any thoughts as to what I might have done wrong??
Sam says
March 19, 2019 at 8:06 pmHi Ashley! I am so sorry this has happened. I have never heard of this happening. Maybe the peanut butter mixture needed to chill a little bit longer, or maybe there was an issue with your chocolate? I’m sorry I really don’t know here that is really weird.
ANNMARIE Gianfrancesco says
February 23, 2019 at 1:47 amSUCH a Great Idea to add the brown sugar!!! The molasses within the brown sugar will make the taste MUCH RICHER!!!! I ACTUALLY CANT WAIT TO MAKE THESE!!! I’m a cook, Not a Baker, (I Must admit I SUCK when it comes to baking!) So this recipe has caught my eye!!! I actually can make these!!! Very Excited to be able to make something that Others will enjoy. With Easter coming around the corner this recipe will be #1!!! Thank You!!!
Sam says
February 23, 2019 at 10:16 pmI hope you love them, Annmarie! 🙂
Ashley says
February 18, 2019 at 2:25 pmI made this with one of the kids I nanny, 10 yrs old, and it was so easy and fun! We used 1.5 cups of powdered sugar just to make the peanut butter mixture able to roll easily. Any more and we thought it would be way too sweet.
Andrea Missler says
February 13, 2019 at 11:50 amI found if you start by mixing the butter and brown sugar first it takes the gritty away! I just mix it a good long time until it’s smooth. Then add the rest! I must say this is the very BEST recipe I have found for Buckeyes! I have people request them all the time!!
Sam says
February 13, 2019 at 7:39 pmThat’s a great suggestion, Andrea! Thank you! I am glad everyone enjoys the buckeyes. 🙂
Angie Layne says
December 25, 2018 at 7:09 pmI followed this recipe but left out the brown sugar, used 1 stick of butter and 2 cups and 3/4 cup of powdered sugar and it came out PERFECT! I read the reviews before making and saw alot of reviews that said theirs came out crumbly so I thats why I only added 1/2 cup of powdered sugar at a time after the 2nd cup full. And a couple more said using the whole stick of butter was better too. One batch made 85 medium sized buckeyes and I used 18 oz of Giradelli chocolate baking chips. I made goodie boxes for 9 co-workers with buckeyes and my awesome delicious 2 ingredients peanut butter fudge.
Sam says
December 25, 2018 at 7:16 pmI am so glad you enjoyed it, Angie! 🙂
Kelly Felix says
February 28, 2019 at 2:38 pmHi Sam,
Can you freeze these successfully?
Thank you
Sam says
February 28, 2019 at 9:05 pmI have not tried it, but I think it should work. When defrosting, make sure to do so in the refrigerator. 🙂
Tammy Wright says
February 6, 2019 at 8:30 pmYou have a recipe for 2 ingredient peanut butter fudge??? I’d love it if you would share!!!