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)
- ½ cup salted butter softened (113g)
- 2 Tablespoons brown sugar* packed
- 1 ¼ teaspoon vanilla extract
- 3 ¼ 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
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Heather Gilstrap
How long do these last? Wondering if I could make them today and they would be good for christmas!
Sam
Hi Heather! These will be fine to keep until Christmas. 🙂
Jessica
I don’t believe there’s a recipe of yours I’ve tried and not liked. The other day I was wanting to make buckeyes and my first thought was, “I wonder if SugarSpunRun has one?” Absolutely delicious.
Sam
Thank you so much, Jessica! I’m so glad you enjoy everything so much! 🙂
Maria F
can you use margarine instead of butter?
Sam
Hi Maria! While I have never tried it personally, I believe it should work just fine. 🙂
Becca
If you are worried about the brown sugar making it gritty, use 1T of molasses instead. Adds depth of flavor with not grit.
Diane
Hi!
Do have the full nutritional values for this recipe? I would like to know the carbs and fat. Thanks!
Diane
Sam
Hi Diane! I don’t have the full nutritional values. I typically enter the ingredients in a free nutritional calculator like My Fitness Pal to determine these. 🙂
ROnda
Why would u say to not use natural peanut butter? Have you tried that before and what happened?
Sam
Hi Ronda! Natural peanut butter has a tendency to separate which is why I don’t recommend it. 🙂
Betty
Hi, instead of using chocolate wafers or chips. Can I use almond bark?
Sam
Absolutely! Enjoy 🙂
Madge Allen
Can the buckeyes be frozen and dipped in chocolate at a later date?
Sam
That should work just fine. 🙂
Laurie
It does work, but they sweat so you want to make sure they’re completely thawed and pay dry before dipping.
Marie
Hello, I’d like to make the crunchy kind of buckeyes using Rice Krispy cereal. Do you have a suggestion here?
Sam
Hi Marie! You should be able to stir some right into the batter. I haven’t tried it so I’m not sure how much to add. Let me know how it goes. 🙂
Sally
Can you do milk chocolate instead of darck chocolate
Sam
Hi Sally! It will be pretty sweet but it will work. 🙂
Pam
Need full nutrition values please in ounces
Sam
Hi Pam! I typically use a free nutritional calculator like my fitness pal to find all of the nutritional values. 🙂
Lynda
Can’t wait to make these again for christmas
Joyce Mumford
Can melted semi-sweet chocolate chips work instead of the melting wafers? I haven’t seen the wafers in our grocery stores.
Sam
Hi Joyce! That will work just fine. 🙂
Robin
What are melting wafers?
Sam
A type of chocolate, typically sold in the baking section at grocery stores. 🙂
Maryann D
Best buckeye recipe! Dough is easy to work with. Kids loved them. I am always looking for a no bake recipe……this is #1!!
Sam
I’m so glad everyone enjoyed them so much, Maryann! 🙂