If you love peanut butter buckeyes, then you simply must try these buckeye cookies! Just like the candy, these chewy chocolate cookies are made with a creamy peanut butter filling and rich chocolate coating. Recipe includes a how-to video!
Gradually add dry ingredients to wet, stirring until completely combined.
Cover dough and chill in the refrigerator for 30 minutes. Meanwhile, preheat oven to 350F (175C).
Once oven is preheated and dough is chilled, scoop dough into ¼ cup-sized balls (for LARGE cookies) or 2 Tablespoon-sized balls (for smaller/classic-sized cookies). Roll between your palms to form a smooth round ball. Space cookies at least 2” apart on baking sheet.
Transfer to center rack of 350F (175C) oven and bake for 10-12 minutes (for large cookies) or 9-10 minutes (for smaller cookies). Within 1 minute of removing from the oven, use the clean, flat bottom of a 1-cup measuring cup (or glass, etc.) to gently flatten the surface of the cookie (you want a smooth flat surface for adding the peanut butter). Allow cookies to cool on baking sheet for at least 5 minutes before removing to cooling rack to cool completely before decorating.
Peanut Butter Layer
Combine peanut butter and butter in a medium-large mixing bowl. Use an electric mixer to beat until smooth and creamy.
2 cups creamy peanut butter, ½ cup unsalted butter
Stir in vanilla extract and salt until well combined.
1 teaspoon vanilla extract, ¼ teaspoon salt
Gradually add powdered sugar until completely combined and you have a smooth but stiff mixture.
2 ¼ cups powdered sugar
Scoop dough by 2 ½ Tablespoon portions (for large cookies) or 1 ½ Tablespoon portions (for standard cookies) and roll into a smooth ball (see note). Use your hands to flatten the mixture into a disk and press gently onto the surface of a cookie (if it’s too sticky, just spread it on the cookie gently with an icing spatula). Repeat until all cookies have been covered.
Chocolate Topping
Place chocolate in a heatproof bowl. Pour cream into a small saucepan and warm over medium-low heat until steaming. Pour evenly over the chocolate, cover with foil, and let sit for 5 minutes. Remove foil and whisk until smooth. If chocolate hasn’t completely melted, you can heat in the microwave in 10-second intervals until smooth.
1 ½ cups semisweet chocolate chips or couverture chocolate, 6 Tablespoons heavy cream
Drizzle chocolate over cookies. Allow chocolate to harden before enjoying (you can speed this up by popping them in the fridge, but cookies taste best at room temp).
Video
Notes
Cocoa powder
I recommend and prefer natural cocoa powder, but Dutch process will work in a pinch.
Peanut butter layer
If mixture is too sticky to handle, cover and chill in the fridge for 15-20 minutes and then try rolling again). If the peanut butter filling is still too sticky after chilling, just stir in additional powdered sugar, a tablespoon at a time, until manageable.
Storing
Store in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 5 days. These cookie also freeze well, wrap tightly in plastic wrap and freeze for up to 3 months.