These incredibly easy classic chocolate peanut butter balls, require only 5 ingredients and come together in minutes. A simple no-bake recipe perfect for little hands to join in the fun!
Buckeyes or chocolate peanut butter balls, are one of the simplest candy recipes out there. The classic Buckeye is rolled peanut butter fluff partially dipped in chocolate and normally we stop there. But this year we went whole hog for the holidays and did a full dip…with frosting…for a festive treat that cannot be beat.
If you’ve ever lived or traveled in Ohio, you know about the Buckeye. Ohio is the Buckeye State, named after the Buckeye tree. These seasonal treats are called Buckeyes because they resemble the nuts that grow on these trees.
Ingredients needed for Chocolate Peanut Butter Balls (aka Buckeyes)
- Peanut Butter – we used regular creamy peanut butter (the kind with sugar added) to make these scrumptious Buckeyes. No sugar added natural peanut butter (the kind you stir) is find to use, just make sure it is completely mixed before using.
- Powdered Sugar – adds sweetness and stabilizes the mixture. You may want to use a little less or more powdered sugar depending on the sweetness of the peanut butter you use.
- Butter – we always use unsalted butter in our recipes so WE control the salt!
- Vanilla Extract – an essential flavor!
- Semi-sweet Chocolate – we used semi-sweet chocolate squares (baking squares) for this recipe. Chocolate melting wafers or chocolate chips can be substituted. Use package directions for melting instructions.
We LOVE these cute red and black buffalo mini paper liners for our Buckeyes. There are so many varieties to suit every occasion.
Tips For Making the Best Holiday Cookies
The best tip for making any baking recipe is to measure your ingredients as accurately as possible, and making sure your ingredients are at the right temperature for blending. Baking is really just the science of how measured, blended ingredients respond to heat, so accuracy matters…a lot!
- Use a spoon, not the measuring cup, to over-fill powdered or ground ingredients into your measuring cup, then use a knife to scrape the excess off the top. Spoon filling helps to keep dry ingredients from compacting in the measuring cup. This method works well for powdered sugar, baking powder, soda and ground spices, too.
- Make sure to use softened butter and room temperature eggs. If you forget to take them out, here are shortcuts for warming butter and eggs to save you some time.
- Warm the butter, in it’s wrapper, in the microwave. Microwave on High for 5 second intervals, turning the butter over each time. No microwave? First, cut the cold butter into cubes. That’ll give it more surface area to warm. Get out a large mug and a paper towel. Pile up the butter so it will fit under the mug, or do this method in batches. Run water until it is very hot. Fill the mug with the hot water and wait for the outside of the mug to feel warm. Then quickly dump out the water, wipe it dry with the paper towel and sit it upside down over the butter. The heat will transfer from the mug to the butter and gently soften it.
- To warm eggs to room temperature, fill a bowl with warm (not hot) tap water and place the eggs in the bowl. Let the eggs sit in the bowl for 4 – 5 minutes until the egg shell is no longer cool to the touch.
What’s MLH’s Cookie Extravaganza?
Must Love Home’s Cookie Extravaganza is a tradition started in 2019. Every December we are counting down the days till Christmas with the most deliciously easy cookie recipes for the holidays. We’ll be sharing simple, fun recipes that are perfect for beginners as well the experienced baker, using easy pantry ingredients.
Click to see MLH’s Cookie Extravaganza thru the years! ?
Chocolate Peanut Butter Balls aka “Buckeyes”
Ingredients
- 1.75 cups powdered sugar (1-3/4 cups) same as confectioners sugar
- 1 cup peanut butter creamy style
- 4 tbsp unsalted butter softened
- 1 tsp vanilla extract
- 1/8 tsp salt
- 8 ounces semi-sweet chocolate chopped
- seasonal frosting, glaze or sprinkles to decorate optional
Instructions
- Line two large baking sheets with parchment. Set aside.
- Into a large bowl measure the sugar, peanut butter, butter, vanilla and salt. Beat with an electric mixer on medium speed until dough sticks together and forms a ball, 2 to 3 minutes.
- Using hands, roll dough into 1-inch balls and place on one of the parchment-lined pans. Freeze on pan until firm and chilled thru.
- Once balls are chilled, place chocolate into a small bowl and microwave at 30 second increments, stirring after each increment, until fully melted and can be stirred smooth.
- Working one balls at a time, dip ball into chocolate to coat and transfer to second parchment-lined baking sheet. Repeat with remaining balls. Allow chocolate to set.
- Decorate balls as desired and serve in mini paper liners.
Equipment Used
Nutrition Facts
© Copyright Christine Mello for Must Love Home. We would love for you to share a link to this recipe but please do not copy/paste the recipe instructions to websites or social media. We are happy for you to share a photo with a link back to this website instead.
