Easy Buckeye Candy Recipe

A plate of homemade peanut butter chocolate buckeyes balls.

4.88 from 24 votes

This Easy Buckeye Recipe makes creamy soft peanut butter centers that are mostly enrobed in rich dark chocolate, leaving just a circle of the filling exposed on top for that signature look of the famous Ohio icon. Buckeyes are a classic homemade candy that is popular at Christmas but can be enjoyed all year long!

Prep Time15

Chilling Time15

Total Time30

Course: Dessert

Cuisine: American

Servings: buckeyes

Calories: 176kcal

Author: Amy Nash

Ingredients

1 ½ cups creamy peanut butter (356g)
½ cup salted butter (113g)
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
3 cups powdered sugar (360g)
15 ounces Ghiradelli dark chocolate melting wafers

Instructions

Beat the peanut butter and butter together in a large bowl until creamy.
Add the powdered sugar and vanilla, then beat again until combined. Stop and scrape the bottom and sides of the bowl.
Line a baking sheet with parchment paper. Scoop the peanut butter mixture into Tablespoon-sized balls onto the parchment paper. Roll them between your palms until they are round and smooth, then place them back on the parchment paper. Freeze for 20 minutes (but no more than 30 minutes).
Meanwhile, melt the chocolate wafers in the microwave using short 20-second bursts of heat, stirring between each burst until melted and smooth.
Once the peanut butter balls are well-chilled, remove them from the freezer and skewer one with a toothpick. Dip the peanut butter ball into the melted chocolate until mostly covered, leaving a small round opening on top to give them the appearance of a buckeye ball. Gently shake off excess chocolate so it doesn't pool too much on the baking sheet, then return the buckeye to the baking sheet so the chocolate can set up.
Repeat with the remaining peanut butter balls, then use your fingers or a paring knife to smooth over the toothpick mark. Let the chocolate set up before enjoying.

Notes

Storage: Buckeyes are best when they are kept in the fridge and served cold.
Troubleshooting: If your peanut butter balls are too sticky and difficult to shape, try mixing in a little more powdered sugar, 1-2 Tablespoons at a time.
Using chocolate chips: If you don't have the chocolate melting wafers, you could replace them with 2 cups of your favorite chocolate chips and 2 teaspoons of coconut oil or shortening. The coconut oil will help the chocolate chips melt smoothly and set up shiny, just like the Ghiradelli wafers.

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