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Buckeyes, also known as Peanut Butter Balls, have a smooth peanut butter center and chocolate shell. You’ll want to make this simple buckeye recipe for your Christmas treat trays and holiday food gifts.
This post has a ton of tips for making the BEST Buckeyes (aka Peanut Butter Balls). Be sure to read through it all in order to make the perfect buckeyes!
As an Ohio girl, I consider myself somewhat of a Buckeye candy expert. (Seeing how I’m already a bonafide peanut butter and chocolate expert.) In addition to that, Buckeyes have been a classic and absolute favorite for my family for Christmas ever since I can remember.
I’ve updated this post in a FAQ style to answer all your buckeye questions. Consider this your ultimate guide to making buckeye candy.
What is a Buckeye?
In Ohio, the state tree is the buckeye, and the nuts from the tree (Which are actually poisonous if eaten raw) look exactly like these candies. Fortunately, Buckeye candy tastes a whole lot better, and these peanut butter balls are beloved by everyone.
How To Make Buckeyes
The actual process for making Buckeyes is simple as can be, use an electric mixer to cream the peanut butter and butter together until smooth. Then beat in the powdered sugar and vanilla. Roll into balls. Chill.
Dip the chilled peanut butter balls in chocolate. Chill and enjoy. Despite how simple these are to make, I have a few handy tips to that might make your process even easier.
First, use an electric mixer. It makes beating the powdered sugar in much easier. I use a Kitchenaid stand mixer, and it works nicely. In the past though, I’ve also used a large bowl, wooden spoon, and some arm muscle with good results. However, if you have an electric mixer, this is the time to use it.
Why are my buckeyes dry and crumbly?
First, carefully measure the ingredients to get the correct ratios. This recipe is tried and true for thousands, so don’t try and change it.
The trick is to keep beating it until the mixture is nice and smooth. Don’t quit too early. It can take 5-10 minutes of beating, depending on your mixing method, to completely combine the peanut butter and powdered sugar. Keep beating the mixture, and it will eventually come together.
The humidity and quality of ingredients can also make a difference, so if it isn’t smooth after beating well, add just a tablespoon of peanut butter at a time until it is smooth.
Why are my buckeyes sticky?
This could be because it’s a very humid day or the brand of the ingredients. To fix this, add more powdered sugar, just a 1/4 cup at a time, until it is firm and dry enough to roll between your palms.
Peanut Butter Balls
Freeze the peanut butter balls before dipping. It makes them much easier to work with and keeps them from melting when dipped in the warm chocolate. Also, have everything set up with plenty of space before you begin. Have a cookie sheet lined with wax paper to set the buckeyes on after dipping.
In most recipes, the only difference between Peanut Butter Balls and Buckeye Balls is how they are dipped in chocolate.
Buckeyes are only partially dipped in chocolate, leaving the peanut butter showing on the top. That way they tend to look a bit like the nuts from the buckeye tree.
Peanut Butter Balls are traditionally covered completely in chocolate. (see the picture below.) Peanut butter balls made with rice krispies and peanut butter ball made with graham crackers are both popular favorites too. And peanut butter oatmeal balls are a fun snack for a busy morning.
Best Way To Melt Chocolate
There are several ways to melt the chocolate and dip the buckeyes. You can melt the chocolate in the microwave in 15-second intervals, stirring in between until smooth. Or you can use a double boiler to melt the chocolate on the stove over low heat.
My favorite method is to use a crockpot little dipper melting pot and that is how I shot these photos, however, just to be clear, any method for melting the chocolate will work just fine.
I received my little dipper pot many years ago for free with another Crockpot purchase, and I am not having any luck today finding a link for one on its own. If you happen to have one already, the little dipper is handy because it will melt the chocolate in 20 minutes and maintain a consistent temperature the whole time you are dipping. It’s also a fairly narrow and deep container, which allows you to use less chocolate.
And once more, it is worth repeating that you must chill your peanut butter balls or even take the time to freeze them before dipping. Chilling the peanut butter balls beforehand prevents them from melting when they are dipped in the warm chocolate. They will be much easier to work with this way.
Best Method for Dipping Buckeyes In Chocolate
My favorite way to dip buckeyes is with a toothpick. Simply stab each ball with a toothpick and dip it in the melted chocolate. This works best if the peanut butter balls are frozen first. Otherwise, they will tend to fall off the toothpick when pulling them out of the chocolate.
This method does make holes in the top of the buckeyes. But after the chocolate has set on the buckeyes, you can pinch the holes closed if you care.
Can you do this without toothpicks? Yes. I’ve used a fork as well. Simply place the peanut butter ball on the fork and lower it into the chocolate. However, it can be tricky to get the right amount of chocolate coverage for buckeyes when using a fork.
Buckeye Recipe with Paraffin Wax
Paraffin helps the chocolate melt smoothly and set up nice and firm. You can make the buckeyes without it, if you prefer. I’ve made these countless times and continue to use the paraffin. It makes the chocolate easier to work with and doesn’t affect the taste at all.
How To Store Buckeyes
Some people say buckeyes are sugary enough to leave on the counter. However, I prefer storing them in the refrigerator or freezer.
These will keep in the refrigerator for up to a week or in the freezer for several weeks.
Do Buckeyes need to be refrigerated?
Yes, storing them in the fridge is best. After dipping, let them set and then move them to a tightly covered container before placing in the fridge. The candy will keep nicely in the refrigerator for up to a week.
Can I freeze Buckeyes?
Yes, they will keep for several weeks in the freezer. Simply, let the chocolate set, and then move them to a tightly sealed container in the freezer. They will keep longer, but the quality starts to decline after several weeks.
How long will Buckeyes stay fresh?
Buckeyes are a great make-ahead Christmas candy because they store so well. They’ll keep well for a day or two on the counter. They’ll last up to a week in refrigerator, or up to two months in the freezer.
Chocolate and Peanut Butter
Buckeye Pretzels are peanut butter balls sandwiched between pretzels and then dipped in chocolate, it is a salty-sweet twist on classic buckeyes. Be warned now though, these salty-sweet bites of chocolate peanut butter happiness are likely to be a new favorite snack.
Chocolate peanut butter happiness is created when buckeyes (aka peanut butter balls) are pressed into warm brownie bites and then drizzled with chocolate to create these Buckeye Brownies.
Chocolate Peanut Butter Acorns are made with a smooth peanut butter ball, a chocolate cap, and a walnut stem. (Easy as can be and cute too!)
Looking for more chocolate dessert recipes? Creamy hazelnut spread and melted chocolate are tucked inside flaky, buttery pastry dough before being baked into these irresistible Chocolate Hazelnut Babka Bites.
Buckeyes (Peanut Butter Balls)
Ingredients
- 1½ cups creamy peanut butter
- ½ cup butter softened
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 4 cups powdered sugar
- 16 ounces semi-sweet chocolate chips approximately 2½ cups
- ¼ cup shaved paraffin wax
Instructions
- In the bowl of a mixer, beat peanut butter and butter. Stir in vanilla. Add the powdered sugar gradually and beat on low speed until smooth. This will take several minutes.
- Roll into 1 inch balls and place in the freezer for at least 1 hour.
- Place the chocolate and paraffin wax in a deep bowl and microwave for 10-15 seconds at a time, stirring between intervals, until melted. (You can also use a double boiler or chocolate melting pot to melt the chocolate.)
- Dip the chilled peanut butter balls approximately ¾ of the way into the melted chocolate and place on a wax paper or parchment-lined baking sheet until the chocolate is set.
- Transfer to an airtight container and store in the fridge or the freezer.
Nutrition
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
{originally published 12/1/14 – recipe notes and photos updated 9/3/25}
I agree with some of the other comments, the ratios were not right. My mix ended up way too powdered almost like sand. So I decided to press it into the pan and see if it will make bars. Also, the peanut butter texture could make a difference, or melting the butter might help.
I found the easiest way to dip candy was not with a toothpick but with a plastic fork, ( you break the center two prongs off, leaving the two outside prongs, set candy ball on fork and dip, the extra coating will drip back into the bowl. then just set it on waxed paper. (NO HOLE) It also works good for dipping pretzels, you can hook the pretzel over a prong. I make bon bons this way too.
That is an awesome idea! I have had problems in the past trying to cover them with chocolate. This will alleviate the headaches.
My peanut butter balls are in the freezer waiting fir chocolate. I so hope they turn out.
I thought I would try these since the recipe looked so simple. Needless to say I was disappointed. I followed the recipe word for word and just ended up frustrated and actually tossed them out. The chocolate wax way to thick when I tried to dip the peanut butter balls they fell apart. I even made my peanut butter balls up last night and left them in the refrigerator over night.
My centers turned out very soft. I probably didn’t add enough powdered sugar. My sugar was in a storage container (not the original bag) and I don’t have a scale so I had to estimate. Can you tell me about how many cups the 1 pound would be?
This recipe needs more peanut buttter and more butter or less powered sugar.
1 pound is like 3 1/2 – 4 cups. That’s a lot compared to other recipes. I had to add a couple more spoons of peanut butter and a half a stick more of butter. The combination just doesn’t work out. Probably could have used 2 sticks of butter, like others I found.
Just add the powdered sugar slow an d stop when it gets clumpy. It taste good, but all peanut butter and chocolate does!!!
About how many buckeyes does this make?
I am in a cookie exchange and will need to make about 6 dozen cookies!
my mix turned out too sticky to form balls. what do you recommend?
Hi Lia. I would add enough powdered sugar until you can handle them enough to roll
Hi Mallory, how do you store these and for how long? Thank you ~ 🙂
The can be stored for a few days in the refrigerator. But to keep them longer (up to a few weeks) I freeze them.
I have used shortening to thin the chocolate and it wasn’t good. It changed the flavor of the chocolate and no one in my office would eat them. We pitched most of them. 🙁 I haven’t made them since and that was 5 years ago. I’m trying again this year this recipe. Hope it turns out better.
I’ve been making them for years. I put about a 1/2 teaspoon of vegetable oil in the chocolate and it makes them super smooth and shiny, also doesn’t change the taste.
I use Almond Bark to coat the Buckeyes. You just microwave the chocolate squares and add nothing else.
Some stores that do not sell it carry Chocolate coating that works the same way. You melt a couple squares at a time in the microwave and dip. I have never frozen the balls, just put them on a cookie sheet and set them in the frig. I use a toothpick to dip them. I shake off the chocolate coating. Take them out of the frig later and smooth over the toothpick hole with the back of a regular teaspoon.
I use a little coconut oil in my chocolate. It’s solid at room temperature so the chocolate sets up nicely and it doesn’t change the taste. My husband doesn’t like coconut, but says he can’t tell. Also, I use a coffee cup to melt the chocolate in the microwave. To keep from having to reheating the chocolate, I take a dish towel and wet it, then put it in a mixing bowl forming kind of a nest and nuke it for a minute (careful, it will be hot). Then set your cup of melted chocolate in the bowl with the hot towel. It will stay the perfect temperature for dipping. As your chocolate cools just lift the cup out and nuke the bowl and towel again. This will also melt the chocolate. When the level of chocolate drops, you can add some to the cup and it will melt in a couple minutes. I like the idea of using a mini crock pot. Maybe I’ll look into getting one.
Sherri, thanks for the coconut oil idea. I used to make these buckeyes as many as 30 years ago with paraffin because it worked so well for shipping to family and friends. But we aren’t shipping anywhere this year, and I really like the idea of using healthy coconut oil to thin the chocolate. Clever idea with the dish towel, by the way.
Try coconut oil