Buckeyes are chocolate coated peanut butter balls that resemble nuts from a Buckeye Tree. Candy and creamy, they are an impossible to resist deal with!

Even though you recognize me as “Iowa Woman Eats” — plot twist: I used to be in truth born in Ohio! My circle of relatives moved to Iowa when I used to be 3 and the remainder, as they are saying, is historical past.

That mentioned, the vast majority of my prolonged circle of relatives on all sides nonetheless lives in Ohio, aka The Buckeye State. Buckeye sweets are no-bake, chocolate-covered peanut butter balls that resemble the nuts that fall from Ohio’s state tree, the buckeye tree.

Wager you didn’t see a geography lesson coming your method whilst you opened this recipe submit!

What are Buckeyes?

The nuts from a buckeye tree are darkish brown with a tan heart, which function the visible inspiration for Buckeye sweets. Creamy peanut butter fudge balls are dipped in melted chocolate leaving the tops uncovered to resemble buckeye nuts. Now, buckeyes from the tree are now not fit for human consumption. Buckeye sweets even though?

Dare you to forestall at only one!

The sight and odor of Buckeyes sweets right away transports me to vacations spent with my circle of relatives in Ohio, the place there have been all the time Buckeyes scattered amongst different vacation treats on my Aunt’s cookie plates. The years after we didn’t make the trek “house” for the vacations, my Mother all the time whipped up a batch in our Iowa kitchen. No Christmas used to be whole and not using a tray.

Substances Wanted

I really like that Buckeyes simplest require a handful of on a regular basis elements to make. They’re now not simplest gluten loose, however simply made vegan, too! Right here’s what you’ll want:

• Creamy peanut butter: you’ll need common peanut butter vs natural-style (aka drippy/runny) peanut butter for Buckeyes. I take advantage of Jif Naturals which, regardless of the identify, isn’t runny/drippy.
• Butter: softened to room temperature. Be happy to make use of common or vegan butter.
• Vanilla extract: to provide comfy taste to every peanut butter ball.
• Powdered sugar: sweetens and thickens the Buckeye dough.
• Chocolate chips: soften darkish or semi-sweet chocolate chips to dip the peanut butter balls in. Use an allergy-friendly baking chocolate logo like Revel in Existence if you want dairy loose chips!
• Vegetable or coconut oil: just a little is helping the chocolate chips soften and coat the peanut butter balls easily.

What Does a Buckeye Style Like?

Buckeyes style just like the chocolate peanut butter cups everyone knows and love (drool). I love to stay the powdered sugar and butter at the lowest finish imaginable with out the dough turning into sticky so the peanut butter can truly shine.

I really like Revel in Existence’s Darkish Chocolate Morsels by contrast with the candy peanut butter fudge ball, even though you’ll be able to use semi-sweet chocolate chips too. I believe milk chocolate would make the Buckeyes too candy total.

Methods to Retailer Buckeyes

Buckeyes are wonderful to take a seat out at room temperature on vacation cookie plates for as much as 24 hours, even though if you happen to’re retaining them round for longer than that, retailer in an hermetic container within the fridge the place they’ll keep recent for as much as 2 weeks.

Buckeyes additionally freeze tremendous neatly. Merely prepare them in a gallon measurement Ziplock freezer bag then freeze flat.

Methods to Make Buckeyes

Step 1: Make the peanut butter dough.

Get started through creaming in combination peanut butter, softened butter, and vanilla extract till easy and creamy, about 30 seconds. You’ll use a stand mixer, or huge glass blending bowl if the usage of a hand-held mixer.

Subsequent, step by step upload powdered sugar till the dough could be very thick. Use a spatula to scrape down the perimeters and backside of the bowl, and the paddle attachment, to make sure the entire elements are blended.

If the usage of a hand-held mixer, beware that some peanut butter dough will cross flying throughout your kitchen — it’s all a part of the method! 😉

Step 2: Roll the peanut butter dough into balls.

Use a cookie scoop to scoop out 1 Tablespoon peanut butter dough then position onto two parchment or wax paper-covered part sheet pans and roll into balls. If the dough begins to stick with your arms, position the dough into the freezer for 10 mins.

As soon as the entire balls had been rolled, position the sheet pans into the freezer and freeze for a minimum of Half-hour.

Step 3: Create a double boiler.

Since we’re dipping partly frozen peanut butter balls into heat chocolate, I love to soften the chocolate chips the usage of a double boiler which is helping stay the chocolate easy and melted.

Fill a small saucepan with a pair inches of water then carry to a boil and position a pitcher or chrome steel blending bowl on best, making sure the bowl doesn’t contact the boiling water.

Flip the warmth all the way down to low then upload chocolate chips plus vegetable or coconut oil to the bowl and stir with a spatula till the chocolate is easy and melted, 3-5 mins.

Step 4: Dip the peanut butter balls in melted chocolate.

Separately, press a toothpick into every partially-frozen peanut butter ball (now not too deep or it is going to be exhausting to take away) then dip into the melted chocolate, leaving the highest of the peanut butter ball uncovered.

Gently spin the toothpick between your palms to take away extra chocolate then position the Buckeye again onto the sheet pan and use your finger to softly press it off the toothpick.

Whenever you’re all completed, use your finger tip, a spoon, or toothpick to easy over the outlet from the toothpick.

Voila, Buckeyes! I will be able to’t appropriately describe to you the way nostalgic those make me — so yummy! Position the sheet pans within the fridge till the chocolate has set, 20-Half-hour, then dive in.

Whether or not that is your first or fiftieth time consuming Buckeyes (the sweet!) — experience, experience!

Extra Simple Dessert Recipes

Buckeyes (Chocolate Peanut Butter Balls)

Description

Buckeyes are chocolate coated peanut butter balls that resemble nuts from a Buckeye Tree. Candy and creamy, they are an impossible to resist deal with!

Substances

• 1-1/2 cups creamy peanut butter (now not pure/drippy peanut butter)
• 6 Tablespoons butter, softened to room temperature
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
• 3 cups powdered sugar
• 16oz darkish or semi-sweet chocolate chips
• 2 teaspoons vegetable or coconut oil

Instructions

1. Line two part sheet pans with parchment paper or wax paper then put aside.
2. Upload the peanut butter, softened butter, and vanilla extract to the bowl of an electrical mixer, or to a big blending bowl if the usage of a hand-held mixer, then beat on medium-high velocity till creamy, 30 seconds.
3. Upload 2 cups powdered sugar, 1 cup at a time, beating on medium velocity till blended between additions. Scrape down the perimeters of the bowl and the paddle attachment if the usage of then give the elements a excellent combine with a spatula to ensure there isn’t any powdered sugar caught on the backside of the blending bowl. Upload the remainder 1 cup powdered sugar 1/2 cup at a time, beating till neatly blended between additions. The dough shall be very thick.
4. Scoop the dough out through the Tablespoon then roll right into a ball and position onto the ready sheet pans. If the dough turns into sticky, you’ll be able to stick it within the freezer for 10 mins. As soon as the entire dough has been rolled into balls, position the sheet pans into the freezer to harden for Half-hour.
5. Create a double boiler through including a pair inches of water to a small saucepan then bringing it to a simmer. Position a heat-resistant bowl like a pitcher bowl or chrome steel blending bowl on best, making sure the ground of the bowl doesn’t contact the water, then upload the chocolate chips and oil to the bowl. Flip the warmth all the way down to low then stir the chocolate chips with a spatula till they’re melted and easy.
6. Running with one sheet pan of peanut butter balls at a time (go away the opposite one within the freezer), stick a toothpick within the heart of a ball then dip it into the melted chocolate, leaving the highest of the peanut butter ball uncovered. Do not stick the teeth pick out in too a long way another way it is going to be exhausting to take away. Gently spin the toothpick between your palms to take away any extra chocolate then position the peanut butter ball again onto the baking sheet. Use your finger to softly press it off the toothpick. Repeat with final peanut butter balls then use your fingertip or a toothpick to easy out the holes on best of the Buckeyes. Refrigerate for 15-20 mins to set the chocolate.
7. The Buckeyes are wonderful to take a seat out at room temperature for twenty-four hours on a cookie plate as an example. Retailer in an hermetic container within the fridge for as much as 2 weeks when now not consuming.

Notes

• A drippy/runny pure peanut butter is not going to paintings for this recipe. I love Jif Naturals Creamy Peanut Butter which, regardless of the identify, isn’t runny/drippy.
• Buckeyes freeze really well. Position the sheet pans with the Buckeyes into the freezer till frozen forged. Switch to a gallon Ziplock freezer bag then freeze for as much as 3 months.

This recipe is courtesy of Iowa Woman Eats, http://iowagirleats.com.

Pictures through Ashley McLaughlin