Easy Buckeye Recipe | Julie Blanner (2024)

This Buckeye Recipe is the most delicious combination of a creamy peanut butter center and chocolate exterior. Get the steps to make this classic no-bake dessert!

Not only are they incredibly easy to make, they are fun too! We turned our simple buckeye recipe into the cutest little hedgehogs for parties.

Who can resist the combination of peanut butter and chocolate? There’s nothing better!

Easy Buckeye Recipe | Julie Blanner (1)

Table of Contents

  • Why You’ll Love this Buckeye Recipe
  • A Buckeye Recipe Without Shortening Or Paraffin Wax
  • Ingredients and Substitutions
  • Variations
  • Tools to Use
  • How To Make Buckeyes
  • Tips
  • Buckeye Serving Suggestions
  • Frequently Asked Questions
  • Dietary Considerations
  • How to Store Chocolate Peanut Butter Balls
  • More Peanut Butter Inspiration
  • Buckeye Recipe
  • Explore More

Is there anything better than the combination of creamy peanut butter and sweet chocolate? In my opinion, there’s very little that can top this classic combo.

These chocolate peanut butter balls are creamy and a little salty… dipped in sweet chocolate that is melted to perfection. (Yes, they are very similar to a peanut butter cup!) I’d say without a doubt, these are a peanut butter and chocolate lover’s dream come true!

While so many of the recipes that feature these flavors involve baking, this sweet little buckeye recipe does not! That’s what I love about making these sweet treats – they are no bake perfection.

Recently, I hosted a baby shower for my niece, where I turned my love of chocolate peanut butter into an adorable feature. Read on for all the details!

Love a decadent chocolate treat once in a while? Don’t skip my Hot Chocolate Bombs, and the spicier Mexican Hot Chocolate Bombs, too!

Why You’ll Love this Buckeye Recipe

  • Easy to make
  • No bake
  • Perfect for gifting
  • Prep them ahead of time
Easy Buckeye Recipe | Julie Blanner (2)

What’s the Difference Between Chocolate Peanut Butter Balls and this Buckeye Recipe?

The difference between chocolate peanut butter balls and buckeyes are that chocolate peanut butter balls coated entirely in chocolate, while buckeyes leave the a little peanut butter showing at the top.

They resemble nuts from a buckeye tree!

We turned buckeyes into the sweetest little hedgehogs, because the peanut butter top is easy to turn into an adorable face and the sprinkles add an amazing crunch!

They are so easy to make, you’re going to find every excuse to eat them! As always, it’s best for me when I have a “share plan” before I make this buckeye recipe, so that I don’t eat every last one. Chocolate peanut butter treats are probably one of my favorite guilty pleasures of all time!

A Buckeye Recipe Without Shortening Or Paraffin Wax

One of the things that separates this buckeye recipe from others is that I don’t use shortening or paraffin. A hint of vegetable oil blended with melted chocolate gives it a luxurious consistency.

Easy Buckeye Recipe | Julie Blanner (3)

Ingredients and Substitutions

This Buckeye recipe uses common ingredients that you have in your refridgerator and pantry.

  • Confectioners Sugar – Also known as powdered sugar. Sifted is ideal, but not required.
  • Creamy Peanut Butter – Do NOT use all-natural, the consistency doesn’t work well. Substitute crunchy peanut butter if you prefer.
  • Butter – Melted butter creates an amazing consistency.
  • Vanilla – A hint of vanilla adds a lot of flavor to chocolate peanut butter balls. Learn how to make your own vanilla extract – it’s so easy!
  • Chocolate Semi-sweet chocolate chips or wafers (melted) work really well.
  • Vegetable Oil – Gives chocolate a luxuriously smooth texture.

Variations

  • Try a crunchy peanut butter instead of creamy
  • Try dark chocolate instead of semi-sweet

Easy Buckeye Recipe | Julie Blanner (4)

How To Make Buckeyes

See the printable recipe card for more details.

  1. Make Filling – Beat filling ingredients until combined. Scoop or roll mixture into balls and place on lined baking sheet. Freeze.
  2. Make Coating – Warm chocolate and vegetable oil in increments, stirring until smooth.
  3. Dip and Decorate – Dip peanut butter balls into chocolate. Optional: dip in sprinkles and place on the cookie sheet.
  4. Set – Refrigerate until solid and serve at room temperature.
Easy Buckeye Recipe | Julie Blanner (5)
Easy Buckeye Recipe | Julie Blanner (6)

Tips

  • Don’t use natural peanut butter, as the consistency is just not the same.
  • Melting wafers tend to work best here, although chocolate chips and bars will work too.
  • Line your baking sheet with parchment paper to prevent sticking and allow for easy clean up.
  • If dough is a bit too sticky to roll, try adding an extra tablespoon of powdered sugar.
  • You can use the gel writing icing to add the face either before or after refrigeration, but I did after just in case there was any bleeding!
  • Want to double or triple the recipe for serving or gifting? Use the yield tab in the printable recipe card for calculating more or less servings!

Scaling up, down or substituting? You’ll love this printable Measurement Conversion Chart!

Buckeye Serving Suggestions

These are so much fun to make, but they are just as much fun to serve! You can work them into the theme of your event, or just serve them in their charming simplest format for a treat your family and guests will love.

  • Rolling them in sprinkles can add a little color or charm based on the season or event. I love the idea of red and green sprinkles for Christmas or pastel nonpareils for Easter.
  • Perfect on your holiday cookie platters to serve for gatherings.
  • Great for gifting. Wrap in cellophane bags or package inside cute boxes.
Easy Buckeye Recipe | Julie Blanner (7)

Frequently Asked Questions

Why are they called buckeye balls?

Buckeyes are a little different from traditional chocolate and peanut butter balls, which are completely covered in chocolate. They resemble the nut of the Ohio buckeye tree, which the state tree of Ohio, hence the name.

How do you dip buckeye balls in chocolate?

Use a toothpick to dip them into the chocolate while holding that, works like a charm!

Dietary Considerations

  • Gluten Free
  • Vegetarian

How to Store Chocolate Peanut Butter Balls

  • Room Temperature – Buckeyes will last up to two days stored on your kitchen counter in an airtight container.
  • Refrigerator – Store up to two weeks in the fridge. (However, don’t blame me if they don’t make it through the day! Fair warning!)
  • Freezer – You can also freeze this Buckeye Recipe for a couple months in the freezer and pull them out when your family wants a sweet treat. Store in an airtight container for best results.
Easy Buckeye Recipe | Julie Blanner (8)

More Peanut Butter Inspiration

No Bake

Peanut Butter Bark

10 mins

Candies

2 Ingredient Peanut Clusters

5 mins

Desserts

Creamy Peanut Butter Fudge

1 hr 10 mins

No Bake

Easy No Bake Peanut Butter Cheesecake

10 mins

Cookies

Flourless Peanut Butter Chocolate Chip Cookies

16 mins

Dessert Recipes

Easy Buckeye Recipe | Julie Blanner (14)

4.93 from 14 votes

Buckeye Recipe

By Julie Blanner

This Buckeye Recipe is the most delicious combination of a creamy peanut butter center and chocolate exterior. Get the steps to make this classic no-bake dessert, and you can even learn how to turn them into charming little hedgehogs!

Prep: 10 minutes mins

Cook: 0 minutes mins

chill: 1 hour hr

Total: 1 hour hr 10 minutes mins

Servings: 24

PinRatePrint

Ingredients

  • cups powdered sugar
  • 1 cup creamy peanut butter
  • 6 tablespoons salted butter melted
  • 1 teaspoon vanilla extract

Chocolate topping

  • 8 ounces semi-sweet chocolate chips or wafers
  • 1 teaspoon vegetable oil

For Decorating as Hedgehogs (optional)

  • chocolate sprinkles
  • Black writing gel icing

Instructions

  • In a large mixing bowl, beat powdered sugar, peanut butter, butter and vanilla until well combined.

    2½ cups powdered sugar, 1 cup creamy peanut butter, 6 tablespoons salted butter, 1 teaspoon vanilla extract

  • Scoop or roll into balls and place on lined cookie sheet. Freeze 30 minutes.

    Easy Buckeye Recipe | Julie Blanner (15)

  • Microwave chocolate and vegetable oil in 30 second increments and stir until smooth.

    8 ounces semi-sweet chocolate, 1 teaspoon vegetable oil

  • Using a toothpick, dip peanut butter balls into chocolate.

    Easy Buckeye Recipe | Julie Blanner (16)

  • Optional: dip in sprinklesand place on the cookie sheet.

    chocolate sprinkles

    Easy Buckeye Recipe | Julie Blanner (17)

  • Refrigerate 30 minutes until solid. Serve at room temperature.

To Turn into Hedgehogs

  • Optional: dip in chocolate sprinkles before chocolate fully sets, and place on the cookie sheet.

  • Use chocolate writing gel icing to add eyes and a nose to each buckeye.

    Black writing gel icing

Julie’s Tips

  • Use your favorite sprinkles to add a little color and crunch to this tasty candy!
  • Don’t use natural peanut butter, as the consistency is just not the same.
  • Melting wafers tend to work best here, although chocolate chips and bars will work too.
  • Line your baking sheet with parchment paper to prevent sticking and allow for easy clean up.
  • If dough is a bit too sticky to roll, try adding an extra tablespoon of powdered sugar.
  • You can use the gel writing icing to add the face either before or after refrigeration, but I did after just in case there was any bleeding!
  • Want to double or triple the recipe for serving or gifting? Use the 1x2x3xin the printable recipe card for more or less servings!

Serving: 1g | Calories: 195kcal | Carbohydrates: 20g | Protein: 3g | Fat: 12g | Saturated Fat: 5g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 2g | Monounsaturated Fat: 5g | Trans Fat: 0.1g | Cholesterol: 8mg | Sodium: 70mg | Potassium: 116mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 17g | Vitamin A: 92IU | Calcium: 12mg | Iron: 1mg

Estimated nutrition information is provided as a courtesy and is not guaranteed.

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Easy Buckeye Recipe | Julie Blanner (2024)

FAQs

How long can you keep buckeyes in the fridge? ›

Storage Tips

Make sure your buckeyes stay fresh for as long as possible! The buckeyes should be stored in an airtight container in the refrigerator to keep them nice and fresh. Stored in this way, they will keep for about 1 month (although good luck keeping them that long without eating them all, ha!).

Is a Buckeye a cookie or candy? ›

Buckeyes are a confection made from a peanut butter fudge partially dipped in chocolate to leave a circle of peanut butter visible. Buckeyes are similar to peanut butter balls (or peanut-butter-filled chocolate balls), which are completely covered in chocolate.

Can you leave buckeyes out? ›

How to Store Buckeyes. Buckeyes are fine to sit out at room temperature on holiday cookie plates for up to 24 hours, though if you're keeping them around for longer than that, store in an airtight container in the refrigerator where they'll stay fresh for up to 2 weeks. Buckeyes also freeze super well.

How do you keep buckeyes from sweating? ›

SHORTENING added to the chocolate is the big secret ingredient for buckeyes. This helps stabilize the chocolate so that it dips nicely, and helps prevent the chocolate from weeping and sweating once it's hardened.

How long does it take for buckeyes to dry out? ›

Dry your buckeye nuts in the sun for a few days. If you want to speed things up, you can dry them in an over at 200 degrees Fahrenheit (93.3 degrees Celsius) for two hours [source: Buckeyetree].

Are buckeyes edible for humans? ›

While gray squirrels and other animals do eat buckeyes, it is never a preferred food. In fact, both the seeds and tender young leaves of the plant are said to be poisonous to humans and livestock alike.

Do deer eat buckeyes? ›

Do deer eat buckeyes? No, they don't. Buckeyes are poisonous to ruminants like cattle, so deer are not far behind. Buckeyes are also toxic to humans and many other animals, so you need to consider the drawbacks before choosing to cultivate them.

What animals can eat buckeyes? ›

Squirrels are said to be the only animal to eat buckeyes without ill effect.

What can you do with buckeyes? ›

As well as the belief in the good fortune of its storied seed, the buckeye has been held to cure rheumatism and other, more minor ailments. Pioneering farm families also made soap from the kernels of buckeye seeds, and many a child's cradle was carved from the wood of this tree.

Can you eat the nut inside of a buckeye? ›

Removing the shell and roasting the nut neutralizes its harmful tannic acid content and makes for a protein-packed snack. If not prepared properly though, buckeye nuts are toxic to humans, causing symptoms including weakness, diarrhea, vomiting, paralysis, and death.

Why do you carry a buckeye in your pocket? ›

These seeds are as pleasing to hold as they are to behold. A flattened place adjacent to the "pupil" allows a person's thumb to settle on it just so. Keep one in your pocket as a good luck charm or talisman. If the fish aren't biting, rub your buckeye seed, spit on your bait, and hang on.

How to store buckeye nuts? ›

Storing Nuts
  1. SUMMARY OF TEST STORAGE BEST RESULTS:
  2. Buckeye: Freezing. ...
  3. Butternut: In husk, air dry, single layer, indoors at room temperature.
  4. Chestnut, Chinese: Refrigerate in mesh bag or breathable plastic clamshell container. ...
  5. Hickory, Bitternut: In husk, air dry, single layer, indoors at room temperature.

How long do Buckeye trees last? ›

They can live 250 years. California Buckeye is native only in the California Floristic Province. It is well adapted to our Mediterranean climate.

How long can you keep a buckeye seed? ›

Seeds of Ohio buckeye should not be allowed to dry out. They can be stored for short periods (1 year) in air tight containers in the refrigerator if not allowed to dry out.

Do peanut butters need to be refrigerated? ›

According to The National Peanut Board, an unopened jar of peanut butter can last six to nine months at room temperature. Once opened, they say that it can last two to three months in the pantry before you should move it to the fridge, where it can maintain quality for another three to four months.

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