These scrumptious Ohio Buckeye Balls are creamy, buttery peanut butter balls dipped in chocolate. They taste like homemade Reese’s peanut butter cups. The family loves them when I make them for Christmas, but you can change the sprinkles to suit any holiday.
Indulge in the perfect combination of chocolate and peanut butter with this easy and mouth-watering recipe. These cookies are perfect for any occasion and are sure to be a hit. I love including them on my holiday cookie and candy treat trays, butter cookies, magic cookie bars, and spritz cookies.
Why You’ll Love This Recipe
- These little creamy gems are so darn delicious. I kid you not! You will have trouble resisting these goodies!
- With just six ingredients, this buckeye recipe is a cinch to make. They do require some time to freeze so that you can mold them into perfectly round balls, but that is all hands-off time.
- They make beautiful additions to holiday trays and can be made well in advance of the holiday, freeing up time for you to do other things.
Ingredient Notes and Substitutions
- Peanut butter: creamy peanut butter really is the only way to go with these smooth balls. All-natural peanut butter is too oily and coarse, so purchase the traditional kid-friendly peanut butter like Jif, Peter Pan, or Skippy.
- Butter: unsalted, please
- Chocolate chips: semisweet or dark chocolate
- Coconut oil: or shortening
How to make Buckeye Balls
First, using an electric mixer, beat peanut butter, butter, vanilla, and powdered sugar until it forms a fairly stiff dough. The dough should be stiff enough to roll into soft balls but not so stiff that it looks dry. If necessary, add 1-2 more tablespoons of powdered sugar. Using a small cookie scoop, roll the peanut butter mixture into balls using the palms of your hands with about 1 rounded tablespoon per ball. Now place on a parchment-covered baking sheet with a little bit of space between each ball.
Then, place them in the freezer uncovered for about 20-30 minutes. Take the balls out of the freezer and reroll them into super smooth balls, placing them back on the parchment paper. Now, place a toothpick in the center of each ball and place them back in the freezer for 10-15 minutes.
Next, add the chocolate chips and coconut oil to a microwave-safe bowl. Melt the chocolate in the microwave for 30 seconds, stirring well between intervals. Then, using the toothpick, dip the frozen peanut butter balls into the melted chocolate, going about 2/3’s up. Immediately dust with sprinkles and place on parchment paper to set. Finally, remove the toothpick and use your finger to smooth over the toothpick hole.
Preparation Tips
- Freezing the peanut butter balls makes them much easier to work with and helps them hold their round shape.
- Line the baking sheet with parchment paper so the balls do not stick to the sheet.
- Adding a little coconut oil or shortening helps thin the chocolate and make it easier to dip. However, do not increase it too much; the chocolate might have trouble setting.
How to Store Buckeye Balls
Store the peanut butter balls in an airtight container in a single layer in the fridge for up to 2 weeks. Or freeze in a sturdy freezer container for up to two months. Always defrost the balls in the refrigerator so the condensation does not affect the consistency.
More Peanut Butter Recipes
Buckeye Balls
Ingredients
- 1 ½ cups creamy peanut butter
- ½ cup unsalted butter softened
- ½ teaspoon vanilla extract
- 3 cups powdered sugar
- 8 ounces semisweet chocolate chips
- 1 tablespoon coconut oil or shortening
- chopped nuts
- festive sprinkles
- toasted coconut
Instructions
- Using a stand mixer or hand mixer, beat peanut butter, butter, vanilla, and powdered sugar until it forms a fairly stiff dough. The dough should be stiff enough to roll into soft balls but not so stiff that it looks dry. If necessary, add 1-2 more tablespoons of powdered sugar.
- Roll the dough into 1-inch balls using about 1 rounded tablespoon per ball. Place the balls onto a parchment paper or wax paper-covered baking sheet with a little bit of space between each ball.
- Chill in the freezer uncovered for about 20-30 minutes. Take the balls out of the freezer and reroll into super smooth balls placing them back on the parchment paper. Place a toothpick in the center of each ball and place them back in the freezer for 10-15 minutes.
- Add the chocolate chips and coconut oil to a microwave-safe bowl. Microwave for 30-second intervals stirring between each interval until the chocolate melts.
- Using the toothpick, dip the frozen peanut butter balls into the chocolate going about 2/3’s of the way up. Immediately dust with chopped nuts, sprinkles, or toasted coconut. Place on parchment paper to set. Remove the toothpick and use your finger to smooth over the toothpick hole.
Notes
- Freezing the peanut butter balls makes them much easier to work with and helps them hold their nice round shape.
- Line the baking sheet with parchment paper so the balls do not stick to the sheet.
- Adding a little coconut oil or shortening helps thin the chocolate out and make it easier to dip. However, do not increase it too much; the chocolate might have trouble setting.
Nutrition
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Frank
These Ohio Buckeye Balls are a taste of heaven! Creamy peanut butter goodness dipped in chocolate – they’re irresistible. Perfect addition to holiday trays, and your simple recipe is a game-changer. Thanks for making holidays sweeter!
Beth Pierce
The pleasure is all mine, Frank!
Fransic verso
These look really cool and I love the decoration on them. I haven’t tried it before and would be interesting to try them. Thank you for sharing!
Alexis
These are so incredible! My kids and I made them for a recent celebration and everyone loved them.
Thena Franssen
These are some of my favorite desserts! I love how fast and simple they are to make!
Ntensibe Edgar
Nnniiiccceeeee…I last tasted these, last year and I loved everything about them. Good times, those were! Thanks for sharing about them.
Clarice
Woah! These look delicious. In fact, I am craving for some right now. Happy to know that only 6 ingredients are needed. Would love to try making these. Thank you for sharing the recipe and the tips.
Ashley t
What a fun and festive treat. Definitely gonna make these with my daughter.
Romy
Thanks for sharing this festive & cute desert! I’m totally making these during the holidays
Blair Villanueva
This recipe looks delicious and could be a perfect treat for any occasion, especially this coming Christmas season. Packed them in a glass jar, with fancy ribbon, and viola a heart-warming gift.
Talya Stone
These look so tasty and easy to make. Do you think it would be possible to substitute the sugar for a powdered sugar alternative?
Abida
I loved these sweet buckey balls and they are lookout super delicious. My little sister also loved them. I am you to try it out on my next holiday.
Elizabeth O
The best thing about this re4cipe is that you just have to change the sprinkles and it would suit any Holiday. I cant wait to try this
Abida
Your this recipe was as amazing as the others. But the fun fact, today’s recipe was specially loved by my sister who loves eating this kind of creamy bucky balls. She is jonesing for eating this💚
Dani
These look amazing! I love that it’s gluten free and doesn’t require flour or crumbled biscuits like so many chocolate balls recipes. A great dessert for celiacs!
Elise Ho
I have heard of this many times before but I have never actually tried one. Now I can actually make one and give it a whirl
Kat
oh wow… these balls are perfect for the holidays! this is can easily make. thank you for sharing this recipe. i’ll print this later today.