Rich and creamy Buckeye Balls combine peanut butter and chocolate for a sweet, bite-sized treat. At just $0.25 per serving, these no-bake delights are perfect for parties, holidays, or satisfying your chocolate cravings.
With eight kids, homemade candy is something we make often when we want a sweet treat everyone can grab and enjoy. These Buckeye Balls are especially fun around the holidays because they disappear quickly from our kitchen.
Why You’ll love this Recipe!
- Classic Flavor. Creamy peanut butter and rich chocolate make a combination everyone loves.
- No-Bake. No oven is needed, making these an easy treat for holidays, parties, and busy days.
- Easy to Customize. Change the chocolate, size, or toppings to create your own version.
- Great for Gifting. Their bite-sized shape makes them easy to package and share.
- Fun to Make. Kids can help roll the peanut butter centers and decorate the finished candies.
- Budget-Friendly. At just $0.25 per serving, they’re an affordable homemade candy.
I love recipes that become part of our family traditions, and Buckeye Balls are one I come back to when I want something that feels homemade without making a big production out of it. They’re also easy to include on a cookie or candy tray alongside other favorites.
You may also want to try Buckeye Bars and Buckeye Brownie Bites Recipe.
Ingredients
- Peanut Butter. Use creamy peanut butter such as Jif or Skippy for a smooth, easy-to-shape filling. Avoid natural peanut butter, as the extra oil can affect the consistency.
- Unsalted Butter. Soften the butter to room temperature so it blends easily with the peanut butter and powdered sugar.
- Powdered Sugar. Sift the powdered sugar to remove lumps and create a smooth, creamy peanut butter mixture that is easy to roll.
- Semisweet Chocolate Chips. Use good-quality chocolate chips for a rich chocolate coating that pairs well with the sweet peanut butter center.
- Coconut Oil. A small amount helps thin the melted chocolate and creates a smoother coating. Vegetable oil can be used instead if needed.
- Vanilla Extract. Pure vanilla extract adds a subtle flavor that complements the peanut butter and chocolate.
Scroll to the bottom and find the complete list of ingredients and instructions.
Step By Step Instructions
Step 1. Use a large mixing bowl to mix together the peanut butter, butter and ½ teaspoon vanilla extract with a mixer until fluffy. I used Jif peanut butter.
Step 2. Gradually add in the confectioners’ sugar until it’s well combined. Refrigerate the dough for 30 minutes.
Step 3. Form the cookie dough into balls with a cookie scoop. This makes it so fast and easy. You can also smooth with the palms of your hand.
Step 4. Place the cookies on a wax paper lined baking sheet. Place in the fridge for 30 minutes so it will be easier to dip into chocolate.
Step 5. Melt the chocolate chips and shortening in a small microwave-safe bowl. Continue to melt in 30 second intervals until melted. You can also use a double boiler on the stove top. Insert a toothpick into each peanut butter ball and dip in melted chocolate leaving a little bit exposed.
Step 6. Let the excess chocolate drip off and then place on the baking sheet lined with parchment paper. Smooth out the toothpick hole with your finger. Place in the refrigerator until ready to serve.
Pro Tips
- Chill the Buckeyes. Refrigerate the peanut butter balls before dipping to help them stay firm and hold their shape. For a quicker option, chill them briefly in the freezer.
- Prevent Sticking. Lightly coat your hands with butter or nonstick spray when rolling the peanut butter mixture to make shaping easier.
- Use a Cookie Scoop. A small cookie scoop makes it easy to create evenly sized Buckeye Balls.
- Melt Chocolate Slowly. Heat the chocolate in short intervals, stirring between each one, to prevent it from overheating or becoming grainy.
- Keep the Centers Chilled. If the peanut butter balls become soft while dipping, return them to the refrigerator for a few minutes.
- Smooth Chocolate. Add a small amount of coconut oil to the melted chocolate if it seems too thick for dipping.
- Glossy Finish – For a shinier chocolate coating, add a small amount of food-grade paraffin wax (sold specifically for candy-making) while melting the chocolate.
- Fixing a Crumbly, Dry Mixture – If your peanut butter mixture turns dry or powdery after chilling, it just needs a little warmth and moisture back. Let it sit at room temperature for 10–15 minutes first and this alone often fixes it. If it’s still crumbly, knead in 1–2 teaspoons of melted butter, peanut butter, or milk at a time until it comes back together into a dough-like consistency.
Variations
- Festive Sprinkles. Add colorful sprinkles to the chocolate before it sets for birthdays, holidays, or special occasions.
- Different Chocolate. Use milk chocolate, white chocolate, or dark chocolate for a different flavor.
- Chopped Nuts. Sprinkle finely chopped peanuts or pecans over the chocolate coating for extra crunch.
- Drizzle. Drizzle the finished Buckeye Balls with melted white or dark chocolate for a fun bakery-style finish.
Frequently Asked Questions
You can keep them in the fridge up to 2 weeks as long as they are in an airtight container. You can also freeze buckeye balls up to 2-3 months.
This is perfect if you want to make them ahead for parties or holidays. We do this a lot at Christmas and it helps to have some things ready in advance.
Buckeye balls are named for the Ohio State buckeye tree because they look like the buckeye nut on the tree. While everyone can certainly enjoy this delicious treat, it is more regional to the Ohio area of states. Southern states tend to make traditional peanut butter balls.
They are all very similar and taste delicious. It just comes down to really how much of the peanut butter is covered in chocolate. That is the only the difference.
Yes. Use a smaller cookie scoop or roll smaller portions of the peanut butter mixture. Just keep the sizes consistent so they are easy to serve.
More Easy Chocolate Recipes
I can’t wait for you to try this buckeye candy. Please leave a comment once you do. I love hearing from my readers!
Buckeye Balls
Ingredients
- 1 ½ cups peanut butter
- ½ cup butter softened
- ½ teaspoon vanilla
- 4 cups powdered sugar
- 3 cups chocolate chips semi-sweet
- 1 tablespoon coconut oil or vegetable oil
See how we calculate recipe costs.
Instructions
- In a large mixing bowl, beat peanut butter, softened butter, and vanilla extract on medium speed until light and fluffy.
- Gradually add powdered sugar, mixing a little at a time until completely incorporated and the mixture forms a soft dough.
- Cover and refrigerate the peanut butter mixture for 30 minutes.
- Line a baking sheet with parchment paper. Roll the chilled mixture into evenly sized balls and place them on the prepared baking sheet.
- Refrigerate the peanut butter balls for another 30 minutes to firm them up.
- Place semi-sweet chocolate chips and coconut oil in a microwave-safe bowl. Microwave at 50% power for 1 minute. Stir well, then continue microwaving in 30-second intervals, stirring after each interval, until the chocolate is completely melted and smooth.
- Insert a toothpick into each peanut butter ball. Dip each ball into the melted chocolate, leaving a small portion of the peanut butter filling exposed at the top.
- Place the dipped balls back on the parchment-lined baking sheet. Carefully remove the toothpick and use your finger or a small spoon to smooth over the hole.
- Refrigerate the peanut butter balls until the chocolate is completely set.
- Store covered in the refrigerator until ready to serve.
I MADE THESE AND USED 1/4 CUP BUTTER AND 1/4 CUP PUMKIN PUREE-AND I AM NOT A FAN OF PUMKIN AT ALL BUT IT GIVES IT A VERY UNIQUES TASTE PLUS THE KIDS GET SOME FRUIT WHILE ENJOYING A SWEET TREAT
My husband’s favorite!
Is there something I can use besides Vegetable oil in the Chocolate?
You can use any oil – Coconut oil would be great too.
I never use any oil. Just a little bit of parafin wax.
Oh, interesting. I haven’t tried that yet. Thanks for sharing!
I left in fridge for more than 30 minutes and it has a powder texture how to i get back the texture that forms a ball.
Rhonda – Happy to help! If your mixture became dry, crumbly, or powdery after sitting in the fridge, it just needs a little added moisture or warmth to bring it back together. Here’s how to fix it:
Let it warm up slightly. Cold butter and peanut butter firm up and make the mixture crumbly. Leave the mixture at room temperature for 10–15 minutes. Then try mixing again—often this alone solves it.
If softening didn’t help, add additional moisture very slowly.
Choose one of these:
1–2 teaspoons melted butter, OR
1–2 teaspoons peanut butter, OR
1 teaspoon milk or cream
Mix well, then check the texture. Add a little more only if needed. It should start forming a dough-like consistency.
Use clean hands to gently knead the mixture. Warmth from your hands often helps bring everything together smoothly.
If it’s too sticky afterward, add 1–2 teaspoons of powdered sugar to balance it back out.
Let me know how they turn out!
These turned out delicious!
Salted or unsalted butter ? 🙂
Stacey, use unsalted butter softened to room temperature. Hope you love them!