These chocolate covered peanut butter balls dipped in chocolate (aka Buckeye cookie balls) are the perfect treat for any time of year!
They’re quick, no-bake, and easy to make in just minutes, so you can enjoy them without heating up your kitchen. Plus, they freeze well for later!
Not only are they delicious, but they’re also great for gifting. Pack them along with my favorite peanut butter blossoms into cute cello bags during the Christmas season or any time you want to surprise neighbors, friends, and teachers.
Peanut Butter Balls Recipe
My recipe makes buckeyes with a rich, creamy center that tastes like peanut butter fudge!
With the salty peanut butter and semisweet chocolate, they have perfect balance of flavors.
Why Are They Called Buckeye Balls?
They’re called buckeyes because they look like buckeye nuts, which come from Ohio’s state tree.
This dessert is especially popular in Ohio and nearby states. Many people might think they’re named after the Ohio State football team, but it’s actually because of the nut 🙂
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Ingredients
- Peanut butter - Use creamy peanut butter for the best results (not crunchy, as it can mess up the texture). Avoid natural peanut butter because it might make the buckeyes too oily and grainy. Most of the peanut butters are gluten free.
- Butter - This is key for a rich and creamy texture. You can use salted butter or unsalted butter with added salt.
- Powdered sugar - This helps shape the buckeyes into balls and keeps them stable while adding sweetness.
- Melted chocolate - Semisweet chocolate chips are good for this recipe, but chocolate bars or baking chocolate will melt easily too. You can also use bittersweet, dark, or milk chocolate if you prefer.
- Coconut oil - Adding this helps thin the chocolate for dipping, but you can use shortening or butter instead if you don’t have any.
📋 You can find the full ingredient list in the Recipe Card below the article.
How To Make Peanut Butter Balls
- Mix the peanut butter, butter, and vanilla extract together until smooth. Add powdered sugar and stir on low until blended. Scrape the sides of the bowl and mix again. Put the dough in the fridge for 30 minutes to chill.
- Take tablespoon-sized pieces of dough and roll them into balls (about 20g each if you're using a scale). Place the balls on a baking sheet and chill again for at least 30 minutes until firm.
- Melt the chocolate and coconut oil together in a medium bowl using the microwave at 50% power. Stir and let it cool to room temperature. Pour the chocolate into a deep bowl.
- Use a skewer or toothpick to dip the peanut butter balls into the chocolate, leaving a little peanut butter exposed for that classic buckeye look.
- Chill until the chocolate hardens, then enjoy! To cover the skewer holes, smooth them with a small knife, spatula, or your fingers.
Why Is My Mixture Crumbly?
If you added the powdered sugar too quickly, it might not mix well and make the dough crumbly and hard to roll into balls.
Add the sugar slowly and stir well after each addition. If your dough is already crumbly, keep mixing - sometimes it just takes a bit more time.
You might also have accidentally used too much sugar. Measuring by weight is best, but if you're using cups, stir the sugar before scooping it into your measuring cup and level it off. Don’t pack it in.
Pro Tips for Making Buckeyes
- Use smooth, creamy peanut butter, not the natural kind, which can separate.
- Add the powdered sugar a little at a time. If you dump it all in at once, the peanut butter won’t mix well, and the dough could get dry and hard to handle. This will make it difficult to get smooth buckeye balls.
- If your butter isn’t soft, cut it into slices and microwave on 50% power in 5-second bursts, flipping it after each burst. The butter needs to be properly softened but not melted.
- Scrape the bowl after adding powdered sugar so the mix isn’t too firm on top and too soft on the bottom.
- If you want firmer buckeyes, reduce the butter by one tablespoon.
- For the best result, make sure the chocolate is at room temperature when dipping and that the peanut butter balls are cold.
If you don't have peanut butter or want an alternative there are some options like sunflower butter. Read more about peanut butter nut alternatives here.
How To Store Peanut Butter Balls
You can keep buckeyes at room temperature for a day or two, but they stay fresh longer in the fridge.
To Store. Once your chocolate peanut butter balls are set, store them in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 4 days.
To keep them from sticking together, place a layer of treats at the bottom of the container, cover with parchment paper, and then stack another layer on top until you run out of space.
If you have leftover peanut butter and want it to last longer read these tips on how to freeze peanut butter.
Recipe Variations
- Fully Chocolate Covered. You can dip the peanut butter balls all the way in chocolate for a classic treat, or leave some peanut butter exposed to resemble buckeye nuts from the tree. Add festive sprinkles on top of the peanut butter balls before the chocolate sets for a fun touch. You can also drizzle a different type of chocolate or colored white chocolate over them once they’ve hardened for extra decoration!
- Add Candy. Stir in mini M&Ms, chopped candies, or nuts into the peanut butter mixture before dipping in chocolate for a fun twist and extra crunch.
More Peanut Butter Recipes
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Recipe Card
Peanut Butter Balls (Buckeye Cookies)
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INGREDIENTS
- 1 cup creamy smooth peanut butter
- 5 tablespoons unsalted butter, softened
- 2 cups powdered sugar
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 2 cups semi-sweet chocolate
- 1 ½ tablespoon coconut oil
INSTRUCTIONS
- Mix the peanut butter, butter, and vanilla extract together until smooth. Add powdered sugar and stir on low until blended. Scrape the sides of the bowl and mix again. Put the dough in the fridge for 30 minutes to chill.1 cup creamy smooth peanut butter, 5 tablespoons unsalted butter, 1 teaspoon vanilla extract, 2 cups powdered sugar
- Take tablespoon-sized pieces of dough and roll them into balls. Place the balls on a baking sheet and chill again for at least 30 minutes until firm.
- Melt the chocolate and coconut oil together in a medium bowl using the microwave at 50% power or use double boiler method. Stir and let it cool to room temperature. Pour the chocolate into a deep bowl.2 cups semi-sweet chocolate, 1 ½ tablespoon coconut oil
- Use a skewer or toothpick to dip the peanut butter balls into the chocolate, leaving a little peanut butter exposed for that classic buckeye look. Chill until the chocolate hardens, then enjoy! To cover the skewer holes, smooth them with a small knife, spatula, or your fingers.
NOTES
ADD YOUR OWN PRIVATE NOTES
NUTRITION
Note: Nutrition information is estimated and varies based on the products used.
Full Nutrition Disclaimer can be found here.
Peanut Butter Balls: Frequently Asked Questions
Buckeyes are more like candy than cookies. They’re no-bake treats made of peanut butter and chocolate, similar to truffles. Since they don't have a baked dough, they're considered candy.
Chill the peanut butter balls, then stick a toothpick or wooden skewer about ¾ of the way in. Dip them into the cooled chocolate and gently scrape off any extra chocolate on the side of the bowl. Place them on parchment paper and let them chill. Afterward, twist the toothpick out and smooth the hole with a small knife.
For the best buckeyes, use smooth, salted peanut butter. Sweetened peanut butter works too, but you may want to reduce the sugar. Avoid natural peanut butter unless it’s well mixed, as the extra oil can make the dough too runny.
Julia
easy and delicious no bake peanut butter balls!