Quick and Easy Buckeyes
If you love that delicious combination of chocolate and peanut butter you’re going to flip over this simple candy recipe from Out of the Box Baking.
At a Glance
👩🍳 Skill Level: Beginner
🍫 Flavor Profile: Sweet, creamy peanut butter with a rich chocolate coating
🧁 Options Included: Customizable with different chocolate types or decorative toppings
🎯 Best For: Holiday treats, edible gifts, or satisfying chocolate-peanut butter cravings
What are Buckeyes?
Buckeye candies are a popular sweet treat made from a peanut butter mixture that is dipped in semi-sweet chocolate up to the ¾ point, leaving a small visible circle of peanut butter on top. This gives the candies the appearance of a nut native to Ohio called the “buckeye” nut. Hence, the name.
Years ago I made a cake for a friend’s husband, an alumni of Ohio State. That was my first time to make Buckeyes. This time was definitely less stressful, as there was no baking required.
This candy’s filling merges creamy peanut butter, powdered sugar, and melted butter, which makes them creamy and sweet Buckeye candies are especially popular during the holiday season, and I plan to make some this Christmas. They’re the perfect no-bake dessert!
Buckeye Ingredients
You will find a printable recipe card at the bottom of this post but here’s a peek at what you’ll need. These are simple ingredients you might already have in your pantry or refrigerator.
- 2 ¾ cups confectioners' sugar
- ¾ cups peanut butter
- ½ cup butter, melted
- 2 cups semisweet chocolate chips
- 1 teaspoon shortening
That’s it! Just five simple ingredients.
How to Make Quick and Easy Buckeyes
These come together so easily, y’all! And you don’t even have to live in the Buckeye state to enjoy them!
Place a piece of waxed paper on a cookie sheet.
Place sugar, peanut butter, and melted butter into a large mixing bowl or the bowl of a stand mixer with paddle attachment. Mix until well combined.
Use a cookie scoop to scoop out balls of dough.
Roll them around in your palms.
Place in refrigerator to chill for an hour.
Place chocolate chips and shortening in a small bowl.
Microwave in 30-second increments, stirring in-between each one. Mine took a minute and a half. Smooth out any lumps.
One by one, dip the peanut butter balls, using a toothpick to hold the ball as you dip it to the ¾, as in the photos below.
Place on waxed paper lined baking sheet and remove the toothpick. Keep going until all are coated.
Place tray in refrigerator for half an hour to firm up. You can dampen your finger with water to smooth over the holes on top if you like.
Serve and enjoy!
Store leftovers in refrigerator in an airtight container. They should stay good for a couple of weeks. You can freeze them to eat later, if you like.
What to Expect from these Buckeyes
The luscious sweet peanut butter filling, the crunchy chocolate exterior. . .these are perfection! They’re very much like Reese’s Peanut Butter cups. My favorite thing about this recipe was the ease. They came together in minutes. And they’re every bit as delicious as store bought candies, if not more so!
Variations on this Recipe
Use crunchy peanut butter: it would be fun to use crunchy peanut butter in these for an added “bite.”
White chocolate: You can dip these in any kind of chocolate you like. I went with a mixture of milk and semi-sweet, but white would work, too.
Mini chocolate chips: You can add half a cup of miniature chocolate chips into the peanut butter mixture for more flavor.
Other nut butters: Choose from almond butter, sunflower butter, or any number of others.
Other Peanut Butter Treats
- Perfect Peanut Butter Cookies
- Peanut Butter Nutella Cookies
- Copycat Reese’s Peanut Butter Cups
- Classic Peanut Butter Blossoms
- This recipe is just one of many—head over to my Homemade Candy Hub for a full collection of sweet treats.
Welcome to the Candy Shop! Homemade Sweet Treats You'll Love
Step right up, candy lovers! If you've ever dreamed of wandering through a magical candy shop, where the shelves are lined with colorful sweets, rich chocolates, buttery toffees, and old-fashioned favorites, you've come to the right place! Here at Out of the Box Baking, we're turning ordinary kitchen ingredients into extraordinary little treats. No golden ticket required!
Whether you're filling Christmas candy tins, preparing homemade gifts, or simply indulging your sweet tooth, there's something delightful waiting around every corner. So grab your imaginary candy-shop basket and come explore some of my favorite homemade confections!
Take a Stroll Through the Candy Shop!
- Soft Christmas Peppermints (Old-Fashioned Butter Mints) – Soft, creamy, melt-in-your-mouth little morsels of peppermint happiness! These colorful old-fashioned candies look like something straight out of Grandma's Christmas candy dish.
- Old-Fashioned Jelly Nougat Candy – Imagine a snowy-white candy studded with colorful, jewel-like pieces of fruity goodness. This chewy, nostalgic treat is almost too pretty to eat. Almost!
- Easy Salt Water Taffy – Take a little trip to the seaside candy shop without ever leaving your kitchen! This sweet, stretchy favorite brings back memories of boardwalks, candy counters, and old-fashioned fun.
- Old-Fashioned Divinity – Light, fluffy, and wonderfully sweet, divinity is like a little cloud of sugary magic. It's the kind of classic Southern candy that makes every holiday dessert tray feel extra special.
- Easy Fantasy Fudge with Pecans – Rich, creamy chocolate fudge filled with crunchy pecans? Yes, please! This old-fashioned favorite is perfect for slicing into generous little squares and sharing with someone you love.
- Easy Hot Cocoa Fudge – All the cozy charm of a steaming mug of hot chocolate, transformed into a rich, chocolatey candy! This sweet treat is practically a winter afternoon wrapped up in a bite.
- Easy Peanut Brittle – Crunch, crackle, and snap! This golden, buttery candy is packed with peanuts and delivers that irresistible old-fashioned crunch that keeps everyone reaching for another piece.
- Traditional English Toffee – Buttery, crunchy toffee meets luscious chocolate in this classic homemade confection. Break it into deliciously imperfect pieces and tuck them into a pretty candy tin for a gift worth remembering.
- Easy Homemade Turtles Candy – Pecans, caramel, and chocolate come together in one glorious little candy. Sweet, nutty, chewy, and wonderfully indulgent, these homemade turtles are a candy-shop classic.
- Copycat Reese's Peanut Butter Cups – Who needs the candy aisle when you can make your own chocolate-covered peanut butter cups? These homemade favorites deliver that magical combination of creamy peanut butter and chocolate.
- Easy Chocolate Coconut Balls – Calling all coconut lovers! These delightful little chocolate-covered treats hide a sweet coconut surprise inside, making every bite feel like discovering a secret treasure.
- Easy Peanut Butter Snowballs – Sweet peanut butter goodness dressed up in a snowy coating! These pretty little candies are perfect for winter celebrations, holiday gift boxes, or sneaking straight from the refrigerator.
- Easy Oreo Truffles – Who knew a humble sandwich cookie could become such a fancy little confection? These rich, chocolatey truffles are wonderfully simple to make and look right at home in a gourmet candy box.
- Lemon Oreo Truffles – A little sunshine in every bite! These bright, cheerful truffles bring a refreshing burst of lemony sweetness to the candy counter and make a lovely addition to spring parties and dessert trays.
- Easy Red Velvet Truffles – Rich, beautiful, and dressed for a celebration! These red velvet beauties are the fancy little jewels of the candy shop, perfect for Valentine's Day, Christmas, or any occasion that deserves something special.
There's Always Something Sweet Around the Corner!
Well, friends, I hope you've enjoyed our little stroll through the candy shop! From nostalgic favorites that remind us of childhood to chocolate-covered treasures that look almost too beautiful to eat, there's something wonderfully satisfying about making candy in your own kitchen.
And guess what? The candy shop doesn't close here! I've gathered even more delightful confections in my Homemade Candy Recipes: The Ultimate Guide to Delicious Homemade Treats. You'll find even more fudge, brittle, truffles, chocolate-covered goodies, and old-fashioned sweets just waiting to be discovered. So pull up a stool at the candy counter, choose your next sweet adventure, and remember: a little homemade candy can turn an ordinary day into something magical!
That’s it for this post, friends! I hope you enjoyed this delicious recipe.
If you make this recipe and love it, don’t forget to leave a review and a comment below. And while you're at it, go ahead and pin some photos to your Pinterest boards!
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Quick and Easy Snowballs
If you love that delicious combination of chocolate and peanut butter you’re going to flip over this simple candy recipe from Out of the Box Baking.
Ingredients
- 2 ¾ cups confectioners' sugar
- ¾ cups peanut butter
- ½ cup butter, melted
- 2 cups semisweet chocolate chips
- 1 teaspoon shortening
Instructions
Place a piece of waxed paper on a cookie sheet.
Place sugar, peanut butter, and melted butter into a large mixing bowl or the bowl of a stand mixer with paddle attachment. Mix until well combined.
Use a cookie scoop to scoop out balls of dough.
Roll them around in your palms.
Place in refrigerator to chill for an hour.
Place chocolate chips and shortening in a small bowl.
Microwave in 30-second increments, stirring in-between each one.
Mine took a minute and a half. Smooth out any lumps.
One by one, dip the peanut butter balls, using a toothpick to hold the ball as you dip it to the ¾, as in the photo below.
Place on waxed paper lined baking sheet and remove the toothpick. Keep going until all are coated.
Place tray in refrigerator for half an hour to firm up.
Serve and enjoy!
Store leftovers in refrigerator in an airtight container. They should stay good for a couple of weeks. You can freeze them to eat later, if you like.
Nutrition Information:
Yield: 16 Serving Size: 1Amount Per Serving: Calories: 303Total Fat: 19gSaturated Fat: 9gTrans Fat: 0gUnsaturated Fat: 8gCholesterol: 15mgSodium: 106mgCarbohydrates: 36gFiber: 2gSugar: 31gProtein: 4g
The nutrition information is a product of online calculators. I try to provide true and accurate information, but these numbers are estimates.
