I am up to my eyes today in laundry, dirt, and Buckeyes. I’m trying to keep the former two out of the later. I have no time to do a new post on these beauties, so I’m reposting what I did exactly a year ago! These things are awesome. If you haven’t done all your Christmas baking yet, you’ll want to add these to your list. Enjoy!
Ever since we moved to Pennsylvania, I have adored receiving these yummy concoctions on Christmas platters from friends. However, the name buckeyes has always been a bit off-putting. Silly me assumed the name referred to the candy’s resemblance to a male deer’s eye. Wow. Pennsylvanians are so passionate about hunting season and deer parts that they even named a candy after eyeballs. Gross. Obviously at this point I hadn’t had much exposure to our neighboring state, Ohio, also known as “The Buckeye State”. Apparently, these candies were named after their resemblance to the Buckeye nut which happens to be Ohio’s state nut. Do all states have a state nut? Regardless of the name origins, these things can be called nothing short of delicious.
Here is the recipe with a few of my modifications added in for good measure.
1 1/2 c peanut butter (I used half Smucker’s all natural and half Jif)
1 c butter, softened (I used 1/2 Smart Balance spread and 1/2 butter)
1/2 t vanilla
6 c powdered sugar
4 c chocolate chips
1. Mix peanut butter, butter, vanilla, and powdered sugar with mixer until well blended.
2. Roll dough into balls and place on waxed paper lined cookie sheet. (I simply placed the balls into mini-muffin tins.)
3. Place a toothpick into each ball then place cookie sheets in freezer until frozen.
4. Melt chocolate chips over double boiler. (I placed mine into a liquid measuring cup. Popped it into the microwave for about 2 mins and stirred.)
5. Dip in chocolate and place back into freezer until set. (This is the beauty of using the mini-muffin tins. The frozen trays will set your chocolate almost immediately.)
Share this:
Want my decorating tips weekly? Sign up for my newsletter.
Your information will never be shared or sold to a 3rd party.
I looked at other recipes and they all call for semi-sweet chocolate chips so that’s what I’m using. There are so many different “chip” flavors around I just wanted to make sure I did it the right way. The dough is really nice to work with after I got it mixed good. I almost wore a powdered sugar shirt. I have the pb balls in the freezer (with picks) and plan on dipping them tomorrow. I got 75 buckeyes. I plan for these to be Christmas gifts, if I can exhibit some self control. Good luck with that. HA!
Why can’t you just count them
I am wanting to find out how many is made in each batch? Thinking about making them for Christmas gifts.
That would be helpful wouldn’t it. :/ So sorry! Unfortunately, this was my mom’s recipe and she didn’t write that down.
I have to say I usually dread making Buckeyes because I can’t get the peanut butter balls to set up right and then they fall in the melted chocolate and I have a total mess on my hands, but not this year, this was the best recipe EVER! I loved how you froze the toothpick in the peanut butter ball and then put them back on the cold cookie sheet/muffin tins afterwards. Thank you for this recipe, it was so easy I can now make Buckeyes every year for my Ohio born husband!
Yay! I’m so glad to hear it :). Buckeyes are my favorite treat this time of year. Merry Christmas!
Buckeyes are a tradition in our house. My husband is the one who makes them with our daughter every year. I cannot wait to tell them your tip about freezing the mini muffin tins beforehand to speed up the setting of the chocolate! Thanks for that fantastic tip!! Your Buckeyes look perfect!
I love these. Dangerously so. I made them once for Easter, only I completely covered them in chocolate. I should never, ever, ever make these again.
These look delicious and easy enough for ME to make!
These are a favorite of ours too-we just stick with calling them peanut butter balls though (of course my husband thinks it's funny to call them buck, um, another deer part…you know it rhymes with butts)
They look yummy! Enjoy!
Oh yes, we ohioans love our Buckeyes…be it the football team or the candy! As a lifelong resident, preparing buckeyes for the holidays has been a longtime tradition in our family. They also make great Christmas gifts! Enjoy! ~Lisa
Amy@DesigningaLifeILove- LOL- that is soooo funny! I found (& now lost) a receipe for something similar to a buckeye only you did use crunchy peanut butter and rice crispies. You make them into a log and cover with chocolate. Taste yummy but looks like Mr. Hankey the Christmas Poo.
Oh my gosh….they look WONDERFUL! Thanks for sharing.
LOL – had to share a story with you.
Being from Kentucky, the buckeye candy is nothing new… I've quite enjoyed these tasty treats ever since I was a kid (especially the holidays).
HOWEVER, at a church Christmas party last week, someone (who will forevermore remain nameless) fixed these beauties and served them to the entire church choir. I happened to take a few home with me (a sweet gesture from the lady) and I quickly devoured one in the car on the way home…
Suddenly, I realized she used CRUNCHY peanut butter, instead of creamy, which I was okay with… until I realized it wasn't crunchy peanut butter…
IT WAS A PRESS-ON NAIL!!!
I think I've just killed my urge to EVER have buckeyes in my lifetime. EVER. I haven't mustered enough courage to tell anyone about it except my Mom (who also enjoyed a few buckeyes, until my story)!
Just thought I'd share a bit of advice… Make sure to apply your press-on nails AFTER you fix all the Christmas dishes. Your guests will appreciate it!
Just thought I'd give you a laugh,
Amy
I love, love, love my mom's buckeyes. When I was in school, we had a competition that involved a bake sale. About 5 of us girls made 72 dozen buckeyes…yes, 72 DOZEN!!! I could smell all 864 of them for weeks. I couldn't eat them for a couple of years after that, but I am over it now 🙂
Beth – I just made some too… YUMMY! hhhmmm… are we thinking the same thing for the cookie swap? But don't panic, as soon as baby goes down for her nap, I'm going to bake a couple dozen of something or other that's tasty. Besides, I'm not sure the boys would readily give up their stash of buckeyes. 🙂 c-ya tomorrow!
Since moving to Columbus 18 months ago, I am now totally over one type of Buckeye (yes – the OSU football team) but can never get enough of the chocolate and peanut butter type of Buckeye! I have yet to make my own – but I should!
Ugh, you're killing me! I wish you were bringing those tomorrow. I'll be heading the grocery store today to get some premade cookie dough. Please don't hate me:(
I'm new to the blog world and yours instantly caught my eye…andddd I see your from Central PA too! =)
You are so right! They DO love buckeyes here in PA. I had never had one until I officially moved here. Yummy!!
These look so good. And I love the dishes you have them displayed in. When I hear Buckeye, I think of a college for some reason, lol!! But now I will think of these yummy candies. I am adding this to my baking list. Thanks!!
I love these! I know Texas' state nut is the pecan.
LOL!!!
I thought it was the deer too!!!
I am in PA ~ gave these to a friend (avid hunter) this past weekend thinking that they were to resemble the eye of a buck only to read (before I gave them to him) that they were for a nut!
So there I am explaining … I am giving you these because I thought… and then I learned… well just enjoy! LOL
Merry Christmas… wonder if we are neighbors?
Patricia
Beth, you made my day! A dessert I can make AND eat! Plus, I think I have everything I need, except for wax paper or a mini-muffin tin. I may just get a mini-muffin tin ~ it seems easier to deal with them this way. Thanks so much for sharing this again!
Ooh, there's nothing better than peanut butter and chocolate! This recipe looks simple and delicious. Thanks for sharing!
Can you tell i'm avoiding my laundry and cleaning too? Some days you take ANY excuse to procrastinate – at the moment you're questions are it! 🙂
You wondered if all states have a nut – so I googled that question. I still don't know the answer, but according to Wiki – the PA state cookie is the sugar cookie, and our state beverage is milk. Santa may live in the North Pole, but I think he grew up right here in Penna!
I don’t know if every state has a nut, but I’m from Ohio and a huge Ohio State fan. The reason the Buckeyes are our mascot is because we are known as the Buckeye state which is our state tree (which bears the poisonous buckeye nuts).