Easy Buckeyes Recipe {Peanut Butter Balls Candy}

Old fashioned, quick and easy buckeyes recipe, homemade with simple ingredients. These no bake chocolate peanut butter balls are soft, creamy and fudgy. These fudge balls are great as a homemade gift for Christmas holidays too and makes a fantastic addition to this collection of Easy Homemade Christmas Gift Ideas (Food).

*Thank you Vital Proteins for sponsoring today's post so that I can share this post with all of you. As always, all opinions are mine.*

These candy recipe has been in the family for generations and all our friends request it during the holiday season. I am sharing the classic version but there are many fun twists now with the addition of rice krispie cereal and graham crackers. These are just as delicious as my Peanut Butter Eggs and this Peanut Butter Chocolate Bark and these Peanut Butter Cookie Dough Bars and even this Peanut Butter Fudge.

Origins

The names comes from the fact that they closely resemble buckeye nuts! The buckeye is also the state tree of Ohio and as a result, this candy is quite popular there and the neighboring states. Initially, I thought they were named after the football or basketball team but I was wrong!

Key ingredients for chocolate peanut butter balls

• Peanut Butter- Use the creamy, unsweetened kind for best results.
• Butter- To ensure your recipe won't bee too salty, use unsalted.
• Vanilla extract- Brings in a nice warm flavor.
• Powdered sugar- Not only sweetens the treat balls but also helps them hold together.
• Collagen Peptides- I like using the vanilla/coconut flavor, but this is optional.
• Chocolate- You can use dark or semisweet, just make sure it is melted for proper use.
• Peanuts- Roughly chop them up so you don't have whole peanuts.

Variations

Use other nut butters- This recipe for peanut butter balls is very versatile and my Mom has tried some fun variations like replacing peanut butter with other types of nut butters.

Dip them in white chocolate- Rather than milk chocolate. You can even put coloring in it to make them go with a specific color scheme for birthdays, baby showers, or Christmas. Just have fun with it!

Toss in some Add-ins- Like puffed quinoa, rice krispie cereal, mini chocolate chips, chopped nuts, dried fruits, freeze dried mini marshmallows, chopped up candy bars, sprinkles, various chopped nuts, and more.

Try different extracts- Instead of vanilla, such as almond extract, coconut extract, or maple extract.

Add spices- Such as cinnamon, pumpkin spice, or ginger.

Roll them- Before chocolate has fully set, roll the balls in crushed peppermint, various other chopped nuts, sanding sugar, granulated sugar, chopped candy pieces, or sprinkles.

Drizzle over the top- Some Caramel Sauce or Powdered Sugar Glaze. You can even place a small dollop of Whipped Cream on the top just before serving.

How to make easy buckeyes recipe from scratch?

1. Mix together the first 3 ingredients- Of peanut butter, butter, and vanilla extract in a mixing bowl. (1,2)
2. Gradually add in powdered sugar- And mix until you have a cookie dough consistency. (3,4)
3. Freeze this mixture- For about 20 minutes.
4. Scoop out small portions- And roll into balls. (5)
5. Place them on a sheet of wax paper- Then stick a toothpick into each ball. (6)
6. Dip into a bowl of melted chocolate- Three quarters of the way, then return to the wax paper.(7)
7. Remove the toothpicks- And use your finger to smooth out the little holes. Enjoy! (8)

Tips and techniques

Don't replace butter with shortening- Since butter has so much more flavor than shortening.

Use unsalted butter- Because otherwise your treats will be salty.

Use unsweetened peanut butter- Since you will already be adding a lot of powdered sugar

Use Creamy peanut butter- Since it is easier to mix together.

You must chill the peanut butter mixture- Because it makes it easier to form balls.

If your mixture is too soft- You can chill for longer or you can add more sugar (1-2 tablespoons at a time).

If your mixture is too thick- Add a little milk to thin it into a cookie dough consistency.

Coating them in chopped nuts is optional- But it's so much fun and looks so pretty.

Add a scoop of Vital Proteins collagen peptides- To give these no bake peanut butter balls a boost of nutrition. Obviously, it doesn't suddenly transform them into protein balls but a little additional nutrition sneaked into recipes is always a good idea, at least for me. This time, I used the vanilla/coconut variety and it had a heavenly fragrance and subtle flavor, which my family loved, especially the kiddo.

Recipe FAQs

Storage

Make ahead- You can make these up to 3 days before if kept in the fridge. You can also make them up to 1 month in advance if kept in the freezer. In both cases make sure they are kept in a sealed conainer.

Room temperature- I wouldn't leave them out more than 2-3 hours or the duration of a party event, because the ingredients start to melt.

Refrigerate- Leftovers should be stored in a sealed container in the fridge for up to 3 days.

Freeze- Place in an airtight container and place in the freezer for up to 1 month. Thaw in the fridge and enjoy!

More easy candy recipes

• Homemade Chocolate Bars (Dark, Milk, White)
• Chocolate Truffles
• Coffee Fudge (Espresso Fudge)
• Chocolate Covered Potato Chips
• Champagne Truffles
• Crockpot Candy (Chocolate Peanut Clusters)
• Chocolate Crunch Bars
• Peanut Brittle (Microwave)
• Rocky Road Fudge

Recipe