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    Home » Desserts

    Published: Dec 18, 2020 · Modified: Dec 9, 2022 by Heather Bilyeu · This post may contain affiliate links · 2 Comments

    How to Make Buckeye Candy

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    Learn how to make buckeye candy! This traditional peanut butter and chocolate combo is out of this world good. Buckeye candy is a holiday staple!

    I am pretty positive that the chocolate peanut butter combo is one of the best combo flavors of all time.  It is addictive, smooth, sweet and all the goodness that you want in a sweet treat. It is classic and timeless and you can never go wrong with it. Buckeye candy fits the bill perfectly!

    Hence why Buckeyes are one of my all-time most favorite Christmas time candies. They bring such sweet memories every-time I roll all the many peanut butter balls by hand.

    3 buckeye candys with 1 with a bit taken out of it. lights and a plate of buckeyes in the background

    I go back to growing up helping my mom make all the Christmas candies, getting out the old metal double broiler, and pouring in chocolate chips and a block of wax to slowly melt. I go straight back to helping my college BFF Hannah roll peanut butter balls from her Aunt Peggy's Buckeye recipe in her home for hours on end. I think about Justin getting excited when I accidentally drop the entire peanut butter ball in the chocolate "messing it up" so he could then eat all the "not pretty enough to give away" ones.

    I smile remembering when we made hundred of Buckeyes for our wedding, for the dessert bar full of some of our most favorite things.

    dessert bar serving Dark Chocolate Chunk Whole Wheat Oatmeal Cookies
    This picture is from our wedding, the best day of my life. My mom, sister and I made buckeyes and desserts months before in preparations for the best dessert bar known to man. 🙂 

    I am thankful for sweet childhood friends who have come over to my now grown-up home to help me individually place all the finished Buckeyes in pretty little mini Christmas cupcake liners to package up as gifts.

    Some of my fondest, sweetest and best memories of all time include the time-intensive progress of making Buckeyes.

    What are the ingredients for Buckeyes?

    Buckeye's are fairly easy to make and you really can't mess them up. you just need a couple of baking staples to start.

    • Butter
    • Peanut Butter
    • Salt
    • Vanilla
    • Powdered Sugar
    • Candy Wax
    • Chocolate
    peanut butter, butter, powdered sugar, vanilla, and salt in a clear bowl

    How To Make Buckeye Candy

    You will want to prep the melted chocolate to coat first.

    1. Place a medium-size pot of water on the stove over medium-low heat.
    2. Place the chocolate chips and wax in a glass or heatproof bowl and place them on top of the pot, creating a double broiler.
    3. Let the chocolate and wax slowly melt. Stir with a rubber spatula occasionally until everything is smooth and fully melted. This will take about 20 minutes.
    rolled out peanut butter balls for how to make buckeye candy

    Then, roll out the buckeye balls while the chocolate melts.

    1. In a large bowl add softened butter, peanut butter, salt, and vanilla.
    2. Using a hand or stand mixer, mix until smooth and no lumps.
    3. Add in powdered sugar, ½ cup at a time, mixing until thoroughly combined and scraping down the sides of the bowl before each addition. The mixture will be crumbly after but if you squeeze it together it will stick and stay. If for some reason it is too crumbly, add 1 tablespoon of cream or milk.
    4. Using your hands, scoop out peanut butter mixture into small bite-size rounds (about ½ tablespoon size) and place on a baking sheet lined with parchment paper.
    5. Place in the freezer or fridge to harden while you prepare your chocolate.
    6. Using a fork, place a peanut butter ball on top and carefully dip into melt chocolate, leaving the very top exposed.
    7. Place back on parchment paper.
    8. Once all have been dipped, leave to let chocolate hardened.
    9. Enjoy!
    dipping a buckeye into melted chocolate
    dipping a buckeye into melted chocolate
    dipping a buckeye into melted chocolate
    dipping a buckeye into melted chocolate
    dipping a buckeye into melted chocolate
    dipping a buckeye into melted chocolate
    buckeyes after they have been dipped into chocolate

    PRO TIP: I like to roll each ball by hand. I find I can create the size and shape I want better than a scoop or spoon. I also find a cookie scoop tends to be too big as well.

    Can I Use Natural Peanut Butter?

    No. You need to stick with the "unhealthy" "normal" full of oils and sugars kind of peanut butter.

    Natural peanut butter will not work in this recipe.

    How Long Do Buckeyes Last?

    You can keep buckeyes up for a month. But I don't think they will last that long.

    finished peanut butter balls on a baking sheet

    Do Buckeyes Need to Be Refrigerated?

    Technically no, but it helps. The cold will keep them hard.

    If you want to do it like my mom always did it and now I do AND you live in a place that gets cold during the winter months. Keep them in a Christmas tin outside on the back porch or garage or anywhere outdoors that's covered and cold.

    How Long Can You Freeze Buckeye Candy?

    Buckeyes will keep in the freezer for up to a year. Just make sure to wrap them airtightly several times with plastic wrap and place them in a freezer storage bag.

    Or vacuum seal it and save them forup to 2 years.

    Use code "SOUTHERNSOUL" and save 10% on any Vesta Precision product (affiliate code).

    These are a labor of love. They take some time, but the end result is so worth it and best shared with others while creating. There is something about baking for the holidays that speaks to my soul.

    Taking a day with my mom and family to make so many old fashions treats to gift to all the special people in our lives. Learning How to Make Buckeye Candy and other candy recipes that have been in our family for generations and listening to the stories of how it started each year.

    The process of creating with my hands and the love has gone into giving someone a piece of your home and your heart as a gift. It is who I am to the core. It is what I love. It is why I am fully convinced why holiday candy baking is one of the finer things in my life and what I most look forward to each year.

    These make the perfect gift for your loved ones for the holidays or to take over to your Christmas parties. I hope they bring you as many happy memories and delicious moments as they do me. Merry Christmas and happy candy making!

     3 buckeyes stacked up on each other

    More Christmas Sweet Treats You Will Love

    • Vanilla Bean Biscotti
    • White Chocolate Peppermint & Pretzel Cookies
    • The Munchies Cookie
    • No Chill Brown Butter Chocolate Chip Cookies
    • Soft Butter Cookies
    • Rice Krispie Peanut Butter Balls {No Bake} 
    • Peanut Butter & White Chocolate Oatmeal Cookies
    Print
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    buckeyes on a baking tray

    How to Make Buckeye Candy


    ★★★★★

    5 from 1 reviews

    • Author: Heather Bilyeu
    • Total Time: 60 minutes
    • Yield: 54 balls 1x
    • Diet: Gluten Free
    Print Recipe
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    Description

    You cannot go wrong with any peanut butter and chocolate combo. This Buckeye Candy is simple to make and perfect for the holidays.


    Ingredients

    Scale
    • ½ Cup Butter, softened
    • 1 ½ Cup Peanut Butter
    • 1 Teaspoon Salt
    • 1 Teaspoon Vanilla
    • 2 ½ Cups Powdered Sugar
    • 1 Tablespoon of Cream or Milk (if needed)
    • ½ Block Candy Wax
    • ¾ Pound Chocolate

    Instructions

    Prep the Chocolate

    1. Place a medium-size pot of water on the stove over medium-low heat.
    2. Place the chocolate chips and wax in a glass or heatproof bowl and place them on top of the pot, creating a double broiler.
    3. Let the chocolate and wax slowly melt. Stir with a rubber spatula occasionally until everything is smooth and fully melted. This will take about 20 minutes.

    Buckeyes

    1. In a large bowl add softened butter, peanut butter, salt, and vanilla.
    2. Using a hand or stand mixer, mix until smooth and no lumps.
    3. Add in powdered sugar, ½ cup at a time, mixing until thoroughly combined and scraping down the sides of the bowl before each addition. The mixture will be crumbly after but if you squeeze it together it will stick and stay. If for some reason it is too crumbly, add 1 tablespoon of cream or milk.
    4. Using your hands, scoop out peanut butter mixture into small bite-size rounds (about ½ tablespoon size) and place on a baking sheet lined with parchment paper.
    5. Place in the freezer or fridge to harden while you prepare your chocolate.
    6. Using a fork, place a peanut butter ball on top and carefully dip into melt chocolate, leaving the very top exposed.
    7. Place back on parchment paper.
    8. Once all have been dipped, leave to let chocolate hardened.

     

    Notes

    1. Store in an airtight container in the refrigerator until ready to eat or gift. Can also be kept in the freezer for up to 12 months.
    • Prep Time: 60 minutes
    • Cook Time: 0 Minutes
    • Category: Dessert
    • Method: Baking
    • Cuisine: American

    Nutrition

    • Serving Size: 1 ball
    • Calories: 113
    • Sugar: 7.6 g
    • Sodium: 74.6 mg
    • Fat: 7.8 g
    • Carbohydrates: 9.5 g
    • Fiber: 0.9 g
    • Protein: 2 g
    • Cholesterol: 4.9 mg

    Keywords: Buckeye Candy

    Did you make this recipe?

    Tag @fuelingasouthernsoul on Instagram and hashtag it #fuelingasouthernsoul

    Please rate and review below!

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    Disclosure. Some of the links below are affiliate links, which means that if you click on a product link, I may receive compensation. This compensation comes at no additional cost to you, and as always I only recommend products I trust! Heather Bilyeu is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to Amazon.com.
    « How to Make a Charcuterie Board
    Easy Homemade Monkey Bread »

    Filed Under: Christmas, Desserts, Recipe Video

    Reader Interactions

    Comments

    1. Clelie Bourne says

      December 04, 2017 at 9:52 pm

      I've been making these since before you were born. I even think I gave your mother my recipe.?

      ★★★★★

      Reply
      • Heather says

        December 09, 2017 at 2:09 pm

        Oh my goodness! So good to hear from you 🙂 They are some of our favorites....so glad you enjoy them too! Hope you are well!

        Reply

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    Hi, I'm Heather! Grab a glass of wine, a blanket, and a cozy seat on your back porch. I am so glad you are here! Born and raised in Kentucky and with proper southern roots, my love for entertaining and hospitality runs deep within my soul. There is nothing that I love more than having people around my table and loving them through food and drink!

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