Buckeyes Recipe - Lauren's Latest (2024)

Jump to Recipe Jump to Video Print Recipe

This post may contain affiliate sales links. Please read my disclosure policy.

A perfect marriage of peanut butter and chocolate make Ohio-famous Buckeyes a no-bake masterpiece. Similar to Peanut Butter Balls, Buckeyes are made with creamy peanut butter, sweet powdered sugar and butter, rolled into balls and partially dipped into melted chocolate, leaving just a little bit of peanut butter exposed – making them look just like real buckeyes.

Buckeyes Recipe - Lauren's Latest (1)

Ok, What are Buckeyes?

Real buckeyes are a shiny, brown nut that grow on an Ohio state tree – the buckeye tree. Buckeyes resemble the eye of a deer, hence: BUCK EYE. I have memories of buckeye nuts every fall all over our sidewalks. My grandpa used to drill holes in them so we could string them for necklaces. Such a fun memory! Unless you’re a squirrel, do NOT try to eat this nut. 🙂 Make this recipe instead!

Buckeyes, the candy – are a combination of peanut butter, butter, and powdered sugar shaped into small balls. You then dip them in melted chocolate, but not all of it! Leave a small portion of the peanut butter visible which look exactly like the buckeye nut.

Buckeyes Recipe - Lauren's Latest (2)

How to Make Buckeyes

For full recipe details, see the printable recipe card down below. Here is step by step what you can expect when making this Buckeye recipe:

Buckeyes Recipe - Lauren's Latest (3)

Prep Baking Sheet

Line a large baking sheet with parchment paper and set aside.

Cream Butter + Peanut Butter Together

Cream softened butter and peanut butter in a bowl with hand mixer or stand mixer with paddle until color begins to lighten and mixture is silky smooth.

Add vanilla and salt and mix until combined.

Buckeyes Recipe - Lauren's Latest (4)

Add Powdered Sugar

SLOWLY add powdered sugar in 1/3 cup increments mixing well in between. “Dough” should be thick enough to roll into balls. If you haven’t achieved that texture, add a little bit more sugar.

Buckeyes Recipe - Lauren's Latest (5)
Buckeyes Recipe - Lauren's Latest (6)

Form Balls + Refrigerate

Scoop out tablespoon sized portions and roll into balls with clean hands. Place balls onto parchment lined baking sheet. Place a toothpick into the center of each ball and refrigerate for 15 min to an hour.

Buckeyes Recipe - Lauren's Latest (7)
Buckeyes Recipe - Lauren's Latest (8)

Pro Tip: if you find your balls start out rolling out smoothly but then start to stick, try cleaning your hands periodically. Clean hands make the smoothest balls.

Buckeyes Recipe - Lauren's Latest (9)
Buckeyes Recipe - Lauren's Latest (10)

Melt Chocolate

Meanwhile, melt both types of chocolate together with coconut oil in a double boiler or microwave, stirring and making sure not to burn.

Buckeyes Recipe - Lauren's Latest (11)
Buckeyes Recipe - Lauren's Latest (12)

Dip Balls in Chocolate

Remove balls from refrigerator and holding onto the toothpick, dip each ball into chocolate being sure to cover just about 80% of the peanut butter to achieve that “Buckeye” look.Place back onto baking sheet until all buckeyes have been dipped and chocolate is set.

Buckeyes Recipe - Lauren's Latest (13)
Buckeyes Recipe - Lauren's Latest (14)
Buckeyes Recipe - Lauren's Latest (15)

Remove Toothpicks + Serve

Once peanut butter has come back to room temperature, using a twisting motion remove toothpicks. Cover the hole by gently smoothing peanut butter with your finger. Serve immediately.

Buckeyes Recipe - Lauren's Latest (16)

Storing Buckeyes

Store in airtight container in the fridge or at room temperature if you prefer softer peanut butter.

You can also freeze Buckeyes if you want to store them longer (perfect for a make ahead option). To freeze, place buckeyes on a parchment paper lined baking sheet or something flat that will fit in your freezer. Freeze until balls are frozen solid, then transfer to a freezer safe, airtight container or bag. They should stay fresh in the freezer up to 3 months. The texture may change slightly after freezing and thawing, but the taste shouldn’t be effected.

To thaw, allow the buckeyes to sit at room temperature 15-20 minutes before serving!

Buckeyes Recipe - Lauren's Latest (17)

More Peanut Butter Dessert Recipes to Try!

  • Peanut Butter Balls
  • Peanut Butter Blossoms
  • Salted Caramel Peanut Butter Rice Krispie Treats
  • Peanut Butter Cookies
  • No-Bake Peanut Butter Bars
  • Peanut Butter Energy Balls

I hope you love these little gems! The printable recipe card is below. Have a great day, friends!

If you make this recipe, I would really appreciate it if you wouldgive it a star rating and leave your review in the comments! If you have a picture of your finished dish, post it on Instagram using the hashtag #laurenslatest and tagging me @laurens_latest.

Buckeyes Recipe - Lauren's Latest (18)

PrintPrint Pin ItPin It

4 from 2 votes

Buckeyes

A perfect marriage of peanut butter and chocolate make Ohio-famous Buckeyes a no-bake masterpiece.

servings 36 pieces

Prep Time 30 minutes mins

Total Time 1 hour hr 30 minutes mins

Ingredients

Equipment

  • toothpicks for dipping

Instructions

  • Line a large baking sheet with parchment paper and set aside.

    Buckeyes Recipe - Lauren's Latest (19)

  • Cream softened butter and peanut butter in a bowl with hand mixer or stand mixer with paddle until color begins to lighten and mixture is silky smooth.

    Buckeyes Recipe - Lauren's Latest (20)

  • Add vanilla and salt and mix until combined.

  • SLOWLY add powdered sugar in 1/3 cup increments mixing well in between. "Dough" should be thick enough to roll into balls. If you haven't achieved that texture, add a little bit more sugar.

    Buckeyes Recipe - Lauren's Latest (21)

  • Scoop out tablespoon sized portions and roll into balls with clean hands*. Place balls onto parchment lined baking sheet. Place a toothpick into the center of each ball and refrigerate for 15 min to an hour.

    Buckeyes Recipe - Lauren's Latest (22)

  • Meanwhile, melt both types of chocolate together with coconut oil in a double boiler or microwave, stirring and making sure not to burn.

    Buckeyes Recipe - Lauren's Latest (23)

  • Remove balls from refrigerator and holding onto the toothpick, dip each ball into chocolate being sure to cover just about 80% of the peanut butter to achieve that "Buckeye" look.

    Buckeyes Recipe - Lauren's Latest (24)

  • Place back onto baking sheet until all buckeyes have been dipped and chocolate is set.

    Buckeyes Recipe - Lauren's Latest (25)

  • Once peanut butter has come back to room temperature, using a twisting motion remove toothpicks. Cover the hole by gently smoothing peanut butter with your finger. Serve immediately. Store in airtight container in refrigerator or at room temperature if you prefer softer peanut butter.

    Buckeyes Recipe - Lauren's Latest (26)

Video

Notes

*if you find your balls start out rolling out smoothly but then start to stick, try cleaning your hands periodically. Clean hands make the smoothest balls.

Nutrition

Calories: 261kcal | Carbohydrates: 28g | Protein: 4g | Fat: 16g | Saturated Fat: 7g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 2g | Monounsaturated Fat: 5g | Trans Fat: 0.1g | Cholesterol: 9mg | Sodium: 105mg | Potassium: 136mg | Fiber: 2g | Sugar: 24g | Vitamin A: 104IU | Vitamin C: 0.1mg | Calcium: 24mg | Iron: 1mg

Course: Dessert

Cuisine: American

Keyword: Buckeyes

Buckeyes Recipe - Lauren's Latest (2024)

FAQs

Why are my buckeyes so sticky? ›

Why are my Peanut Butter Balls so sticky? First, make sure you're using regular peanut butter (rather than the natural peanut butter that's more runny). If it's too sticky still, you can simply add a little more powdered sugar until it's a nice consistency for rolling into small balls.

Why are buckeye cookies called buckeyes? ›

They're called buckeyes because they look like the nuts that grow on Ohio buckeye trees. This recipe for buckeye candy is so good that I double it whenever I make it.

What are buckeyes made of? ›

Ingredients for Buckeyes:

Chocolate: You can use Ghirardelli dark chocolate melting wafers, Bakers Chocolate, or any high quality chocolate, chopped, and melted in the microwave. Peanut Butter: Smooth; my preferred brand is Skippy. Powdered confectioners sugar. Vanilla extract.

What do you do with buckeyes? ›

These seeds are popularly believed to bring good luck, and school children especially still carry them in their pockets as a charm. And while highly poisonous, buckeye seeds contain much protein and were used as a food source by Native Americans who boiled and leached them to remove their toxins.

How many calories are in a buckeye candy? ›

There are 180 calories in 2 pieces (34 g) of Anthony Thomas Buckeyes. * The % Daily Value (DV) tells you how much a nutrient in a serving of food contributes to a daily diet. 2,000 calories a day is used for general nutrition advice.

Should you keep buckeyes in the fridge? ›

Buckeyes are fine to sit out at room temperature on holiday cookie plates for up to 24 hours, though if you're keeping them around for longer than that, store in an airtight container in the refrigerator where they'll stay fresh for up to 2 weeks. Buckeyes also freeze super well.

What do British people call buckeyes? ›

In Britain, they are sometimes called conker trees because of their link with the game of conkers, played with the seeds, also called conkers.

Did Native Americans eat buckeyes? ›

Many indigenous groups utilized buckeye seeds for food, often when other plant food sources were scarce. These tribes included the Costanoan, Salinan, Kitanemuk, Serrano, Wappo, Sierra Miwok, Coast Miwok, Chumash, Kawaiisu, Northern Maidu among others.

Are buckeyes edible for humans? ›

Poisonous Plant: All parts of the plant (leaves, bark, fruit) are highly toxic if ingested – because of the glycoside aesculin, the saponin aescin, and possibly alkaloids. Symptoms are muscle weakness and paralysis, dilated pupils, vomiting, diarrhea, depression, paralysis, and stupor.

Can you eat the nut inside of a buckeye? ›

Removing the shell and roasting the nut neutralizes its harmful tannic acid content and makes for a protein-packed snack. If not prepared properly though, buckeye nuts are toxic to humans, causing symptoms including weakness, diarrhea, vomiting, paralysis, and death.

What animal can eat buckeyes? ›

While gray squirrels and other animals do eat buckeyes, it is never a preferred food. In fact, both the seeds and tender young leaves of the plant are said to be poisonous to humans and livestock alike. Humans have long made use of the red buckeye. Native Americans were known to crush buckeye branches to catch fish.

Who invented buckeyes? ›

The buckeye candy originated in Ohio (a.k.a. the Buckeye State). According to legend, sometime in the 1960s, Ohio resident Gail Tabor invented buckeyes while trying to dip peanut butter balls in chocolate.

Do buckeyes help arthritis? ›

Native Americans once used buckeyes for both nutritional and medicinal purposes. These tribes would crush and knead the nuts into a salve for rashes and cuts. Today, some believe that buckeyes can relieve rheumatism and arthritis pain.

Are chestnuts and buckeyes the same thing? ›

The buckeyes and horse chestnut are not related to the edible chestnut (Castanea spp. Plant Family Hippocastanaceae Habitat Generally prefer rich moist soils, woodlands, etc., but some species have adapted to drier conditions. Horse chestnuts are frequently planted as ornamental shade trees.

Can deer eat buckeyes? ›

Do deer eat buckeyes? No, they don't. Buckeyes are poisonous to ruminants like cattle, so deer are not far behind. Buckeyes are also toxic to humans and many other animals, so you need to consider the drawbacks before choosing to cultivate them.

Is buckeye candy only in Ohio? ›

Buckeyes are similar to peanut butter balls (or peanut-butter-filled chocolate balls), which are completely covered in chocolate. Named for their resemblance to the poisonous nut of the Ohio buckeye tree, the state tree of Ohio, this candy is particularly popular in Ohio and neighboring states.

Why are they called buckeyes candy? ›

The buckeye candy resembles the nut of the buckeye tree, with a shiny, dark brown exterior and light brown "eye." The story goes that buckeye's name came from Native Americans who thought the glossy, chestnut-brown seed resembled the eye of, you guessed it, a buck (that's a male deer, for you city folk).

Are Tootsie Rolls high in calories? ›

Nutrition Facts

There are 155 calories in a 1 serving 6 pieces (40.000g) serving size of Candies, TOOTSIE ROLL, chocolate-flavor roll. The calorie breakdown is 8% fat, 91% carbs, and 2% protein.

Why are my protein balls so sticky? ›

Why are my protein balls so sticky? If for some reason the batter is sticky or too wet and not coming together, there is too much liquid and not enough binder. This can happen depending on the protein powder you are using. You can either add more protein powder or some kind of flour.

How to make peanut butter less sticky? ›

The trick is to mix it with something else such as,
  1. Powdered Milk.
  2. Oatmeal.
  3. Powdered sugar.
  4. Graham Crackers.
  5. Rice Crispies.
Jan 15, 2018

How do you dry out buckeyes? ›

Dry your buckeye nuts in the sun for a few days. If you want to speed things up, you can dry them in an over at 200 degrees Fahrenheit (93.3 degrees Celsius) for two hours [source: Buckeyetree]. Mount a dried buckeye nut securely in your vice grips. Be careful not to tighten the vice too much or the nut will crack.

How to keep buckeyes from sweating? ›

SHORTENING added to the chocolate is the big secret ingredient for buckeyes. This helps stabilize the chocolate so that it dips nicely, and helps prevent the chocolate from weeping and sweating once it's hardened. Traditionally, people added paraffin wax to the chocolate to achieve this.

References

Top Articles
Latest Posts
Article information

Author: Virgilio Hermann JD

Last Updated:

Views: 5712

Rating: 4 / 5 (41 voted)

Reviews: 88% of readers found this page helpful

Author information

Name: Virgilio Hermann JD

Birthday: 1997-12-21

Address: 6946 Schoen Cove, Sipesshire, MO 55944

Phone: +3763365785260

Job: Accounting Engineer

Hobby: Web surfing, Rafting, Dowsing, Stand-up comedy, Ghost hunting, Swimming, Amateur radio

Introduction: My name is Virgilio Hermann JD, I am a fine, gifted, beautiful, encouraging, kind, talented, zealous person who loves writing and wants to share my knowledge and understanding with you.