No bake Peanut Butter Balls (aka Buckeyes) are easy peanut butter candies dipped in chocolate, and made with just 5 ingredient.
If you love homemade treats and candy, don’t miss these Oreo Balls, Chocolate Turtles, Homemade Twix bars, and Oreo Magic Bars!
The first time I ever tried “buckeyes” was on Christmas Eve when our good family friends brought them to share with us. They were an immediate hit with everyone and the perfect bite-size treat to enjoy while we played games and celebrated the holiday together. They continued to bring them for years after that, and now they will always remind me of those fun Christmas Eve nights together.
Ingredients for Buckeyes:
- Chocolate: Ghirardelli dark chocolate melting wafers work great, or Bakers Chocolate, chopped, and melted in the microwave.
- Peanut Butter: smooth; my preferred brand in Skippy.
- Powdered sugar.
- Vanilla extract.
- Butter. Salted or unsalted wont make a huge difference.
How to make Peanut butter balls:
1. Combine filling ingredients: cream butter and peanut butter until smooth. Slowly add the powdered sugar until they reach a smooth consistency, then mix in the vanilla.
2. Freeze peanut butter balls: Form the mixture into small balls and allow them to harden in the freezer for at least 30 minutes.
3. Dip in melted chocolate: Melt the chocolate melting wafers and dip each peanut butter ball into the chocolate.
4. Let set and serve. Allow them to cool on parchment paper and enjoy! Or store them in the refrigerator or freezer.
Make Ahead And Freezing Instructions:
To make ahead: Make peanut butter balls 1 day in advance and store in the refrigerator or freeze for up to for several months.
To freeze: Peanut butter balls freeze very well. After you have dipped them in chocolate, allow them to cool completely and store them in an airtight ziplock freezer bag in the the freezer for up to 3 months. Allow them to thaw at room temperature or overnight in the refrigerator.
Recipe Variations:
- Paraffin wax: for a more glossy finish or to preserve it longer at room temp, you can use paraffin wax. Melt some with semi-sweet chocolate.
- Fully dipped: you can cover the peanut butter balls completely in chocolate like traditional peanut butter balls or leave some peanut butter showing so they imitate buckeye nuts from a buckeye tree.
- Add candy: You can add mini M&M’s or other chopped candies (or nuts!) to the peanut butter filling before dipping in chocolate.
CONSIDER MAKING THESE CHRISTMAS SWEETS THIS HOLIDAY SEASON:
- Peanut Brittle
- Homemade Caramels
- Chocolate Marshmallow Cookies
- Vanilla Creme Balls
- Christmas Cornflake Wreaths
- Caramel Cashew Clusters
You can also FOLLOW ME on FACEBOOK, TWITTER, INSTAGRAM and PINTEREST for more great recipes!
Recipe
Peanut Butter Balls (Buckeyes)
Ingredients
- 2 cups butter 4 sticks
- 2 cups peanut butter
- 2 1/2 pounds powdered sugar
- 3 teaspoons vanilla extract
- 8 ounces semi-sweet melting chocolate (I used Ghirardelli, but any chocolate melting wafers will work)
Instructions
- Use electric beaters to cream together the butter and peanut butter.
- Slowly add the powdered sugar until you get a smooth consistency. Add the vanilla and mix.
- Form the dough into about 10 dozen small peanut butter balls.
- Place the peanut butter balls on a parchment lined baking sheet and put them in the freezer for at least 30 minutes.
- When the balls have had a chance to freeze, melt the chocolate melting wafers according to package instructions.
- Use a toothpick to dip and coat each peanut butter ball in chocolate. Allow excess to drip off and then place them on a parchment covered baking sheet and allow them to set.
- Store in an airtight container in the fridge or freezer.
Notes
Recipe Variations:
- Paraffin wax: for a more glossy finish or to preserve it longer at room temp, you can use paraffin wax. Melt some with semi-sweet chocolate.
- Fully dipped: you can cover the peanut butter balls completely in chocolate like traditional peanut butter balls or leave some peanut butter showing so they imitate buckeye nuts from a buckeye tree.
- Add candy: You can add mini M&M's or other chopped candies (or nuts!) to the peanut butter filling before dipping in chocolate.
Nutrition
Did You Make This Recipe?
Tag @TastesBetterFromScratch on Instagram with #TastesBetterFromScratch!
Check out my webstory!
Have you tried this recipe?!
RATE and COMMENT below! I would love to hear your experience.
I originally shared this recipe December 2018. Updated December 2020.
*This post contains affiliate links. I love sharing useful products with you!
Process photos by Nikole from The Travel Palate
Forgot the Star Rating, LOL