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Peanut Butter Balls (buckeye recipe) displayed in a white bowl.
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4.93 from 14 votes

Buckeyes Recipe

Buckeyes are the most delicious treats with a creamy peanut butter center and sweet chocolate shell. I can even teach you how to turn these classic no-bake desserts into charming little hedgehogs!
Prep Time10 minutes
Cook Time0 minutes
chill1 hour
Total Time1 hour 10 minutes
Course: Dessert
Cuisine: American
Servings: 24
Author: Julie Blanner

Equipment

Ingredients

Chocolate topping

  • 8 ounces semi-sweet chocolate chips or wafers
  • 1 teaspoon vegetable oil

For Decorating as Hedgehogs (optional)

  • ½ cup chocolate sprinkles
  • Black writing gel icing

Instructions

  • In a large mixing bowl, beat peanut butter, butter and vanilla until well combined.
    1 cup creamy peanut butter, 6 tablespoons salted butter, 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
  • Gradually add powdered sugar, ½ cup at a time until combined.
    2½ cups powdered sugar
  • Scoop and roll into round balls and place onto a parchment lined cookie sheet.
    Buckeye recipe - Peanut butter balls on a white surface with a jar of peanut butter.
  • Freeze 30 minutes.
  • While the peanut butter balls are in the freezer, microwave chocolate and vegetable oil in a small bowl in the microwave. Use 30-second increments and stir until smooth.
    8 ounces semi-sweet chocolate, 1 teaspoon vegetable oil
  • Take the sheet pan of peanut butter balls from the freezer. Holding a toothpick, spear the ball of peanut butter and gently dip each one into bowl of melted chocolate. Return to sheet pan to dry.
    A person is pouring chocolate into a bowl while making a buckeye recipe.
  • Optional: dip in sprinkles and place on the cookie sheet.
    ½ cup chocolate sprinkles
    Buckeye peanut butter eggs in a tray on a white background.
  • Refrigerate 30 minutes or until chocolate has hardened for serving. Serve at room temperature.
    A group of chocolate covered donuts on a white surface, resembling a delectable buckeye recipe.

To Turn into Hedgehogs

  • Optional: dip in chocolate sprinkles before chocolate fully sets, and place on the cookie sheet.
    A group of peanut butter chocolate hedgehogs on a plate.
  • Use chocolate writing gel icing to add eyes and a nose to each buckeye.
    Black writing gel icing

Notes

  • Line your baking sheet with parchment paper to prevent sticking and allow for easy cleanup.
  • If the dough is too sticky to roll, add an extra tablespoon of powdered sugar.
  • We found that Ghirardelli melting wafers work even better than chocolate chips, as they melt perfectly and can be reheated as necessary.
  • Rolling them in sprinkles can add a seasonal touch or help them coordinate with an event (like our hedgehogs). Try red and green sprinkles for Christmas or pastel nonpareils for Easter.
  • Hedgehogs - You can use the gel writing icing to add the faces before or after refrigeration. We added them after refrigeration to prevent any bleeding color. 
 

Nutrition

Serving: 1Buckeye | Calories: 195kcal | Carbohydrates: 20g | Protein: 3g | Fat: 12g | Saturated Fat: 5g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 2g | Monounsaturated Fat: 5g | Trans Fat: 0.1g | Cholesterol: 8mg | Sodium: 70mg | Potassium: 116mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 17g | Vitamin A: 92IU | Calcium: 12mg | Iron: 1mg