These Buckeyes are my family’s favorite Christmas tradition!
Gather around, folks, because today I am sharing with you one of my best-kept family secrets. For generations, those who have been lucky enough to spend holidays with my family have wondered and asked about this recipe. For years, I’ve kept it to myself. But today, I’m especially in the holiday spirit, and I’m finally willing to share with my FFF fam… my great-grandmother’s super secret buckeyes recipe.
Look, I know that all sounds really dramatic. But I’m serious when I say that everyone who has tried Dolores’ buckeyes has practically begged on their hands and knees for the recipe. If anyone has ever tried one of her buckeyes and didn’t like it, they’ve never admitted it to anyone in my family. My great-grandma makes these little candies once a year, divides them up evenly amongst her grandchildren and great-grandchildren (she has to, because we literally count them and throw fits if one person has more than another), and passes them out in tin cans on Christmas Eve. It is one of the most cherished and honored traditions in my family.
So why exactly am I sharing this secret family treasure with all of you? Truth be told, I’ve never been one to gatekeep a good find. I’m always happy to share my secrets if it means others get to experience the same joy I do. And trust me when I call these buckeyes a joy.
My great-grandma makes her buckeyes from scratch, spending nearly an entire day leading up to Christmas Eve on the project, and turning her kitchen into something that I imagine resembles Santa’s workshop. But when you’re not making buckeyes to serve an entire extended family, it doesn’t take as long, as they’re really quite simple. With just a handful of classic baking ingredients, you’ll have a batch of soft, sweet, nutty, and absolutely irresistible buckeyes in no time.
Is This Buckeyes Recipe Healthy?
Buckeyes are a candy-like dessert, so it’s no surprise that they’re loaded with sugar. If you’re cutting back on sweets, you may not want to eat too many of these bad boys. But you can also adjust this recipe to fit your own diet. Try using maple syrup and almond flour instead of powdered sugar, and make sure you pick a good, natural peanut butter to work with.
A Rich History
I’m not the first person to enjoy a buckeye. Legend has it that buckeyes were invented back in the ’60s by a woman named Gail Tabor. For years, Gail refused to share her recipe—which she named for their resemblance to buckeye nuts—but she eventually did give it to one of her husband’s friends. The friend tried to claim the recipe as her own (ugh!) but Gail set the record straight in a newspaper article in the ’80s.
Buckeyes, in case you don’t know, are essentially balls made of sweetened peanut butter, coated in a hardened layer of chocolate. They’re as sweet as you’d expect, and as rich as their history!
INGREDIENTS
- 1 cup creamy peanut butter
- 1/3 cup unsalted butter, softened
- 1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 1/8 teaspoon kosher salt
- 2 1/4 cups powdered sugar
- 10 ounces semi-sweet chocolate, coarsely chopped
- Vegetable oil, as needed
INSTRUCTIONS
Mix
Combine peanut butter, butter, vanilla, salt, and sugar; form balls.
Chill
Freeze peanut butter balls.
Dip
Coat in chocolate and refrigerate.
Devour!
FAQs & Tips
Depending on how long you want your buckeyes to last, you can store them in different ways. If you’re going to consume them within a couple days, leave them in an airtight container at room temperature. Otherwise, you can refrigerate them in an airtight container for 2 weeks, or freeze them for up to 3 months.
The trick to forming your peanut butter balls is knowing how to adjust your mixture. If they’re too crumbly, add peanut butter. If they’re too sticky and clumpy, add more powdered sugar. You can also use a mixer with a paddle attachment to create a smooth mixture.
You’ll want to freeze your peanut butter balls for about 30 minutes before dipping them in chocolate. This will ensure they hold their shape, and allow the chocolate to latch onto the peanut butter mixture.
Serving Suggestions
My great grandma always delivers our Christmas Eve buckeyes in a tin container with other goodies, like homemade peanut brittle and Chocolate Truffles. You can give your buckeyes as sentimental Christmas gifts, or serve them on a platter at the dessert table during your holiday gatherings! They make for a delicious dessert after a feast of Turkey Breast, Stuffing, and other holiday classics.
Buckeyes Recipe
Ingredients
- 1 cup creamy peanut butter
- 1/3 cup unsalted butter softened
- 1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 1/8 teaspoon kosher salt
- 2 1/4 cups powdered sugar
- 10 ounces semi-sweet chocolate coarsely chopped
- Vegetable oil as needed
Instructions
-
In a large bowl, combine the peanut butter, butter, vanilla extract, and salt. Mix until smooth and well blended.
-
Gradually add the powdered sugar, mixing until the mixture is thick and smooth. If it seems extra soft, add 1 tbsp more powdered sugar until it is thick.
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Roll the mixture into 1-inch balls and place them on a baking sheet lined with parchment paper. Insert a toothpick into each ball.
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Freeze the peanut butter balls for about 30 minutes until firm.
-
Melt the chopped chocolate in a microwave-safe bowl in 20-second increments, stirring until smooth. Add vegetable oil as needed to thin it out.
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Dip each chilled peanut butter ball into the melted chocolate, leaving a small circle at the top uncovered to resemble a buckeye. Place back on the parchment paper.
-
Refrigerate the buckeyes until the chocolate is firm, about 1 hour.
Nutrition
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