This recipe for buckeye balls is classic peanut butter balls dipped in dark or white chocolate and coated with sprinkles. An easy no bake holiday dessert!
Rich and creamy peanut butter balls are dipped in chocolate and decorated with festive sprinkles for a no bake treat that’s perfect for a special occasion. These buckeye balls make a great gift and are always a welcome addition to any holiday dessert table along with classics such as rum balls and Christmas crack.
The holidays are here and we are busy decorating, crafting and creating delicious treats! Our lights are up and I’ve made quite a few batches of these amazing peanut butter buckeye balls to give out to family and friends. These chocolate covered peanut butter balls are a classic holiday treat that I make every year. They’re a great project to do with the kids, my kids call it “peanut butter play doh” which is actually pretty accurate!
Make these buckeyes as part of a Christmas party spread along with holiday favorites like Grinch punch, peppermint bark, crock pot candy and Grinch cookies!
Table of Contents
Ingredients For Buckeye Balls
To make these buckeye balls you will need creamy peanut butter, butter, powdered sugar, chocolate, sprinkles and shortening.
How Do You Make Buckeye Balls?
To make this buckeye ball recipe first place peanut butter, butter and powdered sugar (confectioners’ sugar) in a large bowl. Stir until a dough forms. You may need to use your hands to knead everything together. Roll the peanut butter mixture into balls, then chill the balls on a baking sheet. Melt the chocolate and shortening together in a bowl, then use a toothpick to dip each ball halfway in the chocolate. Roll the balls in sprinkles if desired. Use your finger to smooth the top of each buckeye ball to remove the hole from the toothpick. Chill the peanut butter balls until the chocolate sets, then serve and enjoy.
Tips For The Perfect Buckeye Balls
- I typically use a measuring spoon or small cookie scoop to portion out my peanut butter “dough” so that all of the balls are the same size.
- The traditional way to do buckeye candies is to dip them in semisweet chocolate. I decided to mix things up a bit, and dipped half my balls in semisweet chocolate and the other half in white chocolate and holiday sprinkles.
- You can use whatever type of sprinkles you like. It’s fun to switch out the sprinkle colors to match whatever occasion you’re celebrating. Or you can leave off the sprinkles altogether, there are so many ways to decorate buckeye balls!
- You can use a stand mixer with a paddle attachment to mix the peanut butter dough together. Make sure to keep the mixer on a lower setting until the powered sugar incorporates into the dough so it doesn’t get thrown out of the mixer.
Quick Tip
It’s worth it to take the extra time to sift the powdered sugar. Otherwise you might end up with a lumpy dough.
Recipe FAQs
You can store peanut butter balls in a covered container in the refrigerator for up to 7 days. You can also store your buckeye balls for up 2 months in a freezer. Just be aware, if you choose to freeze your buckeye balls, when you thaw them, the chocolate may have a little condensation on it. That said, they’ll still taste great!
The easiest way to coat your peanut butter balls in chocolate is to stick a toothpick into each ball, then lower the ball into a bowl of melted chocolate. This works best if your peanut butter balls are very cold, so make sure you chill them first. You can use your finger to smooth over the little hole that the toothpick leaves behind.
Buckeye balls are named after the nuts of the buckeye tree which have a similar look. The nuts of this Ohio state tree resemble peanut butter balls dipped in chocolate.
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Flavor Variations
While these buckeye balls are delicious as-is, you can add other ingredients to customize the flavors to your tastes.
- Chocolate: Milk chocolate is another great option aside from the dark and white chocolates listed in the recipe.
- Toppings: You can roll your balls in other toppings such as finely diced nuts or coconut.
- Add-ins: Feel free to add some texture to your peanut butter balls by mixing in 3/4 cup of rice krispy cereal. Another great option is to use crunchy peanut butter instead of smooth.
- Flavoring: You can change the flavor with a few drops of vanilla extract or almond extract.
Peanut butter balls are a classic treat that never goes out of style. I have been eating them as long as I can remember! There’s just something amazing about the peanut butter chocolate combo. I urge you to try these with the white chocolate too, you won’t regret it.
More No Bake Treats
Buckeye Balls Video
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Buckeye Balls
Ingredients
- 1 1/2 cups creamy peanut butter
- 1/2 cup butter at room temperature
- 3 1/2 cups powdered sugar sifted
- 8 ounces chocolate chips or candy melts/almond bark can be dark chocolate, white chocolate or both
- 1 tablespoon vegetable shortening
- optional: 1/2 cup holiday sprinkles
Instructions
- Place the peanut butter, butter and powdered sugar in a large bowl. Mix until the ingredients are incorporated, then knead with your hands until a smooth dough forms.
- Shape the dough into tablespoon sized balls and place on a sheet pan that’s been lined with parchment paper.
- Refrigerate the peanut butter balls for at least 30 minutes.
- Place the chocolate chips or candy melts and shortening in a medium bowl. If using 2 types of chocolate, place 4 ounces of each chocolate with 1/2 tablespoon shortening into 2 bowls.
- Microwave the chocolate in 30 second intervals or until melted. Stir until smooth and thoroughly combined.
- Remove the buckeye balls from the fridge. Use a toothpick to pick up each ball and and dip it into the melted chocolate. Quickly roll the ball in sprinkles if using (optional). Repeat with each ball. Use your finger to smooth over the top of each ball to remove the mark from the toothpick.
- Refrigerate for 30 minutes or until set, then serve.
Notes
- I typically use a measuring spoon to portion out my peanut butter “dough” so that all of the balls are the same size.
- It’s worth it to take the extra time to sift the powdered sugar; otherwise you might end up with a lumpy dough.
- Buckeye balls will stay fresh in the refrigerator for up to 7 days.
Omg! These look so very delicious. I have to try ASAP.
I absolutely love Buckeye balls – my favorite holiday treat in the world!
I could eat Buckeye balls all year round, but they feel extra special at the holidays. I love the combo of peanut butter and chocolate.
I don’t eat peanut butter, but these buckeye balls looks SO yummy! I’m sure any peanut butter fan would be all over this and it looks like a ton of fun to make with family!
These look DELISH and relatively simple to make too – love me some peanut butter
Question is vegetable oil the same as vegetable shorting? I originally used the candy melts but going to use chiocolate chips this time so want to make sure I have the right ingrediant. The candy melts worked great at first but then tried melting them in my microwave & they got to thick so want to make sure it doesn’t happen when I usethe chocolate chips. Appreciate your response thanks & love your post thanks so much!
Vegetable oil is not the same as shortening. Shortening is a solid form of fat that comes in a can. When you add shortening to either chocolate chips or candy melts, it will help thin them out to make them more dippable. My favorite option is to use Ghirardelli Melting Wafers, they come in red bags (dark choc) and blue bags (white choc) in the baking aisle. They melt really thin so they’re perfect for dipping and they taste great!
Could you freeze the peanut butter balls and then dip them in chocolate later? I want to make a few days ahead of time but don’t want to dip them until I’m about ready to serve them, with enough time to set of course.
Absolutely!
Their the greatest!
Can the Buck Eye balls be kept in freezer or refrigerated for 2 weeks? I’d like to make them ahead of time.
Thank you
Yes you can freezer or refrigerate them for 2 weeks. If you freeze them, when you go to thaw there may be a little condensation on the chocolate part but they still taste just as great!
I cannot wait to make these, love peanut butter balls.. Was wondering tho if would be ok to freeze them or refrigerate them instead.
Thanks a bunch!😋😋
Yes you can freeze or refrigerate them!
Love the idea of sprinkles…have only been dipping some of mine in the white chocolate. I have nicknamed these “Blonde Eyes”.
Love this recipe can not wait to make these!! Could you use coconut oil rather than shortening??
Yes that should work!
I love a good excuse to consume more peanut butter and chocolate. Yum!!
If these are completely dipped in chocolate, do they still need to be refridgerated? Like if I made them for treat bags, should I keep them in a cooler while traveling? Looks yummy!
You definitely don’t need to put them in a cooler for travel, but for long term storage I’d refrigerate them. They can probably be at room temp for 6-8 hours. Hope that helps!
Peanut butter balls are a fun treat. I love the idea of dipping them into chocolate!
These look delicious and easy to make.
I’ve always loved these peanut butter balls! I’m making them for a holiday cookie exchange!
Highly considering ditching all of my weekend plans for a full 48 hour cookie baking-and-eating extravaganza. These look SO good– love me a good buckeye ball! And love how you did the half-dip and added sprinkles. So pretty!
I just love these classic peanut butter balls with the holiday decorations! Yummy and festive!
I made this yesterday with 8 family members around. They aren’t going to last 6 more days until Christmas.
One of my favorites treats on the dessert table! Love the white chocolate version with sprinkles too 🙂