Easy Buckeyes Recipe

If the state of Ohio were a candy, it would undoubtedly be the buckeye, a treat that is named for its resemblance to the nuts that grow on the state tree. So popular is this candy on its home turf that there is a 37-stop Ohio Buckeye Candy Trail highlighting some of the numerous chocolatiers across the state who specialize in these chocolate-peanut butter confections. If you've never tried a buckeye candy, they could best be described as tasting similar to Reese's peanut butter cups, except that in the recipe given here we're using semi-sweet chocolate chips instead of the milk chocolate favored by the Hershey Company.

Recipe developer Christina Musgrave describes this buckeye recipe as having "the perfect pop of sweetness for chocolate and peanut butter lovers," but apart from the candy's flavor, one of the best things about these candies are how simple they are to prepare. You only need five ingredients to make buckeyes, plus a little bit of patience to roll and dip them. In fact, so simple are they to make that they might be a great edible craft activity to do with kids. While your buckeyes might come out looking a little wobbly, they'll still be tasty and a fun (if somewhat messy) time will be had by all.

To make buckeyes, you will need peanut butter — Musgrave advises using smooth instead of crunchy, as she cautions that with the latter, "the inside of the buckeye will be too crunchy." You'll also need butter, vanilla, and powdered sugar for the filling and chocolate chips to melt for the outside coating.

Beat the peanut butter together with the softened butter and the vanilla extract until the mixture is smooth and creamy. Add the powdered sugar, a little bit at a time, stirring until well-combined. Musgrave says that you do not need to sift the powdered sugar before or after you measure it, telling us that instead "it can be spooned into the cup."

Roll the peanut butter mixture into balls that measure about 1 inch in diameter — Musgrave got about 30 balls out of hers. Once the balls are rolled, put them on a plate or a cookie sheet and stick them in the freezer for ½ hour to solidify.

Melt the chocolate chips, either in the microwave, on the stovetop, or in a double boiler. Dip each peanut butter ball partway into the melted chocolate, letting the excess drip off. You can use a toothpick or thin skewer to hold each ball as you dip. Make sure that there is a circle of peanut butter showing at the top of each candy, as this is what gives them their distinctive buckeye appearance. Once the candies are dipped, allow the chocolate to harden before you eat them. For any candies that are not eaten right away, Musgrave says, "I recommend storing [them] in the refrigerator so the chocolate does not melt," adding that they can be frozen, as well.