No-Bake Buckeye Balls

5 from 3 votes

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Peanut butter balls dipped in chocolate are a perennially popular holiday treat, and very giftable.

No-Bake Buckeye Balls

Easy Buckeye Recipe

Buckeyes are named after a chestnut from Ohio’s state tree, the buckeye, and once you see this nut you’ll understand why.  Buckeye’s are peanut butter balls dipped in chocolate.  They are rich, no doubt, and for those of us who love Resees Peanut Butter cups, these are the sina qua non of homemade treats.  Also, gluten-free!

Buckeye Balls on a yellow platter.

That’s kind of up to you to decide.  Different people think of them as different confections.  I pretty much think of them as a cookie…but then again….they are kind of truffle-like in appearance and texture.   I think we all need to sample a few before making a hasty decision.

How to Make Buckeye Balls:

In a large mixing bowl, add the confectioners’ sugar, peanut butter and butter.  Use an electric mixer to blend until well combined and creamy.  Roll the mixture into 1-inch balls.  Insert a toothpick into each ball and place on a couple of plates or a baking sheet and freeze for two hours.

No-Bake Buckeye Balls: Are these peanut butter balls dipped in chocolate a cookie or a candy? Whatever you decide, you need to make these rich, decadent holiday favorites!

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Buckeye Ball with toothpicks on a lined baking sheet.

How to Melt Chocolate for Buckeyes

Just before removing the cookies from the freezer, place a small saucepan with a few inches of water on the stove, and nest a metal or heatproof bowl into the top of the pot so that the bottom of the bowl is suspended over the water.  Add the chocolate chips to the bowl and bring the water to a simmer over medium heat, stirring the chips often until they are melted.

Alternatively, you can melt chocolate in the microwave.  Place the chips into a microwave-safe bowl and place them in the microwave.  Heat in 15-second bursts, stirring between the heating periods, until the chips are almost entirely melted.  Then just keep stirring until the chips are melted and the chocolate is smooth.

Place a piece of parchment or wax paper into a couple of shallow containers with flat bottoms.  Pour the hot chocolate into a mug or cup.  (The next time I do this, I will put the chocolate in a deeper cup so that I can dunk the cookies into the chocolate more cleanly without having to roll them around.  I made it harder on myself by putting the chocolate in a shallow-ish pan and having to roll the buckeyes in the mixture; a deeper container will allow for a cleaner chocolate line.)

Remove the cookies from the freezer and dip each ball into the chocolate.  

Woman dipping a Buckeye Ball into chocolate.

Place them, not touching, into the containers.  

Refrigerate until set.

Woman placing a chocolate-dipped Buckeye Ball onto a lined baking sheet.

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5 from 3 votes

No-Bake Buckeye Balls

Peanut butter balls dipped in chocolate are a perennially popular holiday treat, and very giftable.
Prep Time: 20 minutes
Cook Time: 5 minutes
Freezing time: 2 hours
Total Time: 2 hours 25 minutes
Servings: 40 people

Ingredients 

  • 1 pound (1 16-ounce box) confectioners’ sugar
  • 1 jar (18-ounce) creamy peanut butter
  • ½ cup (1 stick) unsalted butter , softened
  • 1 package (12-ounce) semi-sweet chocolate chips

Instructions 

  • In a large mixing bowl, add the confectioners’ sugar, peanut butter and butter. Use an electric mixer to blend until well combined and creamy.
  • Roll the mixture into 1-inch balls. Insert a toothpick into each ball and place on a couple of plates or a baking sheet and freeze for two hours.
  • Just before removing the cookies from the freezer, place a small saucepan with a few inches of water on the stove, and nest a metal or heatproof bowl into the top of the pot so that the bottom of the bowl is suspended over the water. Add the chocolate chips to the bowl and bring the water to a simmer over medium heat, stirring the chips often until they are melted (see Note).
  • Place a piece of parchment or wax paper into a couple of shallow containers with flat bottoms. Pour the hot chocolate into a mug or cup. Remove the cookies from the freezer and dip each ball into the chocolate. Place them, not touching, into the containers. Refrigerate until set. These will keep for 2 weeks in the fridge. Remove from the fridge at least 15 minutes before serving.

Notes

Alternately you can melt chocolate in the microwave. Place the chips into a microwave safe bowl and place in the microwave. Heat in 15-second bursts, stirring between the heating periods, until the chips are almost entirely melted. Then just keep stirring until the chips are melted and the chocolate is smooth.

Nutrition

Calories: 189kcal, Carbohydrates: 18g, Protein: 4g, Fat: 12g, Saturated Fat: 5g, Polyunsaturated Fat: 2g, Monounsaturated Fat: 5g, Trans Fat: 1g, Cholesterol: 7mg, Sodium: 60mg, Potassium: 132mg, Fiber: 1g, Sugar: 15g, Vitamin A: 75IU, Calcium: 12mg, Iron: 1mg
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About Katie Workman

Katie Workman is a cook, a writer, a mother of two, an activist in hunger issues, and an enthusiastic advocate for family meals, which is the inspiration behind her two beloved cookbooks, Dinner Solved! and The Mom 100 Cookbook.

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4 Comments

    1. stir as vigorously as possible! make sure all of your ingredients are at room temperature. the dough won’t be as fluffy but it should work.