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These Peanut Butter Balls (or “Buckeyes” as their affectionately known by in Ohio and the midwest) are a no-bake treat made with a peanut butter center dipped in chocolate. They’re a classic holiday favorite that’s easy to make with just a handful of ingredients.
Homemade Buckeyes are the ultimate Peanut Butter-Chocolate Duo!
If you love that combo too, than there’s no better treat than this homemade Buckeyes recipe. I love that they’re completely no-bake, easy to make ahead, and perfect for gifting to neighbors or adding to a holiday treat platter. They’re rich, creamy, and perfectly sweet, with a smooth peanut butter center and a delicious chocolate coating. They’re always one of the first treats to disappear!
My biggest tip: Give the peanut butter balls their freezer time before rolling. They are much easier to handle frozen, and a toothpick makes it simple to dip each one in chocolate. Cover them completely or leave a little peanut butter showing for the classic “buckeye” look (they get their name because they look like buckeye nuts from an Ohio buckeye tree). I can’t wait for you to try these!
Don’t miss my other candy recipes, like Oreo Balls, Chocolate Peanut Butter Fudge, Peanut Butter Popcorn, Homemade Caramels, Chocolate Covered Marshmallows, and Rocky Road!
A Note About Ingredients for Buckeyes:
Peanut Butter: This recipe was tested with skippy smooth peanut butter. Depending on the brand you use you may want to use more or less powdered sugar. Only add enough powdered sugar to get a very soft cookie dough texture.
Chocolate: I recommend using a high quality chocolate (over melting wafers or almond bark) since it’s a main character here and will melt well. I’d use callebaut melting chocolate (winco carries it in the bulk bins!), or a high quality chocolate bar or chocolate chips (I’d only recommend ghirardelli or guittard chocolate chips).
Butter: salted or unsalted will both taste great (I’d choose based on the brand of peanut butter you’re using and if it tastes very salty).
How to make Peanut Butter Balls
Make the Peanut Butter Mixture: Use electric beaters to cream together the butter and peanut butter. Slowly add the powdered sugar until smooth, then add the vanilla and mix.
Shape and Chill: Scoop about 5 dozen small peanut butter mounds onto a baking sheet and freeze for at least 30 minutes or longer! Once frozen, roll them into smooth balls. Meanwhile, melt the chocolate, melting wafers, or chocolate almond bark according to the package instructions.
Dip and Store: Use a toothpick to dip and coat each peanut butter ball in chocolate. Let the excess drip off, place on a parchment-covered baking sheet, and allow the chocolate to set. Store homemade buckeyes in an airtight container in the fridge or freezer. For longer storage, freeze the set buckeyes in a freezer-safe container or bag for up to 3 months and thaw in the fridge before serving.
Peanut Butter Balls (Buckeyes)
Equipment
Ingredients
- 1 cup butter, (2 sticks)
- 1 cup creamy peanut butter
- 4 cups powdered sugar
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 8 ounces semi-sweet chocolate for melting, (or could use melting wafers, or chocolate almond bark)
Instructions
- Use electric beaters to cream together the butter and peanut butter. Slowly add the powdered sugar until you get a smooth consistency. Add the vanilla and mix.1 cup butter, 1 cup creamy peanut butter, 4 cups powdered sugar, 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- Scoop 1 Tablespoon size portions (about 5 dozen small peanut butter mounds) onto a baking sheet and place in the freezer for at least 30 minutes. Once frozen they will be easier to handle and roll into smooth balls.
- Meanwhile, melt the chocolate in a double boiler or in the microwave on half-power (stirring every 15 seconds or so) until melted and smooth.8 ounces semi-sweet chocolate for melting
- Use a toothpick to dip and coat each peanut butter ball in chocolate. Allow excess to drip off and then place them on a parchment covered baking sheet and allow them to set.
- Store in an airtight container in the fridge, or freeze for up to 3 months.
Notes
Recipe Variations:
- Paraffin wax: for a more glossy finish or to preserve it longer at room temp, you can use a scoop of paraffin wax melted with the chocolate.
- Fully dipped: you can cover the peanut butter balls completely in chocolate like traditional peanut butter balls or leave some peanut butter showing so they imitate buckeye nuts from a buckeye tree.
- Add candy: You can add mini M&M’s or other chopped candies (or nuts!) to the peanut butter filling before dipping in chocolate.
Nutrition
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
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I originally shared this recipe December 2018. Updated December 2020, October 2023 and October 2026.
For a Christmas “dessert party” we hosted this week, I made your 1) Peanut Butter Balls, 2) Christmas Crack, 3) Fudge and 4)Oreo Cheesecake Pie recipes. All were a HUGE hit at the party! I sent everyone home with a plate of each of the goodies and attached copies of each recipe as well as your website address. I love your site…thank you and keep the great recipes coming!
Delicious and easy. Everyone loved them after a big Thanksgiving meal.
A favorite for years and it’s so easy. The taste is out of this world good and other time involved to roll the balls…involves few ingredients. Follow directions and you’ll be fine. These are on the Christmas, Easter and just cuz we love ’em platters every year and people marvel at how delish they are.
These were soooo soft and the peanut butter part was too sweet in my opinion, sort of overwhelmed the peanut taste. I would not make again, too difficult to handle the dough, even with chilling it and they must stay cold after you make them.
I tried your caramel recipe. Absolutely
Delicious! Worth the time stirring!
Made a nice size batch great for gifting.
Thanks Shari
The perfect party dessert!
Love Buckeyes! I think we used semi-sweet Baker’s Chocolate squares (or maybe Toll House chocolate chips) and, if had any around, added Rice Krispies Cereal to the peanut butter/powdered sugar mix before forming them into balls. Sooo delicious and crunchy!
These were a hit at the dessert table for Thanksgiving! I didn’t need to make as many, and even with winging it a little because of using less ingredient amounts, they turned out fantastic! Thanks so much for this great website.
Easy. to do and omg Amazing
Thanks Tricia! I’m happy to hear they were a hit!
The 1 to 1 butter to PB ratio made this a little softer than most. I went with 3 and a half cups of powdered sugar but would use the full 4 cups if making it again. These boys were softer than I would have liked. Still absolutely delicious!
I lived in Ohio (the Buckeye State) for years, and discovered these candies. They are FABULOUS (and fabulously addictive). Some hints from my experience: The peanut butter mixture can get very sticky and hard to form into balls. Remedy: chill the mixture awhile, and wipe your hands with a damp washcloth whenever they get too sticky. Hint: don’t let the balls come to room temp when you’re dipping them, or the toothpick hole will stretch and the ball falls off into the melted chocolate. Also, buckeyes have toothpick hole at the top. If that bothers you, use the back of a spoon and gently push the hole closed. You can experiment with different kinds of chocolate, depending on your taste. I’ve tried adding some darker chocolate with good results. If you refrigerate the buckeyes after dipping them (for storage), you may find light colored snowflakes on the chocolate. That happens when you don’t temper it, which I never had the patience to do. They are harmless. These are great–enjoy!!!