Peanut Butter Buckeye Balls

            There is no treat that tastes as great as these Buckeye Balls, that you can eat year round. These are great in the winter for your Christmas Goodie trays, they are great treats at Easter and Halloween. After all, peanut butter and chocolate go together like, well, peanut butter and jelly.

In Ohio, the state tree is the Buckeye tree. A buckeye or horse chestnut is actually a nut from the Buckeye tree. These nuts are poisonous if eaten raw. The Buckeye Balls look almost identical to the nuts on the tree, hence the name. The big difference is that when you serve these Buckeye Balls, you are not poisoning anyone. Thankfully!

So why would anyone name a treat this delicious after something that is harmful to humans? Maybe, just maybe, they wanted to keep all the treats to themselves and not have to share. All joking aside, they are named after the horse chestnut. The look is very similar once the treats are made.

Frequently Asked Questions:

Why not cover the whole peanut butter ball in chocolate?

If you cover the whole ball, it will no longer look like the Buckeye nut. Instead it would be a chocolate covered peanut butter ball.

Why are my Buckeyes dry and crumble?

The correct proportions must be used to make these stay together. This recipe has been used by thousands of people, correct ratios is the key. The ingredients need to be beaten until they are completely smooth. Humidity and the quality of your ingredients could make a difference also. If needed, add a tablespoon of peanut butter as you are mixing until it does come together in a smooth mix.

Why are my Buckeys sticky?

This means that you need a little bit more powdered sugar. Again, correct measurements are mandatory for these to turn out the way they are supposed to.

How do I store these?

It is best to store them in the refrigerator since they do have dairy in them. I do not recommend freezing these. In my house the freezer would be open all the time. The freezing would cause too much moisture to form in the Buckeye Ball when it thaws out. They would not taste the same. Make as many as you feel will be eaten without going bad. It is always very simple to make another batch.

Tips:

Feel free to add different combinations of flavor. For example, coconut pecan cake icing and coconut flakes will give these treats a delicious taste.

A touch of maple flavoring will taste spectacular in this recipe.

What ingredients do you need for Peanut Butter Buckeye Balls

            1 pound of powdered sugar

            16 ounces of peanut butter

            1 ½ sticks butter

            Chocolate bark for melting

How to make Peanut Butter Buckeye Balls

FIRST STEP:

Mix together the butter, peanut butter and the powdered sugar until very smooth

a)

b)

c)

SECOND STEP:

Roll into balls with hands and insert a toothpick, this makes dipping easier

THIRD STEP:

Dip the ball into the melted chocolate, ¾ of the way. This will leave peanut butter showing, hence the ‘eye’

a)

b)

FOURTH STEP:

Line each ball on a cookie tray that is lined with wax paper

Enjoy!