Buckeye Balls with Peanut Butter and Chocolate
This classic homemade treat that takes a delicious peanut butter and powdered sugar mixture and combines it into a creamy decadent peanut butter ball, dipped in chocolate, is the perfect make ahead, no bake holiday dessert.
Servings: 40 peanut butter balls
Calories: 127kcal
Ingredients
- 1½ cups creamy peanut butter Jif
- ½ cup melted butter equal to 1 stick
- 2½ cups powdered sugar more as needed, see instructions
- 12 oz. chocolate chips
Instructions
- Line a baking sheet with wax paper or parchment paper. Set aside. Make sure there is space in the fridge AND freezer for the baking sheet.
- Mix peanut butter, butter and powdered sugar together until combined well and smooth.
- Use a tablespoon portion scoop to scoop dough into balls and roll into a smooth ball with the palms of your hands. Place onto prepared baking sheet.
- Freeze for 1 hour or overnight. Once peanut butter balls are solid, move to next step.
- Place chocolate in a microwave safe bowl and heat at 50% power for 60 seconds. Stir well and return to microwave for the same time and power. Stir until completely melted.
- Line a baking sheet or cutting board with wax paper and set aside.
- Dip ball into melted chocolate immersing about 2/3 of the way, use a fork or toothpick to pick up the ball. Scrape the bottom of the chocolate on the side of the bowl to rid of excess chocolate.
- Place buckeye balls onto prepared baking sheet.
- Let stand for chocolate to harden or refrigerate until hard. Makes approximately 40 balls depending how big you make them.
Notes
What type of peanut butter makes the best homemade Buckeye Ball?
Use creamy peanut butter rather than a crunchy variety. Because you want the extra sweetness I recommend choosing a type of peanut butter with added sugars, like Skippy or Jif rather than a “natural” type. You’ll also want a variety that is labeled “no-stir” which will give you the correct consistency.
How to store Buckeye Balls
Store your leftover Buckeye Balls in a zip lock bag or an airtight container (covered container) in the fridge for up to two weeks, or in the freezer for up to 3 months. Defrost overnight in the fridge.
Can you decorate Peanut Butter Balls?
Buckeye Balls are easy to spruce up, and the decorations can be delicious as well as pretty. Perfect as a substitute to holiday cookies, sprinkles, crushed nuts, or crumbled cookies will all work perfectly as extra flavor and pretty decoration. Simply add your choice of decoration right after dipping the peanut butter balls in chocolate and allow to set. Alternatively, you can use white chocolate or colored candy melts in place of regular chocolate chips.
- Christmas Holiday Party: regular chocolate with red/green sprinkles
- New Years: white chocolate with edible gold sprinkle stars
- Valentine’s Day: white chocolate with pink sprinkles
- Fourth of July: white chocolate with red and blue sprinkles
Nutrition
Serving: 2balls | Calories: 127kcal | Carbohydrates: 12g | Protein: 2g | Fat: 8g | Saturated Fat: 3g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 1g | Monounsaturated Fat: 3g | Trans Fat: 1g | Cholesterol: 7mg | Sodium: 66mg | Potassium: 64mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 11g | Vitamin A: 71IU | Calcium: 5mg | Iron: 1mg