Easy Buckeye Balls Recipe (only 5 ingredients!)- Boston Girl Bakes (2024)

Created By:Heather on December 5, 2021 | Updated: March 6, 2023

This buckeye balls recipe is super easy to make and a perfect no bake treat for the holidays! Made with just 5 ingredients, these buckeye balls are going to become a family favorite! They are made on the stovetop, do not require a candy thermometer, and only about 15 minutes chilling time!

I don’t know about you but when it comes to the holidays it can be a bit of a stressful time. The present buying, and gift wrapping, holiday decorating, Christmas card writing and sending, the cookie baking – oh all the Christmas cookies! Now don’t get me wrong I LOVE it all. And look forward to it all every year.

But this year, things got a little bit more stressful. Like my oven broke kind of universe. Yup, my oven broke. So my Christmas cookie baking has come to a screaming halt. That’s ok, though. Once I got over the initial shock of it all, and the sad fact that I may not be getting around to baking my favorite Raspberry Rugelach cookies, or my Grandma’s Russian Tea Cakes I realized that there are so many amazing no bake Christmas treats to make instead. Like Old Fashioned Peanut Butter Fudge and Oreo Cake Balls and now these amazing buckeye balls.

And hey, who doesn’t need an awesome, easy to make no bake Christmas treats, like this buckeye balls recipe. This easy Buckeye ball recipe are dipped in chocolate and make for an irresistible no bake treat perfect for your Christmas cookie platters and Christmas cookie sharing parties.

These remind me of my Homemade Reese’s Peanut Butter Eggs. Basically, these buckeyes are like eating Reese’s peanut butter cup.

Why are they called Buckeye balls?

Buckeye peanut butter balls are named after buckeyes, a nut that grows on the Ohio state tree. The buckeye ball candies look just like the buckeye nuts!

Although very popular in Ohio, and the midwest, but they are enjoyed everywhere throughout the country.

Ingredients Needed

How To Make Buckeyes

1. In a large mixing bowl, with an electric mixer, stir together the butter, sugar, peanut butter and vanilla until smooth and combined. I do this in my stand mixer with the paddle attachment on medium speed for about 2 minutes, but a hand mixer also works.
2. Using a tablespoon, scoop the mixture into balls. Roll each ball in your hands until it forms a smooth ball. Place onto the baking sheet.
3. Stick a toothpick into the top of each ball. Freeze for 15 minutes (this helps with the dipping process).
4. While the peanut butter balls are in the freezer, melt the chocolate. I used melting wafers, but Wilton Candy melts or chocolate chips work. If using chocolate chips, add 2 tablespoons vegetable shortening (this helps with keeping it smooth and shiny). Melt the chocolate in a double boiler, or in your microwave. I melt in my microwave in 30-second increments at 50% power, and stirring in between until smooth.
5. Remove the peanut butter balls from the freezer, and carefully dip each ball into the chocolate leaving the top exposed. Set back onto the baking sheet to cool and harden. You may need to re-melt your chocolate if it hardens again as you are dipping the buckeyes. Remove the toothpicks. You can leave the toothpick hole, or dip your finger in water and lightly smooth the tops to cover up the hole. Refrigerate the buckeyes until firm.

Recipe Tips

• Don’t skip the freezing time. This will make it easier for dipping the peanut butter balls so they stay on the toothpick and don’t fall apart in the chocolate.
• Use a measuring spoon. You could just pinch off a small amount of the peanut butter mixture, but if you use a spoon then all your buckeyes will be the same size.
• Line your baking sheet. I line my baking sheet with parchment paper so the buckeye balls don’t stick.
• Stick a toothpick in each buckeye. You want to stick a toothpick, only about halfway, into each ball after you rolled them into balls. This will make it easy for dipping in the chocolate.

Recipe FAQ’s

More Recipes To Try

If you love this buckeye ball recipe, then give one of these recipes a try!

• Peanut Butter Oreo Balls
• Peanut Butter Fudge
• Football Oreo Balls
• White Chocolate Dipped Peanut Butter Cookies
• Chocolate Covered Strawberries Recipe