These Buckeye Balls consist of a sweet peanut butter truffle dipped in melted chocolate and chilled. They are a deliciously easy no-bake dessert recipe that will make all you chocolate peanut butter lovers swoon!

Peanut butter and chocolate is a match made in heaven. I loved the creamy peanut butter center of these chilled peanut butter balls, so I used it to inspire these delicious Buckeye Brownies! I can’t get enough of them! For more chocolate peanut butter treats, try my Peanut Butter Brownie Cookies, No Bake Peanut Butter Pie, Peanut Butter Blossoms Cookie or my Chocolate Peanut Butter Chip Cookies!

A white plate topped with homemade Buckeyes.

Why This Recipe Works

  • Easy buckeye recipe. I’m not even kidding here, friends. These buckeye balls are the easiest dessert recipe out there. It uses only 7 ingredients, comes together in no time at all, no baking at all, no cooking at all, and is so delicious you’ll just keep popping them in one after the other!
  • No baking necessary. No bake desserts are the best! You don’t have to wait for anything to cook! These are simply rolled, dipped and chilled!
  • Peanut butter chocolate heaven. If you love peanut butter and chocolate, then this best buckeye recipe is for you — it is chocolate and peanut butter in the purest form! Sweet peanut butter balls dipped in chocolate? You can’t get any richer and more delicious than that!
  • Make ahead dessert. There seem to always be days when I crave a treat (probably every other day! 🤫). And I just want something quick and delicious! Well, this is the recipe for those moments. They’re perfect to satisfy that sweet tooth of yours and are great for a party finger food treat. You can also try my buckeye brownies recipe for you brownie lovers out there!

Ingredient Notes

Buckeyes recipe ingredients portioned into glass bowls on a gray background: butter, vanilla, shortening, powdered sugar, salt, peanut butter, and chocolate.
  • Peanut Butter: The star of the show! You can use creamy peanut butter, cashew butter, almond butter. Note: if you use a different nut butter it will alter the taste of the dessert. I like using smooth peanut butter for that smooth texture. If you use crunchy peanut butter you’ll have pieces of peanuts in there.
  • Butter: Softened. Yes, we want butter on top of peanut butter. Trust me 🙂
  • Vanilla Extract: Don’t ever make peanut butter buckeyes without vanilla. It’s a must!
  • Powdered Sugar: This aides in consistency and sweetness. It also helps so the peanut butter ball mixture doesn’t stick to the roof of your mouth when you eat it.
  • Semisweet Chocolate: I recommend baking chocolate to get the best results.
  • Vegetable Shortening: The vegetable shortening helps the chocolate melt easier for dipping and then harden at room temperature. You can use coconut oil for the chocolate coating instead if you’d like.

Step-by-Step Instructions

  1. Make the peanut butter filling. In a large mixing bowl (or in a stand mixer with the paddle attachment), beat 1 cup peanut butter, 6 T softened butter, 1/4 tsp vanilla, 2 1/2 cups powdered sugar, and 1/4 tsp kosher salt together until fully combined. 
  2. Form into balls. Roll the peanut butter mixture into 2-tsp-sized balls and place on a parchment lined baking sheet. Freeze for 15 minutes or until cold. 
  3. Melt the chocolate. In a medium microwave-safe bowl, melt 1 1/2 cups semi-sweet chocolate (about 8 oz) and 1 tsp vegetable shortening, stirring every 20 seconds until fully melted. 
  4. Dip the peanut butter balls. Stick a toothpick in the center of each peanut butter ball. Dip it in the melted chocolate, leaving a circle of peanut butter visible on the top of the ball (this gives it the classic look like the buckeye seeds). Let any excess chocolate drip off, then return to the baking sheet and remove the toothpick. Repeat with rest of the creamy peanut butter balls.
Four photos illustrating how to make chocolate peanut butter Buckeyes balls.
  1. Chill the buckeyes. Chill the buckeye balls in the fridge for 20 minutes or until the chocolate has set. Smooth over the top of each ball to remove the toothpick hole. Enjoy! 
Chocolate dipped Buckeye balls on a baking sheet.

Recipe Tips

Be sure to really scrape down the sides of your bowl when making the peanut butter filling mixture. You want to get everything combined really well or else some of your homemade buckeyes will be too wet and some will be too crumbly. 

Be sure to put the toothpicks about 3/4 of the way into the ball so they don’t slide off when you are dipping them. Making sure they are very very cold helps as well! If you need to pop them back in the freezer for 5 minutes, do! 

Having the peanut butter balls cold also helps the chocolate set up faster.

Make sure not to add more powdered sugar. More powdered sugar would create a more crumbly buckeye.

Using natural peanut butter? Just be sure to mix really well to fully incorporate all that oil from the top layer. 

Feel free to use milk chocolate, semi-sweet chocolate, or dark chocolate for dipping!

Make Ahead, Storing, and Freezing

You can definitely make this buckeyes recipe ahead of time! I love to make a big batch and keep them in the freezer; then I can have a delicious dessert bite when the craving hits. 

Store in the fridge in an airtight container for up to 2 weeks.

You can freeze the finished buckeye treats. Place them in an airtight container or a zip-top freezer bag and store in the freezer for 2-3 months.

Chocolate dipped Buckeye balls on a white parchment paper.

Recipe FAQs

What are buckeyes?

Glad you asked. If you’re into sports at all, you may have heard of the Ohio State Buckeyes. Ring a bell? Well, the state tree of Ohio is the buckeye. The nut of the buckeye tree (or seeds) are circular with a dark brown color and a light brown circle in the middle. These buckeye treats — chocolate-dipped peanut butter balls with a light brown circle in the middle — were named because of their resemblance to the buckeye seed.

Can you freeze buckeyes?

Yep! Make sure the buckeyes are chilled so the chocolate exterior isn’t soft. Store the buckeyes in a zip-top bag in the freezer for 2-3 months.

Can I use natural peanut butter to make buckeyes?

Yes you can. Just be sure to really mix the peanut butter to fully incorporate the layer of oil at the top. 

Are these homemade buckeyes overly sweet?

You’d think they would be, but the peanut butter really balances it out! 

Buckeye balls on a white plate that's on a marble table.

More Chocolate Peanut Butter Recipes

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A homemade Buckeyes ball with a bite taken out of it.
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4.67 from 3 votes

Buckeyes Recipe

These no-bake treats feature an easy to make peanut butter filling that is rolled into small balls then partially dipped in chocolate. They're bite size and perfect for holidays or any time of year!
Prep Time: 20 minutes
Chill Time: 1 hour
Total Time: 1 hour 20 minutes
Servings: 37 buckeyes

Ingredients
 

  • 1 cup creamy peanut butter
  • 6 tablespoons butter - softened
  • 1/4 teaspoon vanilla extract
  • 2 1/2 cups powered sugar
  • 1/4 teaspoon kosher salt
  • 1 1/2 cups semi-sweet chocolate - chopped (about 8 oz)
  • 1 teaspoon vegetable shortening

Instructions
 

  • Line a baking sheet with parchment paper. 
  • In a large bowl beat the peanut butter, butter, vanilla, powdered sugar, and salt together until fully combined. 
  • Scoop the mixture into 2 tsp sized balls and place on the baking sheet. Freeze for 15 minutes or until cold and firm, or chill in the fridge for 30-45 minutes. 
  • In a microwave safe bowl melt the chocolate and vegetable shortening, stirring every 20 seconds until melted. 
  • Stick a toothpick in the center of the peanut butter ball. Lift it into the melted chocolate and cover the peanut butter ball, leaving a circle of peanut butter visible on the top. Let excess chocolate drip off, then place on the baking sheet and remove the toothpick. Repeat with remaining peanut butter balls. Place in fridge for 20 minutes or until chocolate has set.
  • Remove from the fridge and smooth out the toothpick hole using your finger or an offset spatula. 
  • Serve chilled or at room temperature. Store in an airtight container in the fridge for 2 weeks.

Notes

Don’t add more powdered sugar! It makes for a crumbly texture.
Scrape the sides of the bowl when making the peanut butter mixture so all the powdered sugar is incorporated — or else you’ll have balls that are too crumbly from extra powdered sugar and balls that are too moist from not enough!

Nutrition

Calories: 131kcal (7%)Carbohydrates: 13g (4%)Protein: 2g (4%)Fat: 8g (12%)Saturated Fat: 3g (15%)Cholesterol: 5mg (2%)Sodium: 65mg (3%)Potassium: 85mg (2%)Fiber: 1g (4%)Sugar: 11g (12%)Vitamin A: 60IU (1%)Calcium: 8mg (1%)Iron: 1mg (6%)
Course: Dessert
Cuisine: American
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