By Becky Hardin
Published Dec 17, 2019
Buckeye candy is such an easy recipe, made with a handful of pantry staple ingredients. These no bake sweets are made with peanut butter and chocolate and are great for the holiday season and for gift giving.
Buckeye candy is such and easy homemade treat that everyone loves! I love making a big batch and giving some away as gifts to friends and family across the holidays!
It’s the perfect treat to make for Valentine’s Day , Christmas, Easter, or any occasion.
How to Make This Buckeye Candy Recipe
In an electric mixer, combine the cream powdered sugar, peanut butter, butter, vanilla and salt. Shape into small balls and refrigerate them until they are firm.
Once the dough is chilled, melt the chocolate and shortening in a microwave or bain-marie.
Insert a toothpick into each peanut butter ball and dip into the melted chocolate. Place the balls on to a baking sheet lined with parchment and refrigerate until firm.
What are buckeyes?
Buckeye candy is essentially peanut butter balls that are dipped in chocolate. They are sweet and creamy with a hint of saltiness. I love that they are no bake and come together so quickly and easily. If you’re a fan of buckeye’s, you’ll for sure love my Chocolate Peanut Butter Lava Cakes !
How long do buckeyes last?
Once you have made the buckeye candy, transfer them to an airtight container and they will keep for up to two weeks. Their long shelf life makes them great to gift. I like to pop some in a small cellophane bag and tie with a ribbon and a name tag. Perfect for hostess gifts or for neighbours and teachers.
Can buckeye candy be frozen?
Buckeyes freeze really well! Simply store them in an airtight container in the freezer and thaw them in the fridge the night before you want to serve them.
What do you need to make Buckeye Candy?
These candies are made with just a handful of simple ingredients. You will need:
- Powdered sugar
- Creamy peanut butter: Use smooth peanut butter, and natural doesn’t work as well.
- Butter
- Vanilla extract: Use pure over imitation if you can.
- Salt
- Semi-sweet chocolate chips
- Shortening or oil
Top Tips For Making This Buckeye Candy Recipe
- Allow enough time for the peanut butter balls to chill and firm, it will take about 1 hour.
- If you don’t have a microwave, you can melt the chocolate on the stovetop in a bain-marie.
- Place the chocolate covered buckeyes on a parchment paper lined tin for easy removal.
- Keep refrigerated until ready to serve.
For more chocolate treats:
- Best Chocolate Cream Pie Recipe
- Crockpot Turtle Candy
- Loaded Chocolate Chip Giant Cookies Recipe
- Easy Chocolate Syrup (Chocolate Sauce for Pancakes)
- Slow Cooker Peppermint Hot Chocolate Recipe
- No Bake Chocolate Peanut Butter Cookies
Ingredients1x2x3x
- ▢ 4 cups powdered sugar 452
- ▢ 1½ cups creamy peanut butter 405 grams, Jif recommended
- ▢ ½ cup salted butter 113 grams, melted (1 stick)
- ▢ 1½ teaspoons pure vanilla extract 6 grams
- ▢ 1 teaspoon kosher salt 3 grams (use less if using salted peanut butter)
- ▢ 12 ounces semisweet chocolate chips 340 grams (1 package), Ghirardelli recommended
- ▢ 1 tablespoon vegetable shortening 12 grams
Instructions
- Line 2 baking sheets with parchment paper. Set aside.
- In the bowl of a stand mixer fitted with the paddle attachment, cream the powdered sugar, peanut butter, butter, vanilla, and salt together until creamy and incorporated, about 2-3 minutes. 4 cups powdered sugar, 1½ cups creamy peanut butter, ½ cup salted butter, 1½ teaspoons pure vanilla extract, 1 teaspoon kosher salt
- Shape the dough into 1-inch balls and refrigerate until firm, about 1 hour.
- When the dough is completely chilled, microwave the chocolate chips and shortening (or oil), stirring every 15 seconds, on HIGH until most of the chips are melted. Remove from the microwave and stir until smooth and all chips are melted. 12 ounces semisweet chocolate chips, 1 tablespoon vegetable shortening
- Insert a toothpick in the top-middle of a peanut butter ball and dip ⅔ of it in the melted chocolate. Let the excess chocolate drip into the bowl, and place the buckeye on the prepared baking sheet. Repeat with all peanut butter balls. (Note: If the chocolate begins to thicken, microwave for a few seconds until desired consistency.)
- Refrigerate the Buckeyes in a covered container until firm before serving.
Equipment
- Kitchen Scale (optional)
- 2 Baking Sheet
- Stand Mixer
Becky’s Tips
- If desired, use a finger or the back of a small spoon to smooth the small dot on the top of the Buckeyes from the toothpick.
- You can use vegetable oil in place of the shortening, if desired.
- Allow enough time for the peanut butter balls to chill and firm, it will take about 1 hour.
- If you don’t have a microwave, you can melt the chocolate on the stovetop in a bain-marie.
- Place the chocolate covered buckeyes on a parchment paper lined tin for easy removal.
- Keep refrigerated until ready to serve.
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
Buckeye Candy Recipe
Equipment
- Kitchen Scale (optional)
- 2 Baking Sheet
- Stand Mixer
Ingredients
- 4 cups powdered sugar 452
- 1½ cups creamy peanut butter 405 grams, Jif recommended
- ½ cup salted butter 113 grams, melted (1 stick)
- 1½ teaspoons pure vanilla extract 6 grams
- 1 teaspoon kosher salt 3 grams (use less if using salted peanut butter)
- 12 ounces semisweet chocolate chips 340 grams (1 package), Ghirardelli recommended
- 1 tablespoon vegetable shortening 12 grams
Instructions
- Line 2 baking sheets with parchment paper. Set aside.
- In the bowl of a stand mixer fitted with the paddle attachment, cream the powdered sugar, peanut butter, butter, vanilla, and salt together until creamy and incorporated, about 2-3 minutes. 4 cups powdered sugar, 1½ cups creamy peanut butter, ½ cup salted butter, 1½ teaspoons pure vanilla extract, 1 teaspoon kosher salt
- Shape the dough into 1-inch balls and refrigerate until firm, about 1 hour.
- When the dough is completely chilled, microwave the chocolate chips and shortening (or oil), stirring every 15 seconds, on HIGH until most of the chips are melted. Remove from the microwave and stir until smooth and all chips are melted. 12 ounces semisweet chocolate chips, 1 tablespoon vegetable shortening
- Insert a toothpick in the top-middle of a peanut butter ball and dip ⅔ of it in the melted chocolate. Let the excess chocolate drip into the bowl, and place the buckeye on the prepared baking sheet. Repeat with all peanut butter balls. (Note: If the chocolate begins to thicken, microwave for a few seconds until desired consistency.)
- Refrigerate the Buckeyes in a covered container until firm before serving.
Notes
- If desired, use a finger or the back of a small spoon to smooth the small dot on the top of the Buckeyes from the toothpick.
- You can use vegetable oil in place of the shortening, if desired.
- Allow enough time for the peanut butter balls to chill and firm, it will take about 1 hour.
- If you don’t have a microwave, you can melt the chocolate on the stovetop in a bain-marie.
- Place the chocolate covered buckeyes on a parchment paper lined tin for easy removal.
- Keep refrigerated until ready to serve.
Nutrition
By Becky Hardin
Published Jul 12, 2017
This Essential Grocery List is an absolute life saver for my family on the busy weeks. When I started this journey to learn how to cook, I quickly realized that the first step in cooking is having staple ingredients on hand. I want to avoid having to run out to the grocery store every single time I prepare a new recipe. Having a well-stocked pantry has made my life in the kitchen so much simpler, because when it’s time to cook, I have what I need.
Essential Grocery List
It’s so helpful to have a basic grocery list to help me remember which foods to buy at the store. This food shopping list is my go-to!
It’s better to stock up on things like grains, seasonings and spices, baking essentials, oils, condiments, canned and frozen foods, etc. so I can just grab them when I need them. These things have a long shelf life , so I keep them in my kitchen for convenience.
However, I do have to go to the supermarket sometimes, and there’s a way to make that trip easy and hassle-free: I keep a grocery list! If I go in blindly, I’ll leave with things I don’t need, and nothing that actually helps me prepare a good meal.
In the list below, I’ve compiled everything I always have on my stock-up grocery list.
I’ve got you covered! I created an easy grocery list filled with all of the essentials. Plus there’s a free printable version that you can take with you to the grocery store. It has everything you need to stock your pantry, your freezer, and your refrigerator.
Click to get my Free Printable Grocery List
What to Buy at the Grocery Store
This is the perfect grocery list filled with all the basics and essentials. It should help get you going if you’re new to cooking, or if you’re just left staring helplessly at an empty pantry and don’t know how to fill it.
When I first started cooking, things could seem overwhelming. I quickly realized that they more prepared I could be, the more confident I felt. If you already have the basics in your kitchen, then you can shop stress-free.
So print out our easy grocery list, stock up your pantry and fridge, and you’ll be cooking in no time!
Click to get my Free Printable Grocery List for the perfectly stocked pantry and freezer!
Fresh Produce
- Apples
- Bananas
- Strawberries
- Avocados
- Bell Peppers
- Carrots
- Broccoli
- Garlic
- Lemons/Limes
- Onion
- Parsley
- Cilantro
- Basil
- Potatoes
- Spinach
- Tomatoes
GRAINS
- Breadcrumbs
- Pasta
- Quinoa
- Rice
- Sandwich Bread
- Tortillas
MEAT/PROTEIN
- Chicken
- Eggs
- Ground Beef
- Sliced Turkey
- Lunch Meat
DAIRY
- Butter
- Sliced Cheese
- Shredded Cheese
- Milk
- Sour Cream
- Greek Yogurt
BAKING GOODS
- Baking powder
- Baking Soda
- Granulated Sugar
- Brown Sugar
- Flour
- Honey
- Vanilla Extract
- Dry Yeast
- Chocolate Chips
- Cocoa Powder
- Powdered Sugar
FREEZER
- Fruit and Berries
- Frozen Veggies (Corn, Peas, Broccoli, etc)
- Juice Concentrate
- Pizza or Other Convenience Meals
- Pie Crust
- Cookie Dough
CANNED/DRIED GOODS
- Chicken stock/broth
- Salsa
- Diced Tomatoes
- Jam/Jelly
- Peanut Butter
- Pasta Sauce
- Beans (Black Beans, Chickpeas, Baked Beans, etc)
- Soups
- Tuna
- Green Chiles
- Canned Veggies
- Coffee or Tea
Get more details on the best non-perishable and pantry foods
CONDIMENTS/SPICES
- Black Pepper
- Chili Powder
- Cinnamon
- Crushed Red Pepper
- Cumin
- Garlic Powder
- Ketchup
- Mustard
- Mayo
- Nutmeg
- Paprika
- Salt (Course Sea Salt and Kosher Salt)
- Soy Sauce
- Steak Sauce
- Hot Sauce/ Buffalo Sauce
- Salad Dressings
OILS/VINEGARS
- Apple cider vinegar
- Balsamic vinegar
- Coconut Oil
- Olive Oil
- Vegetable/Canola Oil
- Red Wine Vinegar
- White Vinegar
- Cooking Wine
- White Wine Vinegar
SNACKS
- Crackers
- Nuts
- Quick Oats
- Popcorn
- Tortilla Chips
- Cereal
Click to get my Free Printable Grocery List for the perfectly stocked pantry and freezer!
Click ☝🏻 for my FREE Grocery List Printable!
I hope this essential grocery list can help you buy what you need and make your home cooking so much easier!
Stock Your Kitchen
Find more ideas for your grocery list, stock up your kitchen, and print more cooking guides and charts to keep handy!
Non-Perishable Foods to Stock Up On
Frozen Vegetables to Stock Up On (and Recipes to Make)
Ultimate List of Cooking Herbs for Your Kitchen
Ultimate List of Cooking Spices for Your Kitchen
Cooking Oil 101: Types of Cooking Oils to Use
26 Types of Pasta and When to Use Them
What Fruits and Vegetables are in Season?
Meat Temperature Chart (Free Printable)
How to Meal Prep (Guide for Beginners)
Basic Cooking Measurements & Kitchen Conversion Chart
