Ohio State Buckeyes Recipe (2024)

Published: Dec 11, 2020 by Linda Warren

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This easy Ohio State Buckeyes recipe is a must for your holiday cookie tins. Sweetened peanut butter is rolled into a ball then dipped in melted chocolate to make the most mouthwatering candy for the season. A no-bake holiday treat that disappears faster than you can make it.

I can't believe that I have never shared this recipe with y'all. What was I thinking? I've been whipping up this family favorite for over 30 years and no Christmas would be complete without them. And, they're so easy to throw together that anyone can make them. If you're like me, the combination of chocolate and peanut butter is a match made in flavor heaven. I've made everything from No Bake Chocolate Peanut Butter Energy Bites to Peanut Butter Cup Cookies to a Buckeye Latte co*cktail and still can't get enough.

Now, I bet you're wondering where in the world this Ohio State Buckeyes recipe got its name. (Hint, it's not from the football team.) It actually is derived from their resemblance to a buckeye nut, a small, shiny, dark brown nut that has a light tan patch and drops from a buckeye tree, the state tree of Ohio. Hence why I people call them Ohio State Buckeyes. But no matter what it looks like, or where it's from, it tastes incredible.

Tips & Variations

Use a regular brand of creamy peanut butter. Natural peanut butter will not work as well as it contains too much oil.
You can replace the semi-sweet chocolate chips with dark chocolate or milk chocolate.
Adjustments you can make to the batter. If the buckeye balls are too sticky, add a bit more confectioner's sugar. In the advent that the balls do not hold together, add a little more peanut butter. If you follow the recipe, you should not have to adjust the quantities of either but a lot can depend on the peanut butter used.
These candies will keep up to 1 month in the refrigerator or up to 3 months in the freezer.

How to make

Gather the 6 simple ingredients - peanut butter, confectioner's sugar, semi-sweet chocolate chips, flour, butter and vanilla extract.
Combine the peanut butter, butter and vanilla extract together.
Beat until smooth.
Gradually add the confectioner's sugar and flour.
Blend until well mixed. Here is where you can adjust the batter if it is not holding together well. Add more peanut butter if the dough falls apart and add more confectioner's sugar if the dough is too sticky. I've made this thousands of times and the ratio should be perfect as is. However, the type of peanut butter you use could change the consistency so adjust as needed.
Roll the dough between your hands to form balls.

Place the buckeye candy balls on a parchment or wax paper lined cookie sheet. They can be relatively close together as they will remain the same size. Chill.

Melt the chocolate chips. The easiest way to do this is in the microwave. Place chips in a microwave safe bowl and heat in 30 second increments, stirring in-between, until just melted. It usually takes a minute or minute and a half.

More easy Christmas candy recipes

Microwave Peanut Brittle is a quick & easy snack or homemade gift for the holidays. No more messy cooking & stirring on the stove, just pop it in the microwave. Plus, it cuts the time in half and comes out perfect every time!

Christmas Bark aka Christmas Crack is a crispy, sweet combination of chocolate, caramel and pretzels. Easy to make and totally addictive!

Stroopwafel Chocolate Fudge is a smooth, rich and creamy candy that takes just 10 minutes to make. All you need are 7 simple ingredients, a bowl and a microwave. Plus you can change up the flavor with your favorite liqueur.

Gingerbread Truffles are spicy bite-sized confections, not really a candy and not really a cookie, made of baked gingerbread mixed with cream cheese frosting, then wrapped in a blanket of chocolate. A drool-worthy sweet for the holidays.

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