Buckeye Candy Balls
Buckeye candy balls are an easy Christmas candy you can make in advance. Bite-sized chocolate peanut butter balls are perfect for gift-giving and serving at a party.
Servings: 24 pieces
Ingredients
- 1 cup smooth peanut butter
- 2 ½ cups confectioners’ sugar powdered sugar scooped and then sifted
- 6 tablespoons unsalted butter melted but not hot
- 1 teaspoons vanilla extract
- ½ teaspoons salt
- 8 oz dark chocolate bittersweet chocolate, chopped
Instructions
- Line a baking sheet with parchment paper and set aside.
- In the bowl of a stand mixer fitted with the paddle attachment, combine confectioners’ sugar, peanut butter, melted (cooled) butter, salt and vanilla. Beat until it has a thick, dough-like consistency and holds its shape when rolled into a ball.
- Using a small cookie scoop, measure about one tablespoon of the dough. Roll it into a ball and place it onto the tray with parchment paper. Repeat this process until all the dough is used.
- Refrigerate for 20 minutes or until firm to the touch.
- Melt the chocolate using a microwave oven or double bath until it is warm and smooth but not hot.
- Use a toothpick or a wooden skewer to pick up the peanut butter and dip it into the melted chocolate. Leave a small circle of the peanut butter visible on top to make them look like Buckeyes.
- Shake off any excess chocolate and place the balls onto the parchment paper. Use a spatula or your finger to smooth the hole left by a toothpick.
- Refrigerate balls for the chocolate to set. Serve well chilled.
Notes
- Sift the powdered sugar before adding it to the peanut butter.
- If the dough is too soft, add 1-2 tablespoons of powdered sugar and mix until it can stay in a ball shape.
- Line your cookie sheet with parchment paper to prevent the buckeye candy balls from sticking.
- Use a small cookie scoop to make uniform-sized candy balls.
- Refrigerating or freezing the peanut butter for a short time before dipping it in chocolate is important to help the candy keep its shape.
- We don’t recommend using sugar-free peanut butter for this recipe as it doesn’t hold its shape as well.
- Make sure the chocolate is melted but not hot.
- Leave a bit of peanut butter exposed when dipping in the chocolate, so they look like Buckeye nuts.
- Use a spatula or your finger to smooth over the hole left by the toothpick.
- Let the chocolate set completely before moving it to a storage container, or the candy balls will stick together.
Nutrition
Calories: 195kcal | Carbohydrates: 19g | Protein: 3g | Fat: 12g | Saturated Fat: 5g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 2g | Monounsaturated Fat: 5g | Trans Fat: 0.1g | Cholesterol: 8mg | Sodium: 97mg | Potassium: 130mg | Fiber: 2g | Sugar: 16g | Vitamin A: 91IU | Calcium: 13mg | Iron: 1mg