No-Bake Peanut Butter Balls Recipe (Best Ever Buckeye Candy!)
No-Bake Peanut Butter Balls – An easy recipe for the best classic buckeyes, a beloved candy featuring creamy and rich peanut butter balls dipped in chocolate.
What’s better than the combination of chocolate and peanut butter in a sweet treat?
A no-bake candy that features plenty of both – PLUS a touch of our secret ingredient…
I became a big fan of “Buckeyes” years ago, thanks to my friend Cara. She introduced me to the creamy, rich and luscious balls of peanut butter dipped in chocolate as an easy candy her family made every year for the holidays. And ever since my first time trying No-Bake Peanut Butter Balls we’ve been making them in our family as an annual Christmas tradition, too!
The Best Chocolate Peanut Butter Balls A.K.A. Buckeyes
Although there are many similar versions of this No-Bake Peanut Butter Balls recipe, ours is extra special. We’ve added a touch of cinnamon for an even more festive and flavorful Buckeye candy!
Something about the spice of the cinnamon accentuates the richness of both the peanut butter and the chocolate, giving these Buckeye candies that little extra something for the holidays.
I highly recommend that you make at least two batches this season: one for gifting to family and friends, and one to keep for yourself!
What Ingredients You Need to Make Buckeyes
This 7-ingredient dessert is made mostly with pantry staples, which is just another reason it’s great to make anytime you’ve got a sweet craving.
Here is everything needed to make creamy, decadent chocolate covered Peanut Butter Balls:
- Creamy peanut butter – you don’t want to use “natural” peanut butter in this recipe, as it tends to have too much oil to properly form the Buckeyes, so go for a classic P.B.
- Butter – softened to room temperature
- Vanilla extract – for a sweet, deep flavor that’s delicious with the peanut butter and chocolate
- Salt – to balance the sweetness of the ingredients
- Ground cinnamon – optional, but a lovely touch for making peanut butter balls for the holidays
- Powdered sugar – creates just the right truffle-like consistency you want
- Semi-sweet chocolate chips – to coat the Buckeyes
Buckeyes are traditionally dipped in semi-sweet chocolate, like we used for this Chocolate Peanut Butter Balls recipe. But feel free to swap with dark chocolate or even white chocolate chips.
How to Make No-Bake Peanut Butter Balls with Chocolate
Make this foolproof no-bake Buckeyes recipe for a family-friendly fun activity – it’s great for letting the kids help in the kitchen!
Follow these simple steps for making simply the best Chocolate Peanut Butter Balls at home:
First, in the bowl of a standing mixer or in a bowl using a hand mixer, add the peanut butter, ½ cup softened butter, vanilla, salt, and cinnamon. Beat on high until the mixture is very smooth.
Use a rubber spatula to scrape the bowl. Then turn the mixer on low, and slowly add in the powdered sugar just a bit at a time until the mixture is smooth but slightly firm. It should resemble a creamy, dough-like batter.
Next, set out a large baking sheet (or 2-3 small baking sheets) and line it with parchment or wax paper. With clean hands scoop tablespoons of peanut butter, roll into 1 inch balls, and place on the baking sheet. You want them to be as close to the same size as possible.
PRO TIP: Lightly coat your hands in powdered sugar before working, so the peanut butter balls don’t stick to you.
Place the baking sheet in the freezer for at least 1 hour, or until the peanut butter balls are frozen hard.
Once the balls are very cold and stiff, place the chocolate chips and remaining 1 tablespoon of butter in a microwave-safe bowl. Microwave in one-minute bursts, stirring in between, until the chocolate is melted and smooth.
Now it’s time to dunk! This is when it’s handy to have a second or third parchment paper-lined baking sheet to work with.
Take several of the balls out of the freezer at a time, leaving the rest to stay cold and firm. Insert a toothpick into the top of each peanut butter ball and dunk it in chocolate. Be sure to leave an open rim around the top so the peanut butter ball is exposed to get that classic Buckeye candy look!
Give the chocolate-dipped Peanut Butter Ball a gentle tap on the edge of the bowl to remove excess chocolate.
Get the Complete (Printable) No-Bake Peanut Butter Balls Recipe Below. Enjoy!
Place the Buckeyes back on a baking sheet and put in the freezer. (You can use the tip of your finger to tap the tip of the toothpick to help get the candy off of the toothpick.)
Repeat with all of the balls, rewarming the chocolate once or twice for a few seconds in the microwave if needed so that it stays melted for dipping.
Once all the Buckeye candy is coated in chocolate, you can either keep them in the freezer or leave them at room temperature to become soft. Either way, it’s a good idea to move them to an airtight container.
Buckeyes will keep at room temperature for up to 3 days, or in the refrigerator for up to 2 weeks. They can even be stored in the freezer for up to 3 months to enjoy anytime you need a sweet festive treat.
Try this no-bake peanut butter and chocolate candy recipe soon, and let us know in the comments what you think of our special version with a touch of cinnamon!
Looking for More No-Bake Dessert Recipes?
- Crispy No-Bake Chocolate Peanut Butter Bars
- Magic Chocolate Eclair Cake
- Fluffy No-Bake Chocolate Banoffee Pie
- No-Bake Oatmeal Energy Balls
No-Bake Peanut Butter Balls Recipe (Best Ever Buckeye Candy!)
Ingredients
- 2 cups creamy peanut butter choose a classic variety, not “natural” peanut butter
- ½ cup softened butter + 1 tablespoon for chocolate
- 2 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 1 teaspoon salt
- ½ teaspoon ground cinnamon optional
- 3 ½ – 4 cups powdered sugar
- 12 ounce semi sweet chocolate chips
Instructions
- In the bowl of an electric mixer, add the peanut butter, ½ cup softened butter, vanilla, salt, and cinnamon. Beat on high until the mixture is very smooth. Scrape the bowl with a rubber spatula. Then turn the mixer on low and slowly add in the powdered sugar. If the mixture seems too sticky to roll after adding 3 ½ cups, add another ½ cup of powdered sugar. Beat until smooth.
- Set out a large baking sheet lined with parchment paper or wax paper. Scoop the peanut butter ball batter with a spoon and roll into 1 inch balls. Try to make them all the same size. Place on the baking sheet.
- Place the baking sheet in the freezer for at least 1 hour, or until the balls are frozen hard.
- Once the balls are very cold and stiff, place the chocolate chips and remaining 1 tablespoon butter, in a microwave-safe bowl. Microwave in one-minute increments, stirring in between, until the chocolate is melted and smooth. (You can also melt the chocolate in a small sauce pan over low heat.)
- Take several of the balls out of the freezer at a time, leaving the rest to stay cold. Insert a toothpick into the top of a peanut butter ball, and dunk it in chocolate, leaving an open rim around the top so the peanut butter ball is exposed. Gently tap the buckeye on the edge of the bowl to remove excess chocolate, then place the ball back on the frozen baking sheet. Use the tip of your finger to tap down the toothpick hole. Repeat, repeat, repeat, making sure to leave the peanut butter balls in the freezer as long as possible. If they thaw, they are harder to dip. You may also need to rewarm the chocolate once or twice, so it stays thin enough to dip.
- Once all the buckeye candy is coated in chocolate, you can choose to keep them in the freeze, or let them thaw to room temperature, so they are soft. Either way, move them to an airtight container.
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These were Delicious!! Best luck I’ve had making these since finding your recipe!!
I have had these before, but never with cinnamon! What a great idea!
This treat were a huge hit with my kids! Will definitely make it again!
This is so amazing!! My kids couldn’t get enough of it!
one of the best buckeye recipes I have found