Buckeye Peanut Butter Balls (Printable)
No-bake peanut butter balls partially dipped in chocolate, inspired by Ohio's iconic buckeye nut. Sweet, salty, and irresistible.
# What You'll Need:
→ Peanut Butter Filling
01 - 1 1/2 cups creamy peanut butter
02 - 1/2 cup unsalted butter, softened
03 - 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
04 - 1/2 teaspoon fine sea salt
05 - 3 1/2 cups powdered sugar
→ Chocolate Coating
06 - 10 ounces semisweet or dark chocolate chips
07 - 1 tablespoon coconut oil or vegetable shortening
# How To Make It:
01 - In a large mixing bowl, beat together the peanut butter, softened butter, vanilla extract, and salt using a hand mixer or stand mixer until smooth and creamy.
02 - Gradually add the powdered sugar, mixing continuously until a thick, pliable dough forms that holds its shape when rolled.
03 - Scoop out heaping teaspoonfuls of the peanut butter mixture and roll into 1-inch balls. Arrange them on a parchment-lined baking sheet.
04 - Place the baking sheet in the refrigerator and chill the peanut butter balls for at least 30 minutes, or until they are firm enough to handle without losing their shape.
05 - In a microwave-safe bowl, melt the chocolate chips with coconut oil in 30-second increments, stirring between each interval until completely smooth and glossy.
06 - Using a toothpick inserted into the top of each ball, dip the peanut butter ball into the melted chocolate, leaving the top portion uncovered to resemble a buckeye nut.
07 - Return the coated balls to the parchment-lined baking sheet and remove the toothpick, gently smoothing over any hole with your finger.
08 - Refrigerate the cookies until the chocolate coating is fully set, about 20 minutes.
09 - Serve chilled or at room temperature. Store leftover cookies in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 2 weeks.
# Expert Hints:
01 -
- No oven required, which means you can make these even when your kitchen is already full of other cooking projects.
- The salty sweet peanut butter center paired with dark chocolate is the kind of combination that disappears from a plate in minutes.
02 -
- If the dough feels too sticky to roll, refrigerate it for ten minutes and dust your hands lightly with powdered sugar before trying again.
- Overheating the chocolate causes it to seize and turn grainy, so always use short bursts in the microwave and stir patiently between each one.
03 -
- Using a small cookie scoop instead of a spoon makes every ball the same size, which matters more than you think when you are trying to dip them evenly.
- A tiny pinch of flaky sea salt on top of each cookie right after dipping adds a crunch that takes these from great to unforgettable.