Easy Buckeye Recipe (Peanut Butter Balls)

Peanut Butter Mix

1. Place the peanut butter, unsalted butter, salt and vanilla in a bowl. Use a mixing spoon or a hand-held mixer to mix the ingredients together to form a smooth paste.
2. Add the confectioner’s sugar, a little at a time, and mix it into the peanut butter until well mixed. You can use a wooden spoon or a mixer (on low speed) to do this. (The mix will get stiffer as you add confectioner’s sugar. If needed, use clean, dry hands to knead the mix to make sure everything is well combined).
3. If the mixture is too soft, you can add more confectioner's sugar or some ground flaxseed.
4. Portion out the peanut butter mix, and roll them into smooth balls that are about 1.5 inches in diameter. Keep these on a parchment paper-lined baking tray. Repeat until you have used up all of the peanut butter mix.
5. Optional - Set aside a small amount of the peanut butter mix to cover the tops of the dipped buckeye balls later (see below).
6. Insert a toothpick into each peanut butter ball. Refrigerate for about 2 hours (or longer), until chilled.
7. When the peanut butter balls have been chilled and are ready to be dipped, prepare the chocolate dip.

Chocolate Dip

1. Place the chocolate in a dry, clean, heat-proof glass or metal bowl. Heat the bowl over a double boiler until most of the chocolate chips (~70 - 80%) have melted. Then stir until all of the chocolate melts in the residual heat, and you have a completely smooth mixture.
2. This melting technique prevents the chocolate from getting too hot and burnt. You can also microwave the chocolate (in a glass bowl) in 20 second intervals, stirring in between, until most of the chocolate chips have melted.
3. Optional - Add the coconut oil to the chocolate chips while melting the chocolate.

Dipping the peanut butter balls

1. Using the toothpick, dip each peanut butter ball in the melted chocolate. Turn the peanut butter ball in the chocolate to evenly coat it, and make sure to keep the top of the ball uncovered with chocolate (see pictures in the post).
2. Once dipped, lift and hold the buckeye ball up by the toothpick, and gently rotate it to get rid of the excess melted chocolate.
3. Place the dipped buckeye ball on the parchment paper-lined baking tray. Repeat with the remaining peanut butter balls. Remove the toothpicks, and use an offset spatula or the flat part of a butter knife to smoothen the toothpick holes. OR use some of the peanut butter mix that you set aside earlier to cover and smoothen the hole on top.
4. Chill the buckeyes in the fridge for at least a few minutes to set. Once set, they are ready to be served and enjoyed!