Christmas Buckeye Recipe

These chocolate-dipped peanut butter Christmas Buckeyes are a family favorite holiday treat! This easy buckeye recipe consists of sweet, creamy peanut butter balls dipped in melted chocolate. Bring a festive touch by covering them in festive sprinkles. What’s not to love?

It’s the perfect time of year for these homemade buckeyes! Whether you need a treat for a cookie exchange or for your holiday gathering, these no-bake treats are the perfect choice. They taste like homemade Reese’s peanut butter cups, but are even better in my opinion!

Welcome to 2023’s 12 Days of Cookies!
This Christmas Buckeye Recipe is Day 11 of our 12 Days of Cookies!
Be sure to check out all of the other days for more goodies!

Day 1 – Cherry Biscotti
Day 2 – Sour Cream Cookies
Day 3 – Chai Spritz Cookies
Day 4 – Millionaire Bars
Day 5 – Chocolate Chip Potato Chip Cookies
Day 6 – Nana’s Oatmeal Cookies
Day 7 – No Bake Peanut Butter Cookies
Day 8 – Coffee Cake Cookies
Day 9 – Meringue Christmas Trees
Day 10 – Cookie Sticks
Day 11 – You’re on it!
Day 12 – Melted Snowman Cookies

Why are these called Buckeyes?

These peanut butter buckeyes look a lot like the nut from the American Buckeye tree. This tree is the state tree of Ohio, and THE Ohio State University even named its mascot after the buckeye nuts. These sweet peanut butter balls are popular with Ohio State fans for that reason, but hey, anyone can make them (even Michigan fans!)

Why you’ll love this Buckeyes Recipe

• You don’t need anything fancy to make these tasty treats!
• They are quick and easy to make (though they do take some time to chill!)
• These are fun to make with your kids! Get the whole family involved with making these treats!
• They are perfect for peanut butter lovers!
• Buckeye balls are the perfect mix of sweet and salty.

Ingredients for Christmas Buckeyes

You’ll need just a handful of simple ingredients to make these holiday buckeye balls.

• 16 ounces creamy peanut butter
• 1 cup (2 sticks) butter, room temperature
• 6 1/2 cups powdered sugar, plus more if needed
• 1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
• 3 cups semisweet chocolate chips
• 2 tablespoons coconut oil (or vegetable oil)
• Holiday sprinkles and/or chopped nuts for decoration

How to make Peanut Butter Buckeyes

While this recipe is quick and easy, it does require time to chill, so plan ahead!

1. First, prepare a baking sheet by lining it with parchment paper.
2. In a large mixing bowl, combine the peanut butter, softened butter, and vanilla extract. Mix until well combined.
3. Next, add the powdered sugar a little at a time. Scrape down the sides and bottom of the bowl as needed and mix completely. Adding the confectioners’ sugar in batches helps to keep your peanut butter mixture smooth instead of dry and crumbly.
4. Use a medium cookie scoop to form the dough into balls. Place each buckeye ball on the prepared cookie sheet, then place a toothpick into the center of each one. Refrigerate the peanut butter balls for at least two hours or overnight. I find overnight is best.

Make the Chocolate Coating

Now, before you remove the dough from the fridge, you need to make the chocolate coating.

1. Combine the chocolate chips and coconut oil in a medium bowl and microwave in 30-second intervals, stirring in between. Repeat until the chocolate is completely melted and smooth. You can also melt your coating in a small crockpot set to low, which keeps the chocolate warm and smooth for dipping.
2. Dip the chilled peanut butter balls into the chocolate coating, gently swirling them to coat, but make sure to leave about ¼ of the creamy peanut butter center exposed so that they resemble the classic buckeye nuts! Let the excess chocolate drip off or gently scrape the bottom along the side of the bowl, then return each ball to the parchment paper and let it set.
3. If you want to decorate with holiday sprinkles or nuts, place them in a small bowl, then roll each chocolate-covered ball in the sprinkles while the chocolate is still wet. Place it on the parchment paper to set.
4. Remove the toothpicks by gently twisting, and if desired, use an offset spatula or small knife to smooth the peanut butter dough over the toothpick hole.

You can serve these at room temperature or right out of the fridge! They are delicious either way, but I like them best served cold!

Buckeye Recipe Notes

• You can make these with crunchy peanut butter if you prefer, but they will have a different texture. You can also use natural peanut butter as long as you stir it well to combine before using it.
• It is worth it to take the extra time to sift your powdered sugar. This helps get any clumps out and keeps your peanut butter mixture nice and smooth.
• You can substitute milk chocolate chips, dark chocolate chips, or white chocolate chips for the semisweet chips I used in this recipe. But WATCH that white chocolate when melting as it can seize (harden) a lot quicker than regular chocolate does!
• My favorite nuts to use for decoration are chopped peanuts, but you could also use chopped pecans or almonds.

How to store Christmas Buckeyes

Store buckeyes in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 5 days.

Can you freeze Buckeyes?

This buckeye recipe is perfect for freezing! Make these ahead of time and keep them in an airtight container in the freezer for up to 2 months. It sure makes holiday baking easier!

What if my dough is too sticky?

If your peanut butter dough is sticky, add more powdered sugar a tablespoon at a time, and stir well.

Why is my buckeye dough crumbly?

This can happen if you add the powdered sugar too quickly, as peanut butter has trouble absorbing it all at once. You also may have too much sugar, so make sure you measure carefully. Generally, the answer is to just keep mixing until the ingredients combine and smooth out.

More No-Bake Treats

Here are some more popular no-bake treats for your dessert table:

• No-Bake Bourbon Balls are a festive holiday treat that you won’t have to turn the oven on to make.
• No-Bake Chocolate Peanut Butter Cornflake Cookies are chewy, crunchy no-bake cookies that everyone will be enjoying in just 20 minutes with just a few simple ingredients.
• This No-Bake Lemon Cheesecake is one of the most popular recipes on the blog! 
• This No Bake Pumpkin Lush recipe will be your new go-to Fall and Thanksgiving dessert. With a gingersnap cookie crust, pumpkin cheesecake, pumpkin spice pudding, and Cool Whip, you’ll enjoy the delicious pumpkin flavor and layer combination in every bite.

Desserts for Peanut Butter Fans

I have so many great treats for the peanut butter lovers. Here are just a few of my favorites:

• Peanut Butter Brownies– a fun twist on the classic brownie recipe.
• Peanut Butter Sandwich Cookies– I love peanut butter cookies, but the creamy filling takes them to a new level!
• No-Bake Peanut Butter Pie– this creamy, no-bake filling in the crispy cookie crust can’t be beat!
• Frosted Peanut Butter Cookie Cups– you’ll love these delightful bites topped with luscious chocolate frosting.
• Chocolate Peanut Butter Pudding Cake– chocolate and peanut butter go perfectly well together in this easy cake recipe!

Which one are you going to make first? Let me know in the comments below. Happy baking!