Grandma’s Buckeye Candy

I remember growing up and making cookies and candies with my grandmother and mom. Testing the dough was the best part for a little girl but I most fondly remember making Buckeye Candy. Dipping the rolled peanut butter balls in chocolate and then freezing them until the chocolate was cool.

My grandmother used to mix the ingredients for the peanut butter balls by hand. A laborous task that I took over once I was old enough and still use to this day.

We always make a large batch of these candies during the holidays because everyone requests them. If I don’t make Buckeyes for the holidays, hell has either frozen over or I’ve died. In fact, I don’t even consider it a successful Christmas if I don’t make my grandmother’s buckeye candy.

Well, I have kept you waiting long enough. It’s time to share my grandmother’s buckeye candy recipe huh? I am sure it will become a family favorite of yours as well! The best part is that this is a kid friendly recipe!

Grandma’s Buckeye Candy

1 stick butter softened
1/2  of a 2lb bag to 1 whole bag of powdered sugar
1 1/2 c. peanut butter (I always add more for an extra bit of peanut butter flavor)
1 tsp. vanilla
1 pkg. (12 oz.) chocolate chips (can use milk chocolate or semi sweet)
1/2 stick paraffin (this helps the chocolate form around the peanut butter balls).

1. Mix butter, sugar, peanut butter and vanilla. Be sure to mix together well or you will have clumps of powdered sugar. Form peanut butter mixture into small balls about the size of a buckeye. (I generally start out with a mixer and then switch to using my hands, just like my grandmother did. It’s messy but it works well). I’ve come to notice that I use almost a whole bag of powdered sugar and a whole jar of peanut butter but that’s because I like (make that love) peanut butter.

2. Refrigerate or freeze for at least an hour. (You want the peanut butter balls good and cold before you start dipping in the warm chocolate or they get soft and mushy.) Don’t worry that you’ve refrigerated or frozen too long; you really can’t leave the peanut butter balls in in the fridge “too long”.

3. Melt chocolate and paraffin in top of double boiler. You can also melt this in a crock pot for easier dipping for the kids and set on low. I’m a horrible pot watcher (I tend to walk away and forget things) but you’ll want to stir the chocolate and paraffin often. The paraffin helps the chocolate set up better. It’s a good thing I have lots of kids to help with the melting and stirring!

4. This is the kids’ favorite part! Stick a toothpick in the peanut butter ball and dip into the chocolate mixture, leaving part of the top uncovered. It will resemble a buckeye. Remember to keep your chocolate mixture warm so that it doesn’t start to harden. The warmer it is, the easier it will be to dip.

5. Freeze  or refrigerate to set the chocolate. You can freeze them overnight if you like. I swear on all that is chocolate you WON’T HURT THEM. In fact, your buckeye candy may even last longer if no one can find them.

This recipe can make 50 -100 buckeyes depending on how big or small you make the peanut butter balls and are PERFECT for gift giving in a nice tin.

Watch out though, buckeye candies won’t last long in a house full of kids… or grown-ups (Ahem)!

Enjoy!