Things I learned about Ohio during my last visit. 1) Ohio is the known as “the buckeye state.” 2) The buckeye is an actual nut that is slightly poisonous. 3) A buckeye is also delicious peanut butter and chocolate candy.
During a day trip to Columbus, I discovered these little gems after gorging myself on a sausage fest at Schmit’s Sausage Haus and Restaurant, a quaint little restaurant in the German part of town. Little did I know how easy they were to make!
The best thing about this recipe is adjusting the sweetness of the peanut mixture to your taste. Two cups of powdered sugar not sweet enough? Add a little more. You won’t come down with a stomach ache if you eat a little. But it’s hard to resist eating the whole thing. But a little patience after the peanut butter balls have been dipped in chocolate will yield delicious results. They store great in the freezer and are available whenever the peanut butter and chocolate craving hits. All without making a trip to Ohio!
Buckeyes
1 jar of peanut butter (avoid natural peanut butter)
2 cups powdered sugar plus additional
1/4 cup unsalted butter, softened
12 oz bag semi-sweet chocolate chips
Combine peanut butter, powdered sugar and butter until mixed. Place peanut butter mixture in refrigerator for 2 hours or until firm.
Dust hands with powdered sugar. Using a teaspoon, form balls from cold mixture. Place toothpicks in each ball and freeze until firm.
When peanut butter balls are frozen, melt chocolate chips over double boiler. Using the toothpick, dip each ball into the chocolate, leaving part of the top of the peanut ball exposed. Place dipped balls onto wax paper and cool in the refrigerator.
My Burning Kitchen 
I’m going to have to make these for my friends who are rabid Ohio St. fans. And by rabid I mean completely mental.
Yeah Susan, the definition of an Ohio State fan includes “rabid”. You’re either a buckeye or not … no in between 🙂 They must be some great folks!
Go Bucks!!!
I’m sure your friends would love you forever once you made them a batch. Remember to keep some for yourself!
I’m so glad you discovered our buckeyes! And Schmit’s! ( I sure hope you had one of their cream puffs!) I’d say your visit was just about perfect 🙂
I’m pretty sure that learning to make buckeyes is a right of passage in every Columbus home. It sure was in our house! They are simply the most addicting candy there is. And they’re so easy!
By the way, I was recently in San Diego to visit a friend who is the executive chef at Artera Restaurant in the Marriott DelMar. If you ever have the opportunity, stop in and see Chef Tony Miller. He’s a transplanted buckeye!!!
btw, I am so glad I discovered your blog!
THANKS!
Schmit’s has the *best* bratwurst! The entire state of Ohio is pretty swell too. Glad I discovered buckeyes.
What a really easy recipe! My husband would love it – he’s a pb freak! Does the pb have to be creamy or can you use the crunchy kind? Now I need to buy some chocolate chips and powdered sugar! I totally want to make these. Thanks for giving me my new go-to holiday treats recipe! they would look so cute in those tiny dessert cups.
I also never knew what a buckeye was until now. i thought it was a flower.
Do you find mysterious teapoons or other silverware in the sink that shows that your husband has scooped out peanut butter? Because Paul totally does that!
I’m sure using chunky or creamy peanut butter is purely up to preference.
I love buckeyes! We make them every year around the holidays. You’re right–they freeze very well, so it’s nice to make them ahead of time and have them ready to go when you need them. Some people like to make them with crunchy peanut butter, but I prefer them with creamy. I think it’s just a personal preference.
So it’s a holiday thing…? Hmmm… good to know. They seem to make perfect homemade gifts for the peanut butter fanatic.
Being a peanut butter fanatic, I’m surprised I haven’t already made these. I knew of them, but didn’t know they were so easy to make! Awesome!
Yeah, totally easy. Have fun and I hope you have more willpower than me to not eat the peanut butter mix.
oh hell yeah, make ahead of time and freeze ’em? great idea! but now i have to clear out the $#%@ in our freezer to make room.
re: spoons in the sink – bert cleans up without a trace!
i forgot to ask, how many balls does that recipe make?
I made almost three dozen. But admittedly, some balls were bigger than other balls. I made both tablespoon-sized balls which were too big. The teaspoon-sized balls were just right and would have ended around three dozen if I kept the size consistent AND if no one ate any of the peanut butter mixture.
Just realized this post is all about balls and sausages. What else is new??
ha ha! i didn’t even notice that!
but i did have to suppress a laugh when you wrote “sausage fest”! sorry, i’m such a perv!
Yeah, I kind of let that slip and laughed to myself when I typed out those words!
Omg – deliciousness!!! These look sooo yummy and so easy to make! I’m definitely going to try making these soon. I’ve never even heard of a buckeye until now – I thought it was a tree! 🙂
Darlene,
I’m in the process of making the buckeyes for Thanksgiving…it’s a process but one that I’m sure will be well worth the wait! Warren seems to think these things should be ready in an instant! Thanks for posting the recipe and always keeping your posts interesting! I hope that you and Paul have a Happy Thanksgiving. Hope to see you again soon!
Kim
I’m sure the buckeyes turned out fabulous. And tell Warren that good food takes time.