The Best Buckeye Food

BUCKEYES

Steps:

• Line a baking sheet with parchment. Beat the confectioners' sugar, peanut butter, butter, vanilla and salt with an electric mixer in a medium bowl until well combined. Scoop 2-teaspoonful mounds, and roll into balls; arrange them on the prepared baking sheet. Refrigerate until firm, about 20 minutes.
• Microwave the chocolate and shortening in a microwave-safe medium bowl in 30-second increments, stirring in between, until the mixture is completely melted and smooth, about 2 minutes.
• Stick a toothpick or skewer into the top center of a peanut butter ball. Dip the ball into the melted chocolate, leaving a circle of peanut butter visible on top. Let the excess chocolate drip off, then return the buckeye to the baking sheet. Repeat with the remaining peanut butter balls and chocolate.
• Chill the buckeyes until firm, about 30 minutes. Smooth out the hole left by the toothpick with an offset spatula. Serve at room temperature or well chilled. Refrigerate in an airtight container for up to 5 days.

CRUNCHY BUCKEYES

Steps:

• Line a baking sheet with parchment. Beat the peanut butter, butter and salt in a large bowl with an electric mixer on medium speed until combined. Add the sifted confectioners' sugar and vanilla; beat on low until incorporated. Increase to medium-high and beat until fluffy and smooth, about 1 minute. Gently stir in the rice cereal with a rubber spatula. Scoop 2-teaspoon-sized mounds (11 to 12 grams each) and roll into balls. Place on the prepared baking sheet and freeze until very firm but not frozen, 20 to 30 minutes.
• Microwave the chocolate and coconut oil in a medium microwave-safe bowl in 30 second increments, stirring in between, until the mixture is melted and smooth. Let cool slightly for 2 minutes.
• Stick a toothpick into the top of a ball and dip the ball into the melted chocolate. Coat most of the ball in chocolate, leaving a small uncoated circle on top; let excess chocolate drip off. Return the ball to the baking sheet and remove the toothpick. Repeat with the remaining balls. Smooth out the hole left by the toothpick if desired. Refrigerate until the chocolate has set and the peanut butter ball is very firm, at least 1 hour. Keep refrigerated until ready to serve.

BEST BUCKEYE RECIPE

Steps:

• First, stir together the melted butter and peanut butter.
• Stir in the powdered sugar. Gradually add powdered sugar until mixture is not sticky. Mix until smooth, using your hands.
• Roll the dough into balls. The buckeye balls should be quarter size or smaller. Place the peanut butter balls on a cookie sheet covered with wax paper. Chill in the refrigerator for one hour, or until they are firm enough to hold a toothpick.
• While the buckeyes are in the refrigerator, melt 1 1/2 cups semi-sweet chocolate chips with 1/3 bar paraffin in a double broiler.
• When the chocolate is melted and the buckeyes hardened, it's time to dip the buckeyes. Put a wooden toothpick in the middle of a buckeye. Gentle lower into the chocolate and rotate so the buckeye is covered with a small hole remaining around the toothpick.
• Lift the buckeye carefully out of the chocolate. Allow the excess chocolate to drip into the pan. Place the buckeye on a plate covered with wax paper. Remove the toothpick and repeat.
• One batch makes around 80 buckeyes. Store your buckeyes in the refrigerator or freezer.

BUCKEYE BALLS II

Steps:

• Line a baking sheet with waxed paper; set aside.
• In a medium bowl, mix peanut butter, butter, vanilla, and confectioners' sugar with hands to form a smooth stiff dough. Shape into balls using 2 teaspoons of dough for each ball. Place on prepared pan, and refrigerate.
• Melt shortening and chocolate together in a metal bowl over a pan of lightly simmering water. Stir occasionally until smooth, and remove from heat.
• Remove balls from refrigerator. Insert a wooden toothpick into a ball, and dip into melted chocolate. Return to wax paper, chocolate side down, and remove toothpick. Repeat with remaining balls. Refrigerate for 30 minutes to set.

BUCKEYES I

Steps:

• In a large bowl, mix together the peanut butter, butter, vanilla and confectioners' sugar. The dough will look dry. Roll into 1 inch balls and place on a waxed paper-lined cookie sheet.
• Press a toothpick into the top of each ball (to be used later as the handle for dipping) and chill in freezer until firm, about 30 minutes.
• Melt chocolate chips in a double boiler or in a bowl set over a pan of barely simmering water. Stir frequently until smooth.
• Dip frozen peanut butter balls in chocolate holding onto the toothpick. Leave a small portion of peanut butter showing at the top to make them look like Buckeyes. Put back on the cookie sheet and refrigerate until serving.