Buckeye Ball. Do you know what a Buckeye is? It’s a poisonous nut. It’s also, of course, the mascot for Ohio State and an addictive candy that shows up at every OSU football party – little balls of sweet peanut butter, dipped in chocolate. Even if you’re not from Ohio, you can love these easy candies. In fact, people who haven’t stuffed themselves sick on them at some point in college tend to be even more delighted with a pack of Buckeyes at Christmas.
I make about 30 varieties of cookies and candies during the holidays and these are the most requested. They are fairly easy and delicious. I serve them on a tray in miniature muffin liners. I have tried many different buckeye recipes, but this one, given to me years ago, is the best one I have used.
Buckeye Ball
makes about 13 dozen
- 2 lbs. powdered sugar
- 3 cups peanut butter (smooth and not the all-natural kind)
- 1 cup unsalted butter (2 sticks)
- 1 1/2 lb. chocolate chips, semi-sweet (24 oz.)
- 1/2 bar edible paraffin wax*
- Whip the first three ingredients with an electric mixer and chill in the refrigerator for at least an hour. After it’s chilled, settle down in front of a good movie or with some friends to roll it into small, 1-inch balls. Put these back into the fridge or freezer on parchment-covered baking sheets.
- Melt the chocolate and wax in a double boiler, over, not in, boiling water, stirring mixture until smooth. Keep warm.
- Dip balls using toothpick, leaving uncovered spot on top. You may fill in toothpick marks with little bits of peanut butter mixture. Dry on waxed paper. Chill covered in refrigerator or freezer. When completely hard, store in the refrigerator or freezer. If well-wrapped they can stay in the freezer for months, if you can stay away from them. Like I said, really good right out of the freezer!
*The wax makes these a little more stable and less prone to melt. But if you don’t want to ingest wax and leave it out, that’s fine. You’ll just have to be more careful about not letting them get too warm.
