Recipe courtesy of Treva Chadwell
Buckeyes
Ohio is known as the Buckeye state: It is the state tree, the name of Ohio State University's sports teams, a nickname for local residents and the name of the peanut butter and chocolate balls crafted to look like the nuts that fall from the same-named tree. The widespread confection is a simple, no-bake treat - peanut butter and sugar balls are frozen, dipped in melted chocolate, and then refrozen. (And, as any chocolate-peanut-butter fiend will tell you, they taste better than any store-bought candy.)
- Level: Easy
- Total: 1 hr 5 min
- Prep: 10 min
- Inactive: 50 min
- Cook: 5 min
- Yield: 3 dozen buckeyes
Ingredients
2 1/2 cups sifted confectioners' sugar
1 cup smooth peanut butter
5 tablespoons unsalted butter, melted
1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract
1/4 teaspoon kosher salt
12 ounces semisweet or bittersweet chocolate, chopped
1 1/2 teaspoons shortening
Directions
- Beat the confectioners' sugar, peanut butter, melted butter, vanilla and salt with an electric mixer until well combined. Form into 1-inch balls and place on a parchment-lined baking sheet. Freeze until firm, about 20 minutes.
- Put the chopped chocolate and shortening in a medium, microwave-safe bowl. Microwave for 2 minutes, stirring every 30 seconds until the mixture is completely melted and smooth.
- Stick a toothpick or skewer into the top center of each peanut butter ball. Dip the balls into the melted chocolate, leaving a circle of peanut butter still visible. Allow the excess chocolate to drip off and place on a parchment-lined baking sheet.
- Freeze 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.
