Homemade Buckeye Candy

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Having grown up in Ohio, I was raised on Buckeyes but you don't have to be from Ohio to enjoy this delicious candy and they're so easy to make.

As kids, we used to collect these by the baskets full, polish them and then . . . they would eventually get moldy and get tossed out.  As pretty as they are, they really aren't good for much although I do see people selling them online for craft projects.  You CAN roast them but they are slightly toxic so even though they say you can eat them roasted, no thank you. Now the Buckeye CANDY -- well, that's another story!

Start with a stick of butter and 2 cups of creamy peanut butter.  Now HOW can you go wrong with that??  Blend those together with a mixer then add 1 1/2 t vanilla and 2 T brown sugar.  Gradually add in 3 1/4 cups of powdered sugar. Initially you can beat with the mixer but as you add more, you'll have to switch to a wooden spoon to combine it all.

I use a small cookie dough scoop so that the size of the buckeyes is uniform.  Once I scoop it out, I drop it into my hand and roll it into a smooth ball, placing on a silicone mat on a cookie sheet.  These go into the freezer for about 1/2 an hour to firm up.  While those are setting, you will get your dipping chocolate ready.

I like to use chocolate chips although a lot of recipes call for semi-sweet.  I just feel these taste more like a Reese's peanut butter cup if you use the milk chocolate but it's totally up to you.  The 'secret' ingredient here is paraffin wax.  Again, a lot of recipes call for shortening.  I've found that the wax works much better in helping the chocolate to 'set' and harden as opposed to shortening.  You can find boxed paraffin in the canning section of your store or at most any hardware store.  Do you see these three pieces?  This is what is left from my first box of paraffin purchased when I got married . . . 33 YEARS AGO!  Don't freak out -- it's just WAX.  I literally only use it once a year to make buckeyes and you only need a 1" piece so . . . it lasts a LONG time haha!

The toothpick will leave a hole in the buckeyes so all you do is use the back of a spoon to smooth it over.

I make these at least a month in advance (you could even make them earlier) and freeze them.

Give them a try -- they are easy and everyone loves them!

Buckeye Candy

1 stick of butter, softened

2 c creamy peanut butter

3 1/4 c powdered sugar

2 T brown sugar

1 1/2 t vanilla

1 large bag milk chocolate chips

1" square of paraffin wax

With a mixer, combine butter and peanut butter until smooth. Add in brown sugar and vanilla.  Gradually begin adding powdered sugar, moving to using a wooden spoon to combine as mixture becomes thicker.  Form into 3/4"-1" balls and place on lined cookie sheet.  Chill in freezer for 1/2 hour or until firm.  In a double boiler, melt chocolate chips and paraffin until smooth.  Using a toothpick, dip peanut butter balls 3/4 of the way into the chocolate.  Set back on lined sheet to firm up. Using the back of a spoon, smooth over the hole created by the toothpick. You can speed the hardening process by returning to the freezer or refrigerator until the chocolate is set.

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Be sure to visit our fellow 12 Days of Christmas Bloggers below for even more creative ideas this holiday season!

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