Friday, December 8, 2017

Homemade Buckeye Candy

Put on your elastic waist pants because DAY EIGHT is here with lots of cookie recipes!


Welcome to the third annual 12 Days of Christmas Blog Hop!

Stop by every day from December first through the twelfth for new ideas you can use to make your season brighter!

Meet Your Hosts

They have all been busy as Elves creating, decorating, cooking and crafting tons of new ideas for you to try this holiday season!


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.




Be sure to visit our fellow 12 Days of Christmas Bloggers below for even more creative ideas this holiday season!
12 Days of Christmas Blog Hop 2018. Intelligentdomestications.com




16 comments:

  1. Hi Lauren,wow I can't wait to try some of these,thankyou for sharing 💋

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  2. what an amazing array of recipes,, excellent!!!

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  3. I love buckeyes. It's great that they are a make ahead and freeze treat!

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  4. Yum! These look so tasty, Lauren! Blessings, Cecilia

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  5. Yes, yes, YES! These look amazing! Thanks for sharing, my friend. HAppy weekend! Hugs

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  6. Not a calorie in sight! You had me at peanut butter and now I'm craving it. As a side note, we made a 'Chocolate Finger' recipe which is very similar but ours uses finely chopped dates and pecans mixed in with the peanut butter. Chocolate is one of the food groups....right???

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  7. Put on your elastic waist pants...hee hee. These look SO delicious!

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  8. I have never heard of buckeye candy but it looks delicious!

    Tania

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  9. Oh my goodness!!!!
    Thank you for sharing!
    I have never made these, but I sure will now!
    Have a lovely evening.
    Very cold here in Pennsylvania, but no snow yet. : )

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  10. This is the first time I've heard of buckeye candy. You can't go wrong with the yummy chocolate and peanut butter combo!

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  11. This looks so good, Lauren. I think it would be nice to give away as Christmas gifts. Chocolate and peanut butter....a Yummy combination.

    ~Sheri

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  12. My family loves when I make Buckeyes, Lauren! I use that same recipe for making peanut butter Easter eggs.

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  13. I have often wondered what Buckeyes are.
    During Stephanie's Tea Cup exchange some of the ladies shared that they were gifted buckeyes and I noticed they were from Ohio. Well...now I know what they are.
    Thanks for sharing with us~

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  14. Buckeyes are my favorite Christmas treat! I usually make them every year, but this year I am still trying to come up with a low carb version!

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  15. I'm originally from Ohio too, buckeyes are a must! You're so right, the paraffin wax is the special ingredient. I bought a box about 10 years ago and have barely made a dent.

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