{Buckeye Candy}

 

What's a Buckeye?

I’ve been told, that those who don’t live in Ohio (or surrounding states), do not refer to these delicious lil treats as Buckeyes. They call them… Peanut Butter Balls. 

Boooooooooooooooooooooring!!!!!!!!!!!!! AND they, gasp!, coat them fully in chocolate.

No peeky peanut butter!

For shame!

In Ohio, Buckeyes are a tradition, I mean, we ARE the Buckeye State.

You won’t believe how often during the holidays people will ask, “Where are the buckeyes?”. 

And we know they don’t mean the Ohio State University Football team.

Or the poisonous nut (seed really) for which our state tree, residents, and university mascot are named.

Candy named after something poisonous? Yeah… that’s how we roll in Ohio.

So you want to make Buckeyes?

I thought so!

Here’s the basics. Easy. Peasy. Time consuming. Worth it.

There ya go.

Butter, peanut butter, powdered sugar, and vanilla beat together into creamy deliciousness which you roll into balls and dip into melted chocolate.

Now, I say you should leave the opening of peanut butter at the top. I’m an Ohioan. I have to say that.

You can dip it all. You’ll probably cause mass chaos, hysteria, and babies to cry.

But it’s your choice.

So, what's a Buckeye?

It is the perfect holiday treat, brought to you by the great state of Ohio.

And me :)

You’re welcome.

Wishing you all a VERY Merry Christmas…. Tina

Buckeyes

2 sticks margarine or butter (softened, not melted)

2 Cups Peanut Butter

2 teaspoons vanilla

5 Cups Powdered Sugar

Cream together until fully blended.

Now… you shape into balls. You can roll them whatever size you want. Mine are about 3/4 inch. You’ll get 80 to 100 balls at this size.

Too many buckeyes you say? Inconceivable!

No worries, this recipe is very easily halved.

Then dip into melted chocolate. You can use 12 ounces chocolate + 1/4 bar paraffin, or just use dipping chocolate (also known as Almond Bark). The latter is what I always use.

To dip, you can use a toothpick inserted into the center, or like I suggested in the Oreo Truffle Recipe, use a fork, scoop them up, then tap to allow the excess chocolate to fall through the tines.

Place on wax paper to dry.

{Oreo Truffles}

Simple recipe… 3 ingredients and a little time, yield lot of “OMGs” and “I LOVE YOUS”.

If you get proposed to… I plead the fifth.

Crush Oreos, mix in cream cheese, roll into balls, and dip in chocolate. 

Tip for dipping: I find it easier just to use a fork (scoop up like you would with a spoon, then tap gently so chocolate falls through the tines), though you will have a bit more chocolate waste, and really, who wants chocolate going to waste????

I'm pretty sure that is punishable by hanging in some countries.

Anyway, there you have it. Make these and people will think you are a genius. Put them on a plate with Red Velvet cake balls and Buckeyes and you'll win the Nobel.

( By the way, these so need a better name- 'balls' is rarely a good name for anything, I think I shall dress them up to be Oreo Truffles… Yeah, yeah.. Truffles.) 

You can also dip these in white chocolate bark. Or drizzle with the white chocolate. Or save a few crushed cookies to sprinkle over the tops, or add pretty sprinkles, or crushed candy canes, the possibilities are endless. 

And all end with YUM.

Tina

Oreo Truffles

1 Package Oreos

1 Block Cream Cheese

Dipping chocolate

Crush the oreos SUPER fine. In a food processor if you have one.

Mix in the cream cheese (insert manual labor here, it takes a while)

roll into balls (I use the small Pampered Chef cookie scoop for size, then roll til smooth)

let chill 1 hour

then dip in melted chocolate bark (melt per package instructions). 

To make mine a little smoother, I usually add about 1 tsp of solid shorting (uh...Crisco) to each 2 to 3 bricks of bark) using a toothpick.

Place on wax paper to dry.