Peanut butter and chocolate bites are the perfect holiday gift or an after dinner treat!
By Kaleigh McCordie, MCN, RDN
As the holiday season rolls around each year, I look forward to getting in the kitchen and making delicious sweet treats for all of my friends, family and neighbors. My family has always made a variety of Christmas candy and cookies that are perfect to give as a gift at a moment's notice or for bringing along to a holiday party.
A few treats have a special place in my heart and these buckeyes are at the top of the list. My sweet aunt Debby was known for her homemade treats and huge heart of gold. She made the most delicious jam, snowball cookies and these peanut butter buckeyes every year, and gifted them to everyone she knew.. All the love and hard work she put into them made them taste that much sweeter.
After the Christmas festivities passed, we had buckeyes around the house for days. We snuck one out of the refrigerator here and there until they were all gone, and we had to wait a whole year for another batch. And though my aunt Debby is no longer with us, these buckeyes remind me of her every year.
Buckeyes are essentially a peanut butter cup, but more fun and way more pop-able! They've got a sweet peanut butter core dipped in delicious chocolate (I use the darkest chocolate I can find for a luxurious dessert). While they are absolutely acceptable all year long, there is something special about making them when the holidays roll around and sharing them with loved ones.
If you can, use natural peanut butter made with just peanuts and salt for the best taste. And definitely do not skip the chilling so that they will be easier to dip in that delicious chocolate.
Make these peanut butter buckeyes this year for the holidays, and all of your neighbors and loved ones will be extra cheerful for the year to come, just waiting for another batch to land in their hands when Christmas comes around!
Peanut Butter Buckeyes Recipe:
Time to make: 1.5 hours
Makes about 2 dozen
Ingredients:
- 1 1/2 cups natural peanut butter (preferably just peanuts and salt)
- 1/2 stick (4 tbsp) butter, softened
- 2 cups powdered sugar
- 1 tsp vanilla extract
- 2 cups (12 oz) dark or semi-sweet chocolate chips
Instructions:
- In the bowl of a stand mixer or in a large bowl with a hand mixer, beat peanut butter and butter until smooth and fluffy. Add vanilla and powdered sugar, 1/4 cup at a time, until combined. The mixture should be thick and stiff enough so that you can roll it into balls without it sticking to your hands.
- Scoop peanut butter mixture by the tablespoon and roll into balls. Place on a plate or small cookie sheet lined with wax paper.
- Place peanut butter balls in the freezer and let chill for at least 1 hour.
- Heat chocolate chips in a microwave-safe bowl in 30-second intervals until melted, stirring between each interval.
- Remove peanut butter balls from the freezer, and dip, one at a time into melted chocolate, leaving a small circle at the top open. Place dipped peanut butter balls on wax paper and let cool in the refrigerator.
- Store in the fridge until ready to serve.
Nutrition information per serving:
Calories: 205
Calories from Fat: 108
Fat: 13g
Carbohydrate: 20g
Protein: 4g
Fiber: 1.5g
Sodium: 4mg
Kaleigh McMordie, MCN, RDN, is a registered dietitian and food blogger at livelytable.com. Her mission is to bring people together around a delicious, healthy meal and to make healthy eating enjoyable! She lives in Lubbock, Texas with her husband and brittany spaniel.