Easy Buckeye Recipe

Making Easy Buckeye Pretzels are a quick easy treat using pretzels.  If you love Reeces Peanut Butter Cups, then this Recipe is for you!  Made with Peanut Butter, Chocolate, and Pretzels it's the perfect dessert or snack to curb your sweet tooth.

I enjoy this quick and Easy Buckeye Recipe and make it often to take to events instead of cookies.  Why?  

Well, because Buckeyes have a familiar favorite flavor and are just enough different from cookies to be eaten up quickly.  And who doesn't love that?  I sure do!

Buckeyes are a candy treat made from a peanut butter and partially dipped in chocolate to leave a circle of peanut butter visible. 

This recipe for Buckeyes Pretzels are similar but with the added crunch of the pretzels which give a salty taste to the velvety smooth sweet peanut butter filling.  

Ingredients Roll Call! Easy Buckeye Recipe

Let’s talk ingredients — simple pantry staples that create pure joy in every bite.

• Smooth Peanut Butter: The heart of every Buckeye. Creamy, rich, and easy to mix.
• Butter: Adds smooth texture and richness that holds the peanut butter mixture together.
• Powdered Sugar: Sweetens and thickens the filling just right.
• Vanilla (optional): A hint of warmth that balances the salty-sweet flavors.
• Small Pretzels: Adds crunch and a salty twist — the perfect contrast to creamy peanut butter.
• Semi-Sweet Chocolate Chips: Melted for dipping — giving each Buckeye that irresistible chocolate coating.

The Must Haves!

Before you begin, grab these kitchen tools:

• Mixing Bowl: To combine your peanut butter mixture.
• Hand Mixer: For a smooth, fluffy peanut butter filling.
• Small Cookie Scoop: To keep each bite uniform.
• Baking Sheet with Parchment Paper: For easy prep and cleanup.
• Microwave-Safe Bowl: To melt chocolate chips evenly for dipping.

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Let's Make it! Buckeye Candy Recipe

​Line a baking sheet with parchment paper and set aside.  You can also use a silicone mat or wax paper. This helps to lift the Buckeyes off when they have hardened and set.

To start, add softened butter, peanut butter and powdered sugar to a large bowl.

With a hand mixer, mix on low until combined.  Trust me here, using a higher speed will only throw powdered sugar and bits of butter and peanut butter all over your kitchen.  

Once mixture is combined, go ahead and increase the speed of the hand mixture to make a smooth.  It's best to use softened butter.  Allow 1 hour sitting on the counter to come to room temperature and soften.

The mixture will be thick.  I like to use a small cookie scoop to ball the peanut butter mixture. 

You can also roll into balls in the palms of your hands.  But work quickly because the heat from your hands will quickly melt the mixture.

I personally like to use a small Cookie Scoop to scoop out the perfect size ball and place on a pretzel, then I squish a pretzel on top until some of the filling pokes out the holes.

Scoop creamy peanut butter mixture onto mini pretzels and top each with a pretzel making a little sandwich of sorts.  I like to line up the pretzel shapes so it's nice and uniform too.

Try Chocolate Buckeye Cookies from Best Cookie Recipes!

Chocolate Fudge like cookies are loaded with this same peanut butter filling and topped with chocolate making this treat a level up from a traditional Buckeye!

Buckeye Cookies have always been a favorite flavor combination. Give them a try.

How to Melt Chocolate for Dipping?

Instant Pot Trick:

I’m not kidding on how simple this trick is. In your Instant Pot place 5-6 cups water and set to Saute’.

Using a larger glass bowl, place on top of your Instant Pot. This will create a double boiler. Place your chocolate pieces in the bowl and allow the water to heat up below.

As the water heats up, the chocolate will melt. Stir with a rubber or silicone spatula until smooth. Turn Instant Pot to Warm to keep melted chocolate a perfect consistency.

Dipping Process

Dip your Pretzel Buckeye Bites into chocolate and place on a lined cookie sheet to harden.  I only dip ½ of the pretzel bites into chocolate and leave the other half un-dipped.  

Peanut Butter Buckeyes will set up in about 20-30 minutes or you can chill them quickly by placing in the refrigerator for a few minutes.

Don't these Easy Buckeye Bites look amazing?

Kitchen Secrets

• If peanut butter mixture is too sticky add a few tablespoons more powdered sugar.
• Chill Peanut Butter mixture in refrigerator for 20-30 minutes. 
• Use softened butter but not mushy butter. If butter is mushy it is too soft and will create a very sticky peanut butter filling.

Fridge & Freezer Magic

Easy Buckeye Recipe truly are easy with very little mess.  They are so fun and hardly last long enough to even harden in my home.  

But if you must store some for later, just place Buckeye Candy into an airtight container.  It's also best to keep cool on the counter out of direct sunlight.

You can store in refrigerator but I tend to notice the pretzels go soft after a day in the fridge.  So just keep that in mind.

How to make Buckeye Peanut Butter Balls?

It doesn't matter if you make Buckeye Balls, or this Easy Buckeye Recipe with pretzels, the ingredients for the smooth peanut butter mixture is the same.  And both are dipped ½ way into chocolate.  You can't wrong.  

To make Buckeye Peanut Butter Balls I find it's easiest to dip the Buckeye Balls when they have chilled with a toothpick on top.  

Chilled Peanut Butter Balls are much easier to dip. That way they are easy to dip in the warm chocolate without making a mess.  

The toothpick hole is easily filled in by smoothing out the top once the chocolate has set.

For that same reason I enjoy these Easy Buckeye Recipe because they are so easy to dip and keep your hands clean

Types of Peanut Butter

I've used a creamy peanut butter in this recipe.  But feel free to use Crunchy Peanut Butter, Natural Peanut Butter, or even a Cookie Butter.

Try This Instead

Chocolate. Choose a chocolate you love best.  For this reason I recommend a Semi-Sweet Chocolate chips.  It balances well with the rich creamy sweetened peanut butter mixture.  But Milk Chocolate or even a Bitter Sweet / Dark Chocolate works great too.  

You can even try a White Chocolate or Chocolate Melts or Chocolate Almond Bark.

​Kitchen Q&A's

What is a Buckeye?

Chocolate Buckeyes are a candy treat from the great state of Ohio.  The Ohio Buckeye Tree is a neatly rounded tree with beautiful deep foliage.  

The leathery husk is dark brown and covers most of the outside of the buckeye nut.  Leaving a creamy color circle on top.  

Chocolate-dipped peanut butter balls look just like a Buckeye Nut.

PIN Easy Buckeye Recipe for Later ~ You will love these quick and easy treats!

Final Thoughts

Buckeyes are one of those timeless treats that always bring people together. I love the combination of salty pretzel crunch, creamy peanut butter, and smooth chocolate — it’s the trifecta of happiness. Whether for the holidays, bake sales, or just because, this easy Buckeye recipe never disappoints. Share a few and watch smiles appear instantly.

Your Next Favorite Recipe

• Chocolate Dipped Pecan Sandies Cookies
• Candy Dipped Valentine’s Day OREOs
• Leprechaun Dipped OREO’s
• Chocolate Dipped Chips
• Mickey Mouse Candy Dipped Oreos
• Scotcharoos
• Christmas Cookies
• Fancy Marshmallows

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Recipe for Buckeyes

Easy Buckeye Recipe are a fun candy treat with a creamy smooth Peanut Butter mixture sandwiched between two pretzels and then dipped into chocolate. This fun and easy recipe is a favorite.

Prep Time15 minutes mins

Additional Time30 minutes mins

Total Time45 minutes mins

Devour Dinner

Cook ModePrevent your screen from going dark

Course: Desserts

Cuisine: American

Servings: 42

Author: Devour Dinner

Ingredients

• 1 Cup Smooth Peanut Butter
• ½ Cup Butter
• 1 ½ Cup powdered Sugar
• 1 teaspoon Vanilla *optional
• Approx 72 Small Pretzels
• 1 Pkg Semi Sweet Chocolate Chips

Instructions

• In a large bowl combine softened butter, Peanut Butter, Vanilla and Powdered Sugar. Mix with a hand mixer on low speed until combined and then increase speed to smooth mixture. ½ Cup Butter, 1 Cup Smooth Peanut Butter,1 ½ Cup powdered Sugar, 1 tsp Vanilla *optional
• Using a small cookie scoop, scoop Peanut Butter Balls and place on a Pretzel. Top with additional Pretzel and smoosh together until Peanut Butter Mixture pokes through Pretzel holes. Approx 72 Small Pretzels
• Optional: Place in refrigerator for 20-30 minutes to chill before dipping.

How to melt Chocolate using Instant Pot

• Using an Instant Pot, place 5-6 cups water in pot and set to Saute
• Place a larger glass bowl on top of Instant Pot to create a double boiler. The steam from the water will heat up the glass bowl and perfectly melt the chocolate
• Add Chocolate Chips to bowl and allow to melt stirring occasionally until smooth
• Dip Pretzel Bites into chocolate half way and then place on a lined cookie sheet to cool
• Allow to cool until hard about 30 minutes

How to melt Chocolate using Microwave

• Place chocolate Chips or Chocolate Melting Wafers in glass bowl and heat for 30 seconds. Remove from Microwave and stir 1 Pkg Semi Sweet Chocolate Chips
• Heat for additional 30 seconds and remove from microwave and stir.
• Place chocolate mixture back in microwave for 15 seconds and then stir until smooth. If additional time is needed heat for 15 seconds.
• Dip Pretzel Bites into chocolate dipping half way. Place on parchment lined baking sheet and allow chocolate to set.
• For fast setting place in refrigerator for a few minutes.
• Store in sealed container.

Notes

Recipe makes approximately 42 Easy Buckeyes

Substitutions:

Chocolate Chips.  Use Milk Chocolate, Semi Sweet Chocolate or even a Dark Chocolate to dip into.  

Chocolate Melting Wafers or Chocolate Almond Bark can also be used.

Peanut Butter.  Creamy or Chunky Peanut Butter can be used.

Try using Cookie Butter for a fun variation too.

Troubleshooting Tips:

• If peanut butter mixture is too sticky add a few tablespoons more powdered sugar.
• Chill Peanut Butter mixture in refrigerator for 20-30 minutes. 

 

Have you made this recipe?Mention @devourdinner or tag us #devourdinner! Please leave a comment and rating below. Thank you!

Nutrition Disclaimer

All nutrition values are approximate and calculated by a plugin and are provided as a courtesy. Adding or subtracting ingredients will change the nutritional value.

Nutrition

Calories: 85kcal | Carbohydrates: 7g | Protein: 2g | Fat: 6g | Saturated Fat: 2g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 1g | Monounsaturated Fat: 2g | Trans Fat: 0.1g | Cholesterol: 7mg | Sodium: 51mg | Potassium: 41mg | Fiber: 0.3g | Sugar: 6g | Vitamin A: 79IU | Calcium: 4mg | Iron: 0.1mg

First published March 2019 - Republished September 2023