Buckeye Candies

Jul 30, 2026 · By VanillaGoods

Dessert Candy confections Origin: Madagascar Vanilla: Extract Easy

Old-fashioned buckeye candies, just like the ones from the candy shop. Best with Madagascar vanilla (rich, creamy, classic); any pure vanilla works. Makes about 36 candies.

Prep 40 min

Cook 10 min

Chill and set 1 hr

Total 1 hr 50 min

Yield 36 candies

Diet —

Ingredients

Adjust yield

candies

1.0 cup (270.0 g)creamy peanut butter
¼ cup (57.0 g)unsalted butter, softened
1 ¾ cups (210.0 g)confectioners' sugar, sifted
1.0 tsp (5.0 ml)VanillaGoods pure vanilla extract
⅛ tspfine sea salt
8.0 oz (227.0 g)dark chocolate, finely chopped

Make it at home

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Instructions

Beat the peanut butter, butter, vanilla, and salt until smooth, then beat in the confectioners' sugar until a firm dough forms.
Roll into 1-inch balls, set on a parchment-lined sheet, and freeze until firm, about 30 minutes.
Set aside a third of the chocolate. Melt the rest in a heatproof bowl over barely simmering water (or in 20-second microwave bursts), stirring, until it reaches 115°F.
Remove from the heat and stir in the reserved chocolate until melted and the chocolate cools to 88 to 90°F. It's tempered when a streak on parchment sets glossy and firm within 5 minutes.
Insert a toothpick into each ball and dip, leaving a circle of peanut butter showing at the top. Smooth the toothpick hole with a fingertip.
Let set until firm, about 30 minutes.

Tips

Vanilla swap: use vanilla bean paste 1:1 in place of the extract for visible specks, or the seeds of 1 vanilla bean for each tablespoon of extract.
Best vanilla for this: Madagascar (rich, creamy, classic), or Mexican (spiced, warm, woodsy). Any pure vanilla works.
Storage: Refrigerate airtight for up to 2 weeks or freeze for up to 3 months.

Recipe FAQ

How long does it take to make buckeye candies?

Plan on 40 minutes of prep and 10 minutes of cooking, plus 1 hour to chill and set. It makes about 36 candies.

How should I store buckeye candies?

Refrigerate airtight for up to 2 weeks or freeze for up to 3 months.

Can I use a different form of vanilla?

use vanilla bean paste 1:1 in place of the extract for visible specks, or the seeds of 1 vanilla bean for each tablespoon of extract.

Old-fashioned buckeye candies, just like the ones from the candy shop. Best with Madagascar vanilla (rich, creamy, classic); any pure vanilla works. Makes about 36 candies.

Estimated · per serving

Nutrition

Per serving = 1 of 36 servings this recipe makes.

113 Calories / serving

7.0g Fat

11.2g Carbs

2.2g Protein

9.4g Sugar

Whole recipe (36 servings): ~4068 cal · 252g fat · 403g carbs · 79g protein · 338g sugar

Estimated values per serving, calculated from standard ingredient data. Not verified Nutrition Facts; actual values vary with brands, measurements, and preparation.

Per serving · 113 calories

What it takes to burn one serving

Brisk walking 21 min·1.2 mi·~2450 steps
Walking uphill or incline treadmill 15 min·0.8 mi·~1500 steps
Moderate cycling 11 min·2.2 mi
Swimming laps 16 min
Jogging 11 min·0.9 mi·~1750 steps
Stair climbing 10 min·~900 steps
Dancing 18 min
Bodyweight circuit training 11 min
Cleaning, errands, or playing with the dog 26 min

Rough estimates for one serving, based on standard MET values at about 155 lb. Your own burn depends on body size, effort, and fitness. Shown for context only — food is not something you have to earn.