Recipe: Laura McKenna’s Ohio Buckeyes

July 23rd is National Peanut Butter and Chocolate Day and there’s no better way to celebrate than with BUCKEYES!

I know what you’re thinking:  What’s a buckeye?
It’s actually a nut that looks very similar to these edible ones.   However, don’t try to bite into the real thing.  That will definitely not end well for you.

I grew up in Ohio (the Buckeye State), and you can’t go to a wedding, a Christmas gathering, or tailgate party without having some buckeyes.   And after tasting these, you’ll want to eat them at all your special events, too.

These melt-in-your-mouth buckeyes will probably convert any football fan to cheer for my team: Ohio State.  So proceed with caution. Of all the cookies that I’ve ever made, these are easily everyone’s all-time-favorite. And there’s no baking required! 

This recipe makes about 3 1/2 dozen buckeyes.  
Disclaimer: If you are expecting a crowd, you may want to double the recipe.  They are addicting.

Ingredients:
-1 stick of melted butter
-1 lb. of powdered sugar
-1 1/2 cups of smooth peanut butter
-1 tsp. vanilla
-1 package of Ghirardelli milk chocolate chips
-few TBSP of paraffin wax shavings

Beat together butter, sugar, peanut butter, and vanilla in a mixer.   Roll into balls that are bigger than a grape but smaller than a ping pong ball.  Chill in the fridge or a freezer for at least 1 hour.  Leaving them chill or freeze longer is not a problem.

Melt chocolate chips with wax shavings in a double boiler.  Gently insert toothpicks into the chilled balls and dip into the melted chocolate leaving a small spot at the top (as shown in the picture) to look like a buckeye.   Let the excess chocolate drip off the buckeye for a smooth finish. 

Cool until chocolate has hardened and then remove the toothpick.  

Most important part:  Take a spoon or a butter knife and very carefully just the top a little smoosh to fill in the hole on the top of the buckeye that was made from the toothpick so that the hole disappears.  There’s nothing worse than a toothpick hole at the top of your prize winning buckeyes!

And then ENJOY! I know you will!