These Buckeye Bites are perfect for a crowd! Sweet chocolate cookie cups filled with a peanut butter mixture and topped with chocolate ganache – so good!
Love chocolate and peanut butter together? Try these favorites: Peanut Butter Blossoms, Peanut Butter Icebox Cake, and this Chocolate Peanut Butter Ice Cream Cake.
Today I’ve got a decadent little treat that is perfect for the holidays and all year long – particularly if you’re a peanut butter and chocolate fan like I am.
You guys have heard of Buckeyes right? They’re an easy to make candy with a creamy peanut butter filling and chocolate coating. They’re basically my Chocolate Covered Peanut Butter Crunch Balls – minus the crunch 🙂 I love making them and they are always such a big hit with friends and family. This past week I wanted to make something that had the buckeye flavor but with a little more flair. These easy and crazy delicious Buckeye Bites totally hit the spot.
These sweet little bites are perfect for chocolate and peanut butter lovers and are a gorgeous addition to any holiday cookie trays you might be making.
More Chocolate Dessert Favorites
No one can resist decadent chocolate desserts, at least not these favorites!
- Chocolate Pound Cake
- Amaretto Chocolate Truffles
- Chewy Chocolate Chip Cookies
- Chocolate Pecan Pie Bars
- Pumpkin Chocolate Chip Cookies
What You’ll Need
You’ll notice chocolate and/or peanut butter in every component of this recipe. That’s what gives these Buckeye Bites the most amazing flavor. As always, you can find the full printable recipe with complete instructions in the recipe card at the end of this post. Let’s take a look at what you’ll need:
For the chocolate cookies
- all purpose flour
- unsweetened baking cocoa
- baking soda
- salt
- light brown sugar
- granulated sugar
- unsalted butter melted
- creamy peanut butter
- vanilla extract
- egg
- water OR coffee
For the peanut butter filling
- powdered sugar
- creamy peanut butter
- butter
- vanilla extract
For the ganache topping
- heavy whipping cream
- semi sweet chocolate chips
For the Optional Peanut Butter Chocolate Drizzle
- semi sweet chocolate chips
- creamy peanut butter
Watch Me Make This Recipe
I used my favorite chocolate cookie recipe and made them into little chocolate cookie cups using a mini muffin tin.
After baking, I scooped a peanut butter mixture into the center and then topped with a chocolate ganache and peanut butter-chocolate drizzle.
I know. Wow. Not only are these Buckeye Bites insanely delicious, they’re also super cute too – great for parties!
Tips for Making Buckeye Bites
- Spoon and level the flour for the most accurate measurement.
- I prefer the cookies made with coffee but water works just as well so use that if you want.
- Since these Buckeye Bites are brown on brown (boring!) use a fun pattern or bright color for your liners to add some pop and pizazz.
- The instructions look long and complicated – they’re not. Just get everything set out and go step by step and you’ll be fine.
Storage Information
Baked Buckeye Bites should be stored in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days. It’s the ganache topping that requires refrigeration.
Enjoy!
More Peanut Butter Desserts To Try
- Peanut Butter Fudge with M&Ms
- Peanut Butter Brownies
- No Bake Cookies
- Reese’s Peanut Butter Cup Mini Cheesecakes
- Peanut Butter Cup Cheesecake Fudge
How To Make Buckeye Bites
Buckeye Bites
Ingredients
Cookie Cups
- 1½ cups all purpose flour
- ½ cup unsweetened baking cocoa
- ½ teaspoon baking soda
- ½ teaspoon salt
- ¾ cup light brown sugar
- ½ cup granulated sugar
- ¼ cup unsalted butter melted
- ¼ cup creamy peanut butter
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 1 egg room temperature
- 2 tablespoons water OR coffee
Peanut Butter Filling
- ½ cup powdered sugar
- ½ cup creamy peanut butter
- 2 tablespoons unsalted butter softened
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
Ganache Topping
- 1 cup semi sweet chocolate chips
- ½ cup heavy whipping cream
Peanut Butter – Chocolate Drizzle (optional)
- ¼ cup semi sweet chocolate chips
- 2 tablespoons creamy peanut butter
Instructions
Cookie Cups
- Preheat oven to 350°F. Line a mini muffin tin with liners and set aside.
- Whisk together flour, cocoa, baking soda and salt. Set aside.1½ cups all purpose flour, ½ cup unsweetened baking cocoa, ½ teaspoon baking soda, ½ teaspoon salt
- Cream sugars, butter and peanut butter together until light and fluffy.¾ cup light brown sugar, ½ cup granulated sugar, ¼ cup unsalted butter, ¼ cup creamy peanut butter
- Add in egg, vanilla and water and beat until well blended.1 teaspoon vanilla extract, 1 egg, 2 tablespoons water OR coffee
- Gradually stir in dry ingredients.
- Use a tablespoon measuring spoon to scoop cookie dough into muffin tin liners. Use a small measuring spoon (teaspoon or smaller) to create an indention in the center of each cookie dough ball.
- Bake for 7 to 8 minutes or until they are set. Do not over bake.
- Remove from oven and let cool on a rack.
- When cool, use the same measuring spoon to make an indention in the top of each cookie cup.
Peanut Butter Filling
- Combine the filing ingredients in a small bowl and mix together until smooth.½ cup powdered sugar, ½ cup creamy peanut butter, 2 tablespoons unsalted butter, 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- Scoop out one teaspoon of the mixture onto the top of each cooled cookie.
Ganache Topping
- Place chocolate chips in a small, heat proof bowl.1 cup semi sweet chocolate chips
- Heat heavy whipping cream just to a boil and pour over the chocolate chips. Let sit for 5 minutes. Stir until smooth. Let rest for another 5 minutes or until thickened.½ cup heavy whipping cream
- Spoon over the top of each cookie cup over the peanut butter filling. Refrigerate for 30 minutes.
Peanut Butter – Chocolate Drizzle (optional)
- Combine chocolate chips and peanut butter together in a small, microwave safe bowl. Heat in 30 second intervals on high heat, stirring in between, until melted and smooth.¼ cup semi sweet chocolate chips, 2 tablespoons creamy peanut butter
- Transfer to a ziploc bag and cut a small tip from a corner. Drizzle over the top of the cooled cookie cups.
- Refrigerate for another 30 minutes or until set.
- Store in an airtight container in the refrigerator.
Video
Nutrition
Originally published January 20, 2018.
Susanne Ingvorsen says
I saved this recipe from Facebook and today me and my 2 granddaughters made the Buckeye bites. Yum they are awesome, followed the recipe completely. I love peanut butter and these are just so yummy. Only “mistake” I made was using sweet chocolate instead of semi sweet, i dont mind that at all but think next time I will use semi sweet. Shame I cant share a photo of the bites. Thank you for sharing your recipe.
Trish - Mom On Timeout says
So glad you enjoyed the recipe Susanne! It’s one of my favorite easy candies to make and love that you made it with your granddaughters
<3 Thanks for stopping by!
Isadora Guidoni says
I love peanut butter and chocolate too, will sure try making these! Thank you for the recipe!
Dottie Wyatt says
Trish the buckeye bites look so awesome and I do plan on making these for my son and his family but for my daughters family I need to substitute the peanut butter could you please suggest an alternative thank you so much I really do enjoy your recipes
Melissa says
I will be trying this recipe. They look sooo ? thanks. I like a lot of your recipes and I hope I can get one of those nice ovens someday. Thanks
Raelyn says
This is going to be my favorite recipe! I am in love already! Look at those colors! Thank you!
Trish - Mom On Timeout says
Awesome! Thanks Raelyn!