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Turning the familiar buckeye candy into a crunchy graham delight couldn't be easier. This no-bake treat combines smooth peanut butter with decadent chocolate, creating that beloved buckeye taste we all crave, but adds an awesome graham cracker base that takes it to another level.
I whipped these up during my nephew's party when our oven suddenly quit working. They turned out so amazing that now we make them whenever we want something that looks fancy but doesn't need much work.
What You'll Need
- Smooth peanut butter: Delivers that unmistakable buckeye flavor, stick with brands like Skippy or Jif for the right texture
- Room temperature butter: Creates richness and keeps everything velvety
- Confectioners' sugar: Adds sweetness and firms up the peanut butter mix
- Graham crackers: Form the tasty, crispy foundation, honey variety adds extra sweetness
- Semisweet chocolate chips: Make the traditional buckeye shell, ones with 60% cacao melt beautifully
- Coconut oil or shortening: Makes chocolate more fluid for easier coating
- Peanut butter chips: Create pretty drizzles on top while boosting flavor
Detailed Making Process
- Set Up Your Area:
- Cover two cookie sheets with parchment and put wire racks on them. This clever setup lets extra chocolate drip down while hardening, giving your treats clean edges instead of messy puddles.
- Create The Peanut Filling:
- In a big bowl, mix the smooth peanut butter with soft butter until they're perfectly blended and silky. This might take around 2 minutes with electric beaters or 4 minutes if you're doing it by hand. You want it fluffy with no butter streaks showing.
- Mix In The Sugar:
- Slowly add your confectioners' sugar, about half a cup each time, stirring well between additions. You'll notice it getting much thicker as you go. Keep adding until it feels like play dough – holds its shape but you can still work with it. If it's too sticky, just toss in another spoonful of sugar.
- Build Your Treats:
- Snap your graham crackers in half along their lines. Roll about 1 tablespoon of peanut butter mix between your hands to make a ball. Push this onto half a graham cracker, spreading it out to the edges with your fingertips, making it roughly 1/4 inch thick. Do this for all your crackers.
- Melt Your Chocolate:
- Put chocolate chips and oil or shortening in a pot over low-medium heat. Keep stirring with a rubber spatula so it doesn't burn. When it's about 3/4 melted, take it off the heat and stir until completely smooth. Let it cool for 5 minutes so it won't be too runny and slide off your treats.
- Cover With Chocolate:
- Grab each peanut butter cracker by its bare edges and dunk the peanut butter side into the melted chocolate. Turn it around to coat evenly, then tap it gently on the pot to knock off extra chocolate. Place on your wire rack with chocolate facing up.
- Add Peanut Butter Drizzle:
- Put peanut butter chips and remaining oil in a bowl you can microwave. Heat for 20 seconds at a time, stirring between, until fully melted and smooth. Pour into a small plastic bag, cut a tiny hole in one corner, and squeeze decorative lines across the chocolate-topped treats.
- Let Them Harden:
- Leave treats out for 2-3 hours until chocolate gets completely firm. If you're in a hurry, stick them in the fridge for 30 minutes. Once hardened, carefully lift them off the racks and store in a sealed container.
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Getting the right amount of peanut butter and chocolate makes these treats stand out. After playing with this recipe for years, I found that exactly 1 tablespoon of peanut butter mixture per graham cracker half gives that perfect balance where both flavors shine without fighting each other.
Keeping Them Fresh
Your buckeye graham snacks will stay tasty in a sealed container at room temperature for 5 days. Want to keep them longer? Pop them in the fridge for up to 2 weeks. Just put some parchment between layers so they don't stick together. You can even freeze them for 3 months—just wrap each one in plastic, then put them in a freezer container or bag. Let them sit out for about 30 minutes before you want to eat them.
Fun Twists To Try
Make these treats match the season by changing up the toppings. Try smashed candy canes during the holidays, fun sprinkles for birthday parties, or chopped nuts for an everyday upgrade. Don't stop at regular graham crackers either—cinnamon ones add a cozy flavor, while chocolate grahams make an extra rich dessert. Want something fancier? Use dark chocolate with 70% cacao and sprinkle some flaky sea salt on top.
All About The Buckeye
These goodies take after buckeye candy, named for the nuts that grow on Ohio's state tree which they look like. Regular buckeyes are balls of peanut butter partially dipped in chocolate, leaving some peanut butter showing. My graham cracker take keeps those amazing flavors but adds a nice crunch and makes them easier to handle. Whenever I bring these to parties, friends from Ohio instantly smile at the familiar taste, even though the shape is different.
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Put these tasty treats out at your next get-together and watch them vanish in no time!
Frequently Asked Questions
- → Is natural peanut butter okay to use?
You can use it, but it's usually less creamy. Just stir it thoroughly before using for a smoother texture.
- → How should I keep these snacks fresh?
Store them at room temperature in a sealed container for 2-3 days, or in the fridge for up to a week.
- → Can I swap the semisweet chocolate?
Sure! Milk chocolate or dark chocolate are great alternatives based on what you prefer.
- → What works instead of shortening?
Coconut oil is a good swap for shortening and gives similar results.
- → How do I make them set quicker?
Pop them in the fridge, and they'll set in about an hour.