Ohio is known as the “Buckeye State” because of its many buckeye trees, and this state’s ever-popular no-bake candy got its name because it looks just like the nut that grows on the buckeye tree.
However, the buckeye trees are not the only thing this state is known for. There have been 8 United States presidents that have hailed from our great state of Ohio: William Henry Harrison, Ulysses S. Grant, Rutherford Hayes, James Garfield, Benjamin Harrison, William McKinley, William Taft, and Warren Harding. Ohio also gave us our famous American astronauts, John Glenn and Neil Armstrong. Since the Wright brothers, Wilber and Orville Wright, were raised in Ohio, this state is also referred to as “the birthplace of aviation.”
But there’s more! In 1865, Ohio was the very first state to establish an ambulance service. And, in 1879 in Dayton, Ohio, a fella by the name of James J. Ritty, invented the first cash register. Did you ever use a pop-top can? Well, you can thank an Ohioan, Ermal Fraze, for that invention. You ever wonder where the very first stop light was installed? The answer is Cleveland, Ohio.
So, make yourself a plate of delicious Buckeye Candy, pack your bag, and visit the world-famous Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, which is located where? You got it! In our great state of Ohio!
Ohio Buckeye Candy
Recipe by: Bobbi Jo Lathan
Recipe type: Dessert
Cuisine: American
PREP TIME
15 mins
COOK TIME
5 mins
TOTAL TIME
20 mins
INGREDIENTS
2 cups creamy peanut butter (I just buy an 18-ounce jar of peanut butter)
½ cup salted butter (softened)
2 teaspoons vanilla extract
5-6 cups powdered sugar (see note below in instructions)
3 cups semi-sweet chocolate chips
INSTRUCTIONS
1. Get out your large mixing bowl. Mix together the softened butter, the creamy peanut butter, and the vanilla until nicely blended. Now, add the powdered sugar and stir that until blended into a dough. (Note: First add 5 cups of powdered sugar and see if you can get a doughy consistency enough to roll a ball. If it’s still too gooey and soft, then add another ½ cup of powdered and see if the dough will roll into your 1-inch balls. I have found that peanut butters vary in their oiliness, so you want the dough to be firm enough to pull out small pieces which can be rolled into the 1-inch ball in your palm without falling apart. These are pretty thick, little dense balls. If the dough is too dry and won’t make a ball, then add a little more peanut butter until you get the thick consistency and can pull off a piece and roll the 1-inch ball.)
2. Next, get out a baking or cookie sheet and cover it with some freezer paper. Then, roll the dough into little one-inch balls and place each one on the freezer-papered cookie sheet.
3. Place one toothpick into the top of each peanut butter ball. (This will make it easier to dip them in the melted chocolate later.) Now, place the tooth-picked balls on the sheet into your freezer for about 50 minutes so they can become really firm.
4. A few minutes before you remove the balls from the freezer, get out a double boiler and melt the chocolate chips over some simmering water. Stir the chips constantly until they are melted nice and smooth. (You can also nuke some chocolate chips and stir, but you don’t want the chocolate to be too thick. Just thick enough to stick to the peanut balls.)
5. Next, dip each chilled peanut butter ball into the chocolate, about 3 /4 of the way up the side of each ball, leaving a small area of the peanut butter ball still showing at the top (see picture of candy above). Then, place each piece of Buckeye Candy back on the freezer paper.
6. Remove the toothpicks (and smooth over the tiny holes from the toothpicks, if you want) and place the candy in your refrigerator until you are ready to serve them to all your little “Buckeyes!”