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Buckeye Bars

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close up shot of a bunch of peanut butter bars topped with a chocolate ganache
These easy buckeye bars have a delicious peanut butter filling and chocolate layer on top of the bars that will delight any chocolate fans or peanut butter lover.
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Table of Contents
  1. Buckeye Bars Ingredients
  2. Substitutions And Additions
  3. How to Make This Buckeye Bars Recipe
  4. How To Serve
  5. Storage
  6. Frequently Asked Questions
  7. More Recipes You’ll Love
  8. JUMP TO RECIPE

If you are a fan of peanut butter and chocolate, these buckeye bars will hit the spot. Peanut butter and chocolate are layered together to create a delicious, decadent treat that celebrates all things Ohio State.

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Our buckeyes candies and buckeye brownie cookies are two more amazing ways to celebrate this tasty combination of flavors.

close up shot of a bunch of peanut butter bars topped with a chocolate ganache

Buckeye Bars Ingredients

Buckeye Bars raw ingredients that are labeled

You’ll need:

For the Peanut Butter Bars

  • 8 tablespoons salted sweet cream butter, softened 
  • 3 cups creamy peanut butter
  • 4 cups powdered sugar
  • 2 teaspoons pure vanilla extract

For the Chocolate Ganache

  • 1 (12-ounce) package semi-sweet chocolate chips 
  • 2 tablespoons vegetable oil

Substitutions And Additions

PEANUT BUTTER: You can substitute crunchy peanut butter for creamy peanut butter in this tasty recipe.

CHOCOLATE CHIPS: You can substitute milk chocolate or dark chocolate chips for semi-sweet chocolate chips in these peanut butter buckeye bars.

How to Make This Buckeye Bars Recipe

For the Peanut Butter Layer

STEP ONE: Line a 9×13-inch baking dish with parchment paper. Set it aside.

STEP TWO: Using either a stand mixer or a medium bowl and an electric mixer on medium-high speed, beat the softened butter for 1 minute until smooth.

butter beaten and softened in a bowl with a blender

STEP THREE: Add the peanut butter and vanilla. Continue mixing for 1 minute until smooth.

peanut butter and vanilla blended into the softened butter in a bowl

STEP FOUR: Lower the mixer speed to medium-low speed and add the powdered sugar 1 cup at a time, mixing well after each cup. Increase the mixer speed to medium-high and continue mixing until completely incorporated.

powdered sugar blended into the peanut butter mixture in a bowl

STEP FIVE: Using either a silicone spatula or an offset spatula, evenly spread the peanut butter mixture in the bottom of the prepared pan. 

OUR RECIPE DEVELOPER SAYS

You can use a piece of wax paper to smooth the peanut butter layer.

peanut butter mixture spread on the bottom of the baking dish

For the Chocolate Ganache

STEP ONE: Place chocolate chips and oil in a small microwave-safe bowl. Heat for 1 minute, stir, and continue to mix in 15-second intervals until the mixture is completely smooth.

chocolate chip and oil combined in a bowl

STEP TWO: Using a silicone spatula or an offset spatula, evenly spread the chocolate mixture over the peanut butter layer. Cover with aluminum foil or plastic wrap and chill the refrigerator for 15-20 minutes.

chocolate spread over the peanut butter layer in a baking dish

STEP THREE: Remove the baking dish from the refrigerator. Carefully slice the buckeye bars with a sharp knife into 15 (2½-inch x 3-inch) pieces. Cover the baking dish and return the bars to the refrigerator to continue chilling for an additional 1 hour and 45 minutes. 

PRO TIP:

You can let the bars chill for the full 2 hours before slicing, but the chocolate layer may crack and not be as pretty as pre-slicing after chilling for 15 to 20 minutes.

chilled bars sliced into pieces in a baking dish

STEP FOUR: Remove the bars from the dish by the parchment paper. Serve immediately.

PRO TIP:

You may need to carefully re-slice the bars before serving.

sliced chilled bars placed on a wooden board

How To Serve

This peanut butter dessert will most definitely satisfy any peanut butter craving. Serve with a cup of tea, cold glass of milk or, for something extra special, how about a chocolate milkshake to wash these buckeye bars down?

Storage

ON THE COUNTER: Store any leftovers of this no-bake dessert in an airtight container for up to 2 weeks. 

IN THE FREEZER: You can freeze the bars for up to 3 months. Allow the bars to thaw in the refrigerator overnight before serving.

overhead shot of a bunch of peanut butter bars topped with a chocolate ganache

The combination of peanut butter and the layer of chocolate recreates the favorite buckeye candies in bar form. This treat requires very little effort and only a handful of ingredients to whip up a tasty snack packed so much flavor.

Frequently Asked Questions

Why are these called buckeyes?

This confection is called a buckeye because the finished product with its chocolate exterior and a layer of peanut butter recreates the buckeye candy that resembles the nuts from the buckeye tree which is native to Ohio.

Can I freeze these bars?

These peanut butter treats can be frozen in an airtight container for up to three months.

Can I use natural peanut butter in this recipe?

These no bake peanut butter bars are best made with regular peanut butter. The oils of natural peanut butter tend to separate and may not give you the consistency you want for this recipe.

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close up shot of a bunch of peanut butter bars topped with a chocolate ganache

Buckeye Bars

5 from 79 votes
These easy buckeye bars have a delicious peanut butter filling and chocolate layer on top of the bars that will delight any chocolate fans or peanut butter lover.
Prep Time 15 minutes
Total Time 2 hours 15 minutes
Servings 15 slices

Ingredients
  

Peanut Butter Bars

  • 8 tablespoons salted sweet cream butter softened
  • 3 cups creamy peanut butter
  • 4 cups powdered sugar
  • 2 teaspoons pure vanilla extract

Chocolate Ganache

  • 12 ounces semi-sweet chocolate chips
  • 2 tablespoons vegetable oil

Instructions
 

Peanut Butter Layer

  • Line a 9×13-inch baking dish with parchment paper. Set it aside.
  • Using either a stand mixer or a medium-sized mixing bowl and a handheld mixer on medium-high speed, beat the softened butter for 1 minute until smooth.
  • Add the peanut butter and vanilla. Continue mixing for 1 minute until smooth.
  • Lower the mixer speed to medium-low and add the powdered sugar 1 cup at a time, mixing well after each cup. Increase the mixer speed to medium-high and continue mixing until completely incorporated.
  • Using either a silicone spatula or an offset spatula, evenly spread the peanut butter mixture in the bottom of the prepared baking dish.

Chocolate Ganache

  • Add the chocolate chips and oil to a small microwave-safe bowl. Heat for 1 minute, stir, and continue to mix in 15-second intervals until the mixture is completely smooth.
  • Using a silicone spatula or an offset spatula, evenly spread the chocolate over the peanut butter layer. Cover and chill the refrigerator for 15 to 20 minutes.
  • Remove the baking dish from the refrigerator. Carefully slice the buckeye bars into 15 (2½-inch x 3-inch) pieces. Cover the baking dish and return the bars to the refrigerator to continue chilling for an additional 1 hour and 45 minutes.
  • Remove the bars from the dish by the parchment paper. You may need to carefully re-slice the bars. Serve immediately

Video

Notes

  • You can use a piece of wax paper to smooth the peanut butter layer.
  • You can let the bars chill for the full 2 hours before slicing, but the chocolate layer may crack and not be as pretty as pre-slicing after chilling for 15 to 20 minutes.
  • You may need to carefully re-slice the bars before serving.

Nutrition

Calories: 619kcal | Carbohydrates: 55g | Protein: 13g | Fat: 41g | Saturated Fat: 14g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 7g | Monounsaturated Fat: 17g | Trans Fat: 1g | Cholesterol: 17mg | Sodium: 272mg | Potassium: 423mg | Fiber: 4g | Sugar: 45g | Vitamin A: 198IU | Calcium: 42mg | Iron: 2mg
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Proudly Prepared by the Spaceships Kitchen

This recipe was developed, tested, cooked and photographed by the Spaceships Kitchen. From our dinner table to yours, we hope you think it's out of this world!

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  1. Amy Kelley says

    5 stars
    These are a great dessert for all the peanut butter lovers! My husband and dad loved them but I am not a fan. They are very rich so a little bar goes a long way!! Prefect for those who like reeses peanut butter cups!

  2. Amy Kelley says

    5 stars
    This is a delicious recipe for reeses lovers. However do not attempt to make this recipe without a kitchen aid! I tried making it with a 1965 hand.mixer and it did not have the power to mix it once I started adding the powdered sugar. I was on vacation and didn’t have my usual high powered mixer. And mixing this by hand was no easy task. But it was well worth the end result.

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