Easy Layered Buckeyes

Same peanut butter and chocolate combo as classic buckeye candy, but without the tedious one-at-a-time ball rolling and dipping. Melted butter and peanut butter get mixed with powdered sugar until smooth, pressed into a pan, then topped with a layer of melted chocolate chips. Chill, cut, done.

Four ingredients and maybe 20 minutes of actual work. The peanut butter layer is the same fudge-like filling you’d find inside a traditional buckeye, and the chocolate on top replaces the chocolate coating that normally requires careful dipping and a toothpick hole in each ball.

Adding the powdered sugar gradually is what keeps the peanut butter layer smooth. Dumping it all in at once creates lumps that won’t press flat. The chocolate needs to be stirred well after melting and spread quickly before it starts to set.

Kitchen Tips

• Add the powdered sugar a little at a time and stir until smooth after each addition. Rushing this step means a lumpy base
• Press the peanut butter layer firmly and evenly into the pan. Uneven thickness means some squares are all chocolate and others are all peanut butter
• Melt the chocolate chips in 30-second intervals, stirring between each. Overheated chocolate seizes into a grainy mess
• Let cool to room temperature or chill before cutting. Warm chocolate smears instead of cutting cleanly

Variations

• Use crunchy peanut butter for a textured base with nut pieces
• Swap milk chocolate chips for semi-sweet or dark chocolate depending on your preference
• Sprinkle flaky sea salt over the chocolate layer while still wet for a sweet-salty finish