Buckeyes

How can I get my buckeyes to stay on the toothpick? They always fall in to the chocolate.

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Test Kitchen Team

Feb 04, 2019

Hi there! Make sure you're using regular jarred peanut butter, and not homemade or fresh from the store, because the consistency is different. Also, you can try freezing the peanut butter balls instead of chilling in the fridge. We hope that helps!

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I have always wondered how to make buckeyes. They taste like Reeses, but even better. I don't even know what paraffin wax is, so I am a little stumped by this recipe. I will take a look at what the reviewer below said, and look for substitute ingredients. I love the mix of chocolate and peanut butter!

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Never ever put paraffin wax in your chocolate. Mortal sin. Either temper your chocolate or buy self tempering chocolate wafers which are made by Wilbur chocolate in Litiz, Pa. You can find these on line at Amazon. I am a retired Hershey Chocolate Co. employee that used to teach chocolate processing and tempering for the company. Thanks you won't regret omitting the paraffin.

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SOOOOOO Yummy!!!!!!

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I'll just eat it with a spoon!! It is so good!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

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I made these once for a bake sale, and they were such a huge hit! I'd definitely make them again.

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I HAVE ALOT OF TROUBLE WITH THE PAREFFIN AND CHIPS GETTING TOO THICK. ANY IDEAS ?

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Test Kitchen Team

Oct 22, 2015

Hi there! We recommend using a little less of the paraffin wax and additionally making sure to heat your ingredients over double boiler on a lower heat. We'd love to hear how this works for you! Thanks!

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I use paraffin but about half that amount. Paraffin helps the choclate to set and keepe it glossy.

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I make this for my son. It is his favorite. Instead of the chocolate chips I use Almond bark chocolate. After I roll the peanut butter I melt bark and dip them in gives it a better texture.

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delong548

Dec 14, 2016

I'm glad you posted this comment. I was wondering if I could do the same thing. Thanks again.

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For years made these,never used paraffin and they were great...

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The paraffin is to harden the chocolate. coconut oil will not do that.

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great recipie

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I have NEVER make Buckeyes, but I think I will give this a try and will use solid coconut oil in place of the paraffin. If it does not stay in a "ball", then we can just eat it with a spoon!....LOL

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I found one recipe on pinterest that used vegetable shortening instead of the paraffin. I was glad to find with the paraffin since I want to send them back to sister in Ohio for Christmas. They will handle the shipping better this way.

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no paraffin , would like to know what to use instead tks, mccoy

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damenickum 2244145

Nov 17, 2013

Use a chocolate candy bar, such as Hersey's special dark chocolate, or milk chocolate. The bar was tempered to be solid at room temperature and as long as you keep the melting heat low, and just barely melt the chocolate bar there should be no need for wax, shortening, lard or any other additive that makes my hair curl! (I put the broken up bar in a glass measuring cup and melt by 15 second increments in the microwave. When it's soft but still has a bit of the shape, and can be stirred its ready!) I have never used wax in chocolate and we dip pretzels, fortune cookies and mold candy every year for both Halloween and Valentines day. Keep your heat low and the water away. Linda

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Member 5497992

Dec 27, 2013

I have made these for years and everyone loves them I use Gulf wax it can be found in the baking isle (cake mixes,cookie mix,etc) alot of people use it for canning it is edible and makes the chocolate coating nice and shiny I have used this same recipe for the last 10 yrs.

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Member 9678362

Dec 31, 2013

I use chocolate Almond Bark instead of chocolate chips and paraffin and it works great. I melt it in double boiler...no microwaving in my home.

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mcmanuskaren05 6208059

Jan 04, 2014

Use the chocolate you melt to make candy

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I'd like to know what I can replace paraffin wax with as I live healthy, organically (as much I can afford - and when possible - Farmer's Markets are a biger help than supermarkets in this). I don't want to use prarfin (I'm a 40 yr. old, 37 year juvenile diabetic - insulin diabetic all of my life except for 3 years prior to onset - so I am very conscious of food choices and ajust insulin to accomaodate treats. I research food and sources, effects, and outcomes, so anything that replaces paraffin )not in my opinion, a natural food type item). Please share replcement for pararffin ideas...

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Test Kitchen Team

Aug 19, 2013

Thank you for your question, it's a good one! We have not tried this recipe in the Test Kitchen with anything but paraffin wax. We are not familiar with organic substitutions for paraffin. We would recommend doing a search on the internet for substitutions for this product. Good luck!

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adkins3637 3467472

Oct 23, 2013

I ALWAYS MAKE THEM, BUT ALWAYS KNEW THEM AS OHIO BUCKEYES, I NEVER USED PARAFFIN WAX, THEY COME OUT GREAT ....SO YOU DON,T NEED IT ...GOOD LUCK...

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sunshine 39

Nov 17, 2013

I make these every year but use Make N Mold chocolate discs found at Hobby Lobby or you can use the chocolate discs from Wilton. Make N Mold are much better. No need for wax

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awesome

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I grew up in Ohio, these were very popular there. Then I moved to Illinois and later Indiana, no one in either state had ever heard of these. Yea Buckeyes! Also, I never use paraffin in my recipe. I just omit and they come out fine.

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i have this same recipe but did not know they were called buckeyes, just peanut butter balls.

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From Ohio, love these candies.. try making with honey roasted peanut butter, so good.

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I use shortening instead of paraffin,it works.

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HLGulas 0253019

Aug 18, 2013

I don't want to use paraffin. How much shortening should be used in this recipe in place of paraffin? I'm a concerned mom of a 2 1/2 year old son, only child, and my husband and I have health issues (mainly me) that prevent any other children, I am very concerned and read labels on what we consume and ingest. I love my first tastingf of these candies (a 90-year old neighbor gave us 6 of then from California) and we are now addicted! :) Please share the shortening amounts for this recipe. My personal email is: Solstice122172@aol.com.

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Can someone answer some paraffin questions for me? I found my paraffin wax by the canning supplies, and it mentions candlemaking and canning on the box, but doesn't say anything about using it in food, although it says that it is highly refined. Also, this is a 1 lb. box with 4 cakes(?) in it. So I use 1/3 of 1 of those cakes(?)

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Test Kitchen Team

Dec 17, 2012

Great question! Paraffin wax is widely used on fruits, vegetables, and candy to make them shiny and pretty as well as to retard moisture loss and spoilage. Waxes are made from vegetable oils, palm oil derivatives, and synthetic resins, as well as other materials. Some people, notably those who are allergic to aspirin, may be sensitive to many waxes, depending on their ingredients. Paraffin wax is edible and is often added to chocolates. The addition of paraffin to the chocolate candy gives it a nice, glossy finish and helps it remain solid at room temperature. Be aware that paraffin is flammable when overheated, so warm it gently in a double-boiler or microwave only to the point where it is melted. However, some paraffin is not intended to be ingested, such as that sold for candlemaking, so check the label. Gulf Wax Paraseal Canning Wax, Household Paraffin Wax is a popular brand of paraffin used for canning and chocolate-making. I can tell you that I have personally made this recipe for Buckeyes myself, with Paraffin and have eaten plenty of them and I am fine!

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torey

Jan 12, 2013

As with all baking, it can be 1000 things, including the way the wind is blowing, but what probably did it was the temperature of the butter. Once butter gets too soft (or is even melted), it never achieves the same structure again (that's why the freezing didn't work well). Try again, and make sure your butter is just softened, not soft. Good luck!

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missik777 6477704

Mar 03, 2013

I have made these for years, ever since I was a teenager, as I grew up in Ohio. We NEVER used paraffin, and they came out fine. If you want you can use a little vegetable shortening but not necessary. I don't want to eat paraffin, only use in candles.

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I used a mixer to blend butter, peanut butter and confectioners sugar. It was tooo creamy? I had a hard time making balls and even after freezing the pbutter was too soft. Was it the mixer?

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These are so good...i can hardly stand to give them away....and when i don't have time to dip (although they won't look like a real buckeye) i just melt the chocolate and paraffin and pour in a stream over the yummy things....they tast the same........oh they are sooo good.

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This is a wonderful recipe, makes beautiful gifts and someone always wants the recipes. We make them every year at holiday time. They also freeze beautifully, too!

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This is so funny: Both my husband and I did most of our growing up in Ohio -- "The Buckeye State!" -- yet neither of us has ever seen or heard of Buckeye Cookies (Candies?). For anyone not familiar with what a real buckeye is, according to OneLook Dictionary online it's "the inedible nutlike seed of the horse chestnut." You find them all over the ground every Autumn in Ohio. And yes, the cookie (candy?) pictured above looks exactly like one :)

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fairbornmaggiemae

Nov 11, 2012

thats a shame, spikeygirl, these Ohio candies have been around since the beginning of OSU....you should make some, I make 2 batches every Christmas, hand them out in colorful tins I pick up at the thrift store (for mere pennies, I may add)_, and they are a grand hit with all ! try some! from: a fellow Ohioan. :-)

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I have been making these for several years and they are delightful I love to give as gifts to friends and family. Also you can make mini peanut butter cups with small cup cake tins.

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i have made these for MANY years, me recipe adds Rice Krisipies , make a nice crunck. Either way they are so scrumptious!!!!

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It's really good if you use extra crunchy peanut butter!

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My sister and i make these every year at christmas and we have found if you slightly melt your butter then add the peanut butter and sugar you'll get a very smooth and creamy mix. And be sure to mix with your hands. Very messy but you'll know when you have the right consistency because your hands will become virtually clean.

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can chocolate bark be used in place of chips and paraffin wax?

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missmary5 4282446

Dec 14, 2011

I use 4 squares of chocolate bark rather than the paraffin wax with one bag of chocolate chips for dipping the peanut butter balls. This set up just fine. They don't have the shiny, glossy look you get with the wax but personally, I think they taste better.

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mariwhits yes you can microwave the chocolate and paraffin wax, just be sure to do it in short intervals (10-20 sec) and stir between each time. It won't look melted but it will. br TimTay paraffin wax is used to temper the chocolate. that way you don't get the white hazy marks on it and your chocolate is firm at room temperature. You should be able to find it in the baking section where you find the chocolate chips at in your supermarket. ( i have also used a small portion (about 14 cup) of canola oil instead of the paraffin when I haven't had it. it works but its easier melting the paraffin in it)

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What is Paraffin wax? I have never heard of it used in cooking before. I know they use it in physical therapy. What does it add to the Buckeyes? Can I leave it out?

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StickySpoon: The buckeye cookie is made in the likeness of the buckeye tree's nut. See http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Aesculus_glabra for a picture of same.

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i do not have a double boiler can i melt them in the microwave?

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I used my pastry cutter last christmas when I made buckeyes and it made combining the peanut butter and butter with the powdered sugar easier and the mixture ended up being smoother.

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StickySpoon: in answer to your question, there is nothing to fill in the top. you shape the peanut butter mixture in to a circular ball, when you dip it into the chocolate you only go 3/4 of the way up, so that the top of the ball sticks out and makes it look like a buckey. the only filling you do is to smoosh the peanut butter over the hole you make when you use the toothpick to hold the ball to dip it. I hope this answers your question. I have made these for years, with this same recipe. they are very easy to make & they turn out wonderful!

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This Buckeye recipe sounds pretty vague, what do you fill-in the top 1/4 with as it does not tell you to rweserve any of the peanut butter mixture which you created the buckeye ball with. Is it topped off with regular out of the jar peanut butter or what?

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JudyTrudy

Nov 10, 2012

Do you know what a buckeye looks like? google it or look at the picture provided.

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