Buckeyes

Let me just start by saying that peanut butter and chocolate are like, a god sent combination. These cookies envelop those two flavors perfectly. I've tried so, so, so many different recipes for buckeyes to find the PERFECT one. And believe me, these could not be more perfect. When there's a graduation party, wedding, etc and you're in a large Italian family and all the women are amazing bakers, and everyone's asking the 16 year old kid to make buckeyes, you know you have a winner.

I kind of took step-by-step pictures for this one, for the first time. Promise I'm going to start using my camera. Promise.

Buckeyes
1 1/2 cups peanut butter
1 cup butter, softened
1/2 teaspoon vanilla
6 cups confectioner's sugar
4 cups semisweet chocolate chips

In a large bowl, mix together the peanut butter, butter, vanilla and confectioners' sugar. The dough will look dry.

Roll into 1 inch balls and place on a waxed paper-lined cookie sheet.

Chill in freezer until firm, about 30 minutes. Melt chocolate chips in a double boiler or in a bowl set over a pan of barely simmering water. Stir frequently until smooth.




Dip frozen peanut butter balls in chocolate by sticking a toothpick in the middle. Leave a small portion of peanut butter showing at the top to make them look like Buckeyes. Put back on the cookie sheet and refrigerate until serving.

They'll sweat and almost look like they're starting to melt after you take them out, but they'll be fine. :)