Buckeyes Recipe - Lauren's Latest (2024)

FAQs

Why are my buckeyes too soft? ›

You want it to be moist enough so that it will hold together when you roll it into a ball. If you're having the opposite problem and your mixture is too soft, simply add in more powdered sugar.

The Buckeyes are fine to sit out at room temperature for 24 hours on a cookie plate for example. Store in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 2 weeks when not eating.

Here's what's in buckeye balls: The peanut butter balls are made with confectioners' sugar, creamy peanut butter, unsalted butter, and vanilla extract. The coating comes together quickly with just semi-sweet chocolate chips and shortening.

Where Did Buckeyes Originate? The origin of buckeye candy dates back to 1919. The Buckeye Candy Company opened in Brooklyn, Ohio, which is located just hours north of Ohio State University.

Poisonous Plant: All parts of the plant (leaves, bark, fruit) are highly toxic if ingested – because of the glycoside aesculin, the saponin aescin, and possibly alkaloids.

The batter should not stick to your hands and you should have no problem rolling a ball with a smooth surface. Just remember…if the batter is crumbly, add more peanut butter. If it is too sticky, add powdered sugar.

To avoid a dry, crumby dough . . .

Mix together the peanut butter and butter first, and then stir in the powdered sugar one cup at a time, until you reach the right consistency. Usually about 3 cups of powdered sugar will do for approximately 1 1/2-2 cups of peanut butter.

A deeper bowl is better than a wider bowl. SHORTENING added to the chocolate is the big secret ingredient for buckeyes. This helps stabilize the chocolate so that it dips nicely, and helps prevent the chocolate from weeping and sweating once it's hardened.

During September, buckeyes, which are large, shiny brown seeds, can be found underneath Aesculus trees. According to legend, carrying a pocketful of buckeyes brings good luck. Early Native Americans called these seeds buckeyes for their resemblance to the eyes of male deer, known as bucks.

Superstitious thinkers believe carrying a buckeye nut in your pocket will ward off bad luck. But, for the most part, the trees and their nuts are relatively impractical. The bark smells bad. The wood does not burn well and the nut is poisonous.

Can humans eat buckeye nuts? ›

Removing the shell and roasting the nut neutralizes its harmful tannic acid content and makes for a protein-packed snack. If not prepared properly though, buckeye nuts are toxic to humans, causing symptoms including weakness, diarrhea, vomiting, paralysis, and death.

As well as the belief in the good fortune of its storied seed, the buckeye has been held to cure rheumatism and other, more minor ailments. Pioneering farm families also made soap from the kernels of buckeye seeds, and many a child's cradle was carved from the wood of this tree.

They can be collected in late summer after they turn a leathery tan color and begin to split open exposing the three large black seeds. Seeds are removed by peeling the capsule apart. Seeds resemble edible chestnuts, but Ohio buckeye fruits are not edible and can be toxic.

Young buckeye shoots were sometimes used as spindles or twirling sticks in fire- making kits of the Sierra Miwok, Northern Maidu, Wappo, Yahi and other tribes. Many tribes mashed buckeye nuts and poured the contents into quiet pools to stupefy or kill fish.

Named for their resemblance to the poisonous nut of the Ohio buckeye tree, the state tree of Ohio, this candy is particularly popular in Ohio and neighboring states. It is common for Ohioans to make buckeyes at home, but they are also available in mail-order catalogs and candy shops.

Use your fridge or freezer: If your peanut butter dough seems too soft to dip, it could be because your butter was too soft – or you live in a very warm climate. Don't worry – a little extra time in the fridge or freezer will help them firm up. Try again after 10 minutes.

Dry your buckeye nuts in the sun for a few days. If you want to speed things up, you can dry them in an over at 200 degrees Fahrenheit (93.3 degrees Celsius) for two hours [source: Buckeyetree].

The buckeyes should be stored in an airtight container in the refrigerator to keep them nice and fresh. Stored in this way, they will keep for about 1 month (although good luck keeping them that long without eating them all, ha!).

Stratify the seeds by placing them in the refrigerator at a temperature of 41 degrees Fahrenheit for 120 days. Plant buckeye seeds directly outdoors in fall or stratify seeds indoors and plant in spring. When planting, place seeds 1 to 2 inches deep.