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Baking with Brenna
Brenna Williams | Monday, April 23, 2012
My family doesn’t pass down many things, but this week’s recipe is one of them. In my home, since I’m from the South, we just call them “Peanut Butter Balls.” However, since coming to Notre Dame, I’ve been informed in the Midwest, they’re called “Buckeyes.” Whatever you call them, there’s no going wrong with peanut butter and chocolate. They’re basically homemade Reese’s – and what could be wrong with that?
I have this recipe in a binder scrawled on a piece of paper from my stepdad’s mother, and I would guard it with my life. It’s so simple, but so delicious, and with very easy steps, few ingredients and no oven, there’s no excuse not to enjoy them.
With finals coming, you need sugar to keep you awake and to make you happy, and these will not disappoint.
Ingredients:
16 oz (about one regular jar) of peanut butter
1/3 cup of unsalted butter, softened
2 tbsp vanilla extract
2 cups powdered sugar
2 cups chocolate chips, any kind
Instructions:
1. Mix together peanut butter, powdered sugar, butter, and vanilla extract in a bowl until combined. Cover and place the bowl in the refrigerator for at least 30 minutes.
Tip: Leaving it in longer will keep the mixture together better when covering in chocolate.
2. Remove the bowl from the refrigerator, and roll peanut butter mixture into small balls.
3. Create a double broiler by heating water in a pot and placing a larger, empty pot on top. Turn on the stove to high and allow the water to boil. Place the chocolate in the top pot ¾ it will melt without burning because of the indirect heat from the boiling water beneath.
4. Stir the chocolate chips as they melt until smooth. Remove the top pot from the heat.
5. One-by-one, roll the peanut butter balls in the chocolate until covered. If you want to be a true Midwesterner, make sure to leave an uncovered spot on the top to create the Buckeye aesthetic.
6. Place the chocolate-covered balls on a baking sheet covered with wax paper and place in the refrigerator for at least 45 minutes.
I would suggest serving and storing these treats cold because there is nothing better than cold chocolate. Hopefully, these will make you or someone you love smile. I know if someone were to bring these to me while I was writing a final paper, my day would improve exponentially. Enjoy!
Contact Brenna Williams at [email protected]