Gluten Free Halloween Buckeyes

These Gluten Free Halloween Buckeyes take the classic peanut butter candy and turn it into a spookily adorable snack that’s perfect for Halloween parties, school treats, or just sneaking a few when no one’s looking. Smooth, creamy peanut butter centers, coated in rich chocolate, and topped with googly eyes for a fun Halloween twist. The ultimate Halloween treat for all the peanut butter and chocolate lovers.

Recipe Ingredient Notes

Peanut Butter: While I love natural peanut butter (the kind made from just peanuts) for everyday snacking, for these Gluten Free Halloween Buckeyes, I recommend using a creamy peanut butter with a bit of added oil or stabilizers. This helps the mixture come together smoothly and makes it much easier to roll the peanut butter filling into neat little balls. My choice of brand is Jif Creamy (or Skippy). Classic buckeyes have a smooth, melt-in-your-mouth center, but if you’re a fan of extra texture, you can swap in crunchy peanut butter. Just know the peanut bits can make rolling trickier and may show through the chocolate coating.

Butter: The butter should be softened to room temperature for the smoothest filling. Cold butter won’t blend evenly with the peanut butter and powdered sugar, leaving you with a lumpy texture. On the other hand, melted butter can make the mixture greasy and difficult to shape into balls.

Kosher Salt: A little salt balances the sweetness of the powdered sugar and chocolate, while also enhancing the peanut butter flavor. Even if you’re using salted butter, an extra pinch can help round out the flavors and keep the buckeyes from tasting flat or overly sweet. (If using salted butter, salt to taste!)

Coating Chocolate: Semi-sweet or dark chocolate is classic for buckeyes, since it balances the sweetness of the peanut butter filling. You can use chocolate chips, baking bars, or melting wafers. If using chocolate chips or bars, melt them with a little shortening or coconut oil. This will thin the chocolate out and make dipping easier. Milk chocolate works too, but it will make the buckeyes a bit sweeter. I like using melting wafers (from Aldi! Yes, they are gluten free)

Candy Eyes: To turn these Peanut Butter Buckeyes into the cutest Gluten Free Halloween Buckeyes, I love decorating them with some edible candy eyeballs. I use Sweet's Indeed Eyeballs which are gluten free according to their website. I have not had any issues with them.

What are Buckeyes?

Buckeyes are as Midwestern as Fluffernutter Sandwiches (I even have a Fluffernutter Rice Krispies treat recipe you can try). A classic no-bake candy that originated in Ohio, where they’re especially popular around the holidays and football season. They’re made by rolling a sweet peanut butter filling into balls and dipping them in chocolate, leaving just a small circle of peanut butter showing on top. That little “eye” makes them resemble the nut of the Ohio buckeye tree - and gives this treat its name. Think of them as chocolate-covered peanut butter balls with a playful Midwestern twist!

How to make Gluten Free Buckeyes

Let your butter come to room temperature so it mixes evenly with the peanut butter and sugar - cold butter makes for lumpy Buckeyes.

1. Step 1: In the bowl of the stand mixer, combine the room temperature butter, smooth peanut butter, and kosher salt. You can also use a large bowl and an electric hand mixer here.

2. Step 2: With the paddle attachment, beat the butter, peanut butter, and salt together on medium speed until the mixture is completely smooth, light, and creamy. This usually takes 1–2 minutes. Scrape down the sides of the bowl as needed to make sure everything is fully incorporated. You don’t want any streaks of butter hiding at the bottom.

3. Step 3: Add the powdered sugar and vanilla extract, starting the mixer on low speed to prevent powdered sugar from covering your kitchen (we’ve all been there!). Once fully incorporated, increase the speed to medium and mix until the filling is thick, smooth, and holds its shape.

4. Step 4: The Buckeye mixture should look thick, smooth, and creamy with a slightly firm texture. It will pull away from the sides of the bowl and hold together when you pinch it between your fingers. Almost like cookie dough.

5. Step 5: Line a baking sheet with parchment paper. Use a small cookie scoop (about 1 tablespoon) to portion out the Buckeye mixture - you should get about 24 1-inch balls.

6. Step 6: With clean hands, roll the Buckeye mixture into smooth, round balls. Cover and refrigerate for at least 1 hour (or up to 2 hours). Chilling helps the Buckeyes firm up, making them much easier to dip into chocolate without losing their shape.

How to dip Buckeyes in Chocolate

I like to use coating chocolate for dipping Buckeyes. You can also use a chopped-up dark chocolate bar (approximately 340 grams) and melt it together in the microwave with about 15 grams of coconut oil. Try to avoid chocolate chips since they don't melt as nicely as a chocolate bar.

1. Step 1:Melt the chocolate in a medium heatproof bowl in the microwave, heating in 30-second intervals and stirring between each, until it’s mostly melted. Continue stirring off the heat until smooth and glossy. Let it cool for about 5 minutes before dipping so it’s not too warm and runny.

2. Step 2: Insert a toothpick or skewer into the center of one peanut butter ball - careful not to poke all the way through. Dip the ball into the chocolate, leaving a small circle of peanut butter (about 1 inch) exposed at the top. This creates the classic Buckeye look.
3. Step 3: Once your Gluten Free Buckeye is coated in chocolate, hold it over the bowl and give the toothpick a little tap or shake. Let the extra chocolate drip back into the bowl. You want it nicely covered but not a chocolate puddle at the bottom. Rotate it as needed to get an even coat.

4. Step 4: Place the coated Buckeye back on the sheet tray and carefully remove the toothpick. If needed, smooth out the hole with a knife or your clean fingers.

5. Step 5: Once all the buckeyes have been dipped into chocolate, top them with googly eyes to turn them into the cutest Halloween Buckeyes. If you like, transfer some of the leftover melted chocolate into a piping bag or a ziplock bag. Cut a small opening and drizzle it over the buckeyes.
6. Step 6: Allow the chocolate to set up before serving. If you like, you can pop them in the fridge for 5-10 minutes.

Note about Salt in my Recipes

I use Diamond Kosher Crystal Salt in all of my recipes unless otherwise stated. If use use a different brand or kind of salt in your kitchen please adjust accordingly since some salts can be saltier. If you use Morton’s Kosher Salt please be aware that their salt granules are smaller in size, denser, and crunchier and twice as salty.

Baking in grams

I share my recipes in grams and by weight since baking by weight is the most accurate way to bake. Digital Scales are very affordable and easy to use. You can purchase them on Amazon for less than a set of measuring cups. For small amounts under 10 grams, I like to use this Precision Pocket Scale. Measuring cups are very inaccurate which can cause significant errors when it comes to gluten-free baking or baking in general. Especially since I bake with gluten-free flours which weigh differently than “regular” flours. I do provide some ingredients like spices and leavening agents in measuring spoons. To learn more about Baking with a digital scale, make sure to check out my post about Baking by weight.

Note about Ovens and Oven Temperatures

All my recipes are tested and developed with a conventional oven. I always bake my baked goods on the rack placed in the MIDDLE of my oven. This way the heat coming from the bottom will not burn my baked goods.

If you are baking with convection (fan-forced), please adjust the recipes accordingly. Convection oven can cause baked goods to dry out quickly and still be raw inside. Since takes at least 15-20 minutes for a standard American Oven to be fully preheated. I highly recommend investing in an Oven Thermometer.

Substitutions and Modifications

Any dietary or ingredient modifications/substitutions to this recipe may alter the end result in appearance and taste. I test my recipes several times as published in this post and The Gluten Free Austrian Blog is not responsible for the outcome of any recipe you find on our website.