Favorite Cookie Recipe~Buckeyes!

It's beginning to look a lot like Christmas!!! In honor of all the winter holidays, I'm participating in the 12 days of Holidays Carnival. Starting today, I'm posting my favorite holiday traditions, budget friendly ideas, etc. I'll also be linking up with some of my favorite bloggers!  Today is day #6, my favorite holiday cookie recipe.

I'm sure by now, most of you know I'm Ohio and as a kid we made buckeyes (as in our state tree and the OSU buckeyes).  The real buckeyes are a nut that you can't eat but these are a peanut butter/chocolate ball of yum!

Disclaimer, this is not a really good for you recipe but if you like peanut butter cups...these are so much better!!!

2 cups creamy peanut butter, (not all-natural)

1/4 cup (1/2 stick) butter or margarine, softened

3 3/4 cups  powdered sugar ( I usually use a little less, but you have to have enough to make everything stick together!)

2 cups Semi-Sweet Chocolate Morsels

2 tablespoons vegetable shortening

Combine peanut butter & butter in a bowl & stir until creamy.  Slowly add in powdered sugar until the dough starts to "stick".  You'll be rolling them into balls so they need to stick together but not to your hands.  Once you have a dough consistency, roll them into 1 inch balls & place on wax paper in the freezer until firm. (about 30-40 minutes usually works)

Melt chocolate & vegetable shortening in a double boiler or microwave right before you take the peanut butter balls out of the freezer.  Use a tooth pick to dip the peanut butter balls in the chocolate, leaving a small spot of peanut butter on top to keep the buckeye look. Once they're dipped, place them back in the freezer or fridge until you're ready to eat them. 

*My note: If you're going to make these, I also purchase pretzels and small cookies to dip because there is always left over chocolate that you can use to make a nice holiday treat. 

Check out what my friends wrote while participating in the 12 days of Christmas, at A Life in Balance.