Buckeye Fudge has a creamy peanut butter fudge layer covered with a thick layer of chocolate. It’s the fudge version of my favorite candy to make for Christmas.
Making regular Buckeyes is time consuming. You have to roll out all those little balls, refrigerate them, dip them in chocolate, refrigerate them again. Not to mention how much effort is required to mix the butter, sugar, and peanut butter together to make the peanut butter balls.
This Buckeye Fudge is much less work. The peanut butter layer only takes about 5 minutes to make. Melt together some chocolate chips with sweetened condensed milk and a little butter, put it on top of the peanut butter layer and you just have to wait long enough for it to set up before eating.
Once ready to slice, you’ll have to give it away in a hurry or you won’t have any left to give away.
Peanut Butter and Chocolate – What’s not to love? It’s the greatest combo ever!
Buckeye Fudge
Ingredients
Peanut Butter Layer
- 1 1/4 cups creamy peanut butter
- 1 1/4 cups butter, cut into 9 pieces
- 1 1/2 teaspoons vanilla extract
- 4 cups powdered sugar
Chocolate Layer
- 2 cups semi-sweet chocolate chips
- 1 cup sweetened condensed milk
- 2 1/2 tablespoons butter
Instructions
- Place peanut butter and butter pieces into a medium microwave safe bowl. Microwave on HIGH for 60 seconds. Stir. Microwave an additional 30 seconds. Stir until smooth.
- Stir in vanilla extract.
- Gradually whisk in powdered sugar.
- Pour into a lightly greased 9-inch square pan. Set aside.
- In another medium microwave-safe bowl, combine chocolate chips, sweetened condensed milk, and 2 1/2 tablespoons butter.
- Microwave on HIGH for 45 seconds. Stir. Microwave another 30 seconds. Whisk until smooth.
- Pour on top of peanut butter layer and use a rubber spatula to smooth it out. Refrigerate for at least 2 hours before cutting into squares.
Notes
It helps if you sift the powdered sugar to remove any lumps. Otherwise you will get a really good arm workout whisking the lumps out.
Nutrition
Recipe adapted from Barefeet in the Kitchen
For anyone using margarine/spread instead of butter, try using considerably less than 1 1/4 cup. In my experience swapping one for the other, using a cup or more usually ends up making the fudge too greasy. I made this the other day, and only used a 1/2 cup margarine because I didn’t feel like running to the store for butter. It still came out delicious. I couldn’t get more than 2 cups powdered sugar in the PB mixture, though, despite sifting it before measuring.
My chocolate layer ended up being waaaay thicker than the PB half, but that’s because I used the full 14oz can of condensed milk instead of measuring out a cup. It’s tasty, but I end up scraping off some chocolate. If I make it again, I might only 1 cup chocolate chips and a tablespoon butter, because I want the chocolate as an icing of sorts so I can get more peanut butter flavor.
Help I need this for tomorrow! I followed exactly but the chocolate won’t set. Now that I am reading the comments, wondering if the sweetened condensed milk was confusing. I added a cup-8 ounces.
I had to freeze it for 20 min so I could cut it into squares. Any ideas as to how to set or dry out the chocolate icing top? I am thinking of scraping some off.
Other than that- the peanut better layer is perfect and the taste of both together is awesome
Mine didn’t set–peanut butter layer was very soft and crumbly
Peanut butter was crumbly. So I’m assuming it was to long in the microwave.. Don’t know what else would cause it. It taste delicious though.
could you add pecans to the chocolate part because i am making it 4 xmas 4 my husband and how much?
please answer right back.
Yes, I would use about 1/2 cup of chopped pecans.
This will be my 3rd Christmas making this fudge for the family! Everyone loves it!
Yay! Merry Christmas Kristin!
I think some people are confusing butter for margarine. The two are not the same. Margarine has a higher water content. It should not be substituted in candy recipes. I made this today. Loved the taste but the peanut butter layer did not hold together. I wish someone knew how to change that as I would like to make it again to add to treat plates, but not the way this looks even though it tastes great.
I’m going to try and reduce the amount of powdered sugar because mine didn’t hold together either
I have a recipe like this that will hold together.
A favorite every year!
I just made this exactly as the recipe calls for, I sure hope it comes out! The peanut butter mixture was very greasy before I put the chocolate mixture on. I just put in fridge, fingers crossed it turns out. It’s a lot of ingredients if not!
I made this and was very excited as things moved along nicely as directions said. The problem I ran into was the bottom was so crumbly, it never meshed together. My assumption was the hot chocolate part would ooze into it and form like a glue, but that never happened either. Both layers remained separate. So, when I cut through, the chocolate was one solid piece by itself and the peanut butter section was by itself all crumbly. Had intended to take it to a party, but this isn’t going to work this go around
What if you don’t have a microwave, can it be made stovetop?
This turned out delicious and was so easy!! I had run out of butter so I left it out of the top chocolate layer and it still turned out amazing. Yummy!!
That’s great to know Sarah!
Not a fan of this recipe!!! The peanut butter mixture was very crumbly, and I really didn’t like the chocolate top. I think it would be better with milk chocolate. Most of it went in the garbage. I really wanted to like this, though!
Mine didn’t set 🙁 Super soft peanut butter layer
I just made this and my kids keep asking when can they eat it . Easy to make and looks great!
I just tried this recipe and have no idea how you all got 4 cups of confectioners sugar into the mixture. I barley got 2.5 in and my peanutbutter mixture was hard and crumbly. Hoping these turn out!
Make sure your confectioners sugar isn’t packed down when you measure it. I like to either fluff it up some in the box using a fork or spoon or I put it in a bowl and run a whisk through it before I measure it. Powdered sugar is so fine it can really get condensed over time and throw off the measurement.
The recipe calls for 1 cup of Sweetened Condensed milk ( 1 cup is 8oz.) The recipe says you will use almost the 14oz. can. 14 oz. is way more than a cup….. just wondering.
Hi Laura. It is true that 1 cup of water is 8 ounces, but sweetened condensed milk is much more dense and heavy than water thus 1 cup of it weighs more than 8 ounces.
Liquid measures are by volume, not weight. 8 Oz measure of water is the same as 8 Oz measure of sweetened condensed milk.
Just pour the contents of the14 oz can into a measuring cup. If it fills a one cup measure( 8) and a 2/3 cup measure(6 ) , then it’s 14 liquid measure ounces. If it doesn’t, then it’s 14 weight ounces. (7/8 lb.)
A 14-ounce can of sweetened condensed milk does not equal anything near 2 cups. You can tell just by looking at it. Much too small.
It’s actually about 1 1/4 cups.
A 14-ounce can of sweetened condensed milk equals about 1 1/4 cups.
My husband and I just finished making this, it’s in the frig now. My question is, it just seems like way too much butter, I had to get paper towels and splotch the PB layer before adding chocolate. Is there maybe a certain type of butter that should be used? I use blue bonnet sticks . Or will it not be oily once it has refrigerated?
**We added crumbled butterfinger on the top also..
Thank you!
I don’t think that Blue Bonnet is real butter so that may be the issue.
Blue Bonnet is margarine
Do they have to be kept refrigerated once they set up?
They can be left at room temperature but will get much softer in texture.
This recipe is FABULOUS! and soooo easy. I could barely get it into the pan because the mixtures were so good and my kids and husband kept sneaking up with spoons to scoop some out as I was mixing. I pinned and shared it immediately for my friends and family to try.
So glad you and your family enjoyed it Amanda!
the mint choc chip is good too although i use the traditional recipe just like i am making the balls and put it in a 13 by 9 pan. makes it not so thick
Made these tonight and boy are they yummy!! Only one problem though…the butter separated from the mixture as soon at the powdered sugar was added and mixed in. Tried heating it for 30seconds again, but no better so just finished it hoping for the best. Once it cooled, they formed right, and they tasted amazing, but really greasy…? what do I need to do differently?
I’m not 100% sure what caused the butter to separate but if I had to guess I would think that heating it too quickly or getting it too hot could be the cause. Glad it at least tasted good!
Did you use real butter?
I’m going to make this again….my Mom ask me if I would make it again..I told her I would make some soon!
All,I have to say is: YUMMY and this fudge is so easy to make! Thank you so much for sharing it!
Glad you liked it Shelly and Merry Christmas 🙂
Just made these they are in the fridge. So easy!!!!! I love peanut butter and chocolate and can’t wait to try them!
Just made this, chilling as I write. The only change I would make, is to use a 13×9 inch pan. It seems very thick and could have been spread a bit thinner. Will try it in a few hours.
I’ve never made anything ‘buckeye’ before, but after seeing this delicious fudge – it is definitely something that I need to try! You can never go wrong with peanut butter and chocolate together.
Didn’t turn out. Way too much butter 🙁
Hi, I am trying to figure out the butter measurements. Is this based on what’s on the stick of butter itself, i.e. 8 tablespoons equals 1/2 cup, or is this based on the amount of butter melted? I noticed someone said too much butter, so it had me questioning.
Yes, 8 tablespoons (a stick of butter).
I would take this over traditional fudge any day — I love those layers and flavors! Pinned. 🙂
Yup, peanut butter and chocolate. Match made in heaven!! This sounds soooooo delicious!! I need to make fudge this year!!
This fudge looks absolutely mouthwatering, Christin! I am a sucker for fudge and chocolate and peanut butter is the best combo! This would seriously be gone in no time at my house – <3 the pretty layers!
My grandmother makes buckeyes every year for our Christmas Eve shindig. This recipe would be great for her, because I know that making all of those buckeyes take for.ev.er to make. I’ll be sure and give this to her!
Peanut butter and chocolate is the best combo ever!!! love this twist on buckeyes. . delicious!!
Sooo much better than Buckeyes! More peanut butter and chocolate to love and they are no muss, no fuss! Love it! Pinned!
Buckeye fudge!?! What an awesome idea! I’m still deciding what flavor to make for christmas this year … this one is calling my name!
Buckeye fudge is my favorite! Who can resist the chocolate and pb combo, yum! I definitely need to make this soon, you’ve got me craving it now, Christin! 🙂
What a great spin on classic fudge!