Buckeye Cookies

Buckeye cookies are a classic and beloved treat that is enjoyed by many. These bite-sized treats have an irresistible combination of flavors, with creamy peanut butter balls on top of a fudgy brownie cookie and coated with melted chocolate.

Do you ever find yourself craving something sweet and indulgent, but can never decide between peanut butter or chocolate? Well, have no fear – we have the perfect solution for you: the ultimate buckeye cookie. Not only are these unique cookies a seamless combination of both flavors, but they are also easy to make and guaranteed to be a crowd-pleaser.

Peanut butter based cookies are my favorite. In addition to these, I love my peanut butter lover’s peanut butter cookies, soft peanut butter cookies, and chocolate striped peanut butter cookies.

What’s A Buckeye?

Before we dive into the recipe, let’s first address the question on everyone’s mind: what exactly are buckeyes? These sweet treats are named after the nuts of the Buckeye tree, which are native to the Ohio region. The nut itself is inedible, but the resemblance to the eye of a deer (or buck) inspired the name. Buckeyes have become a staple dessert in Ohio and are made by rolling peanut butter balls and dipping them in chocolate, leaving a small portion of the peanut butter exposed to resemble a buckeye nut.

Buckeyes on their own are delicious, so putting them on top of a brownie cookie only makes them that much better. (Throw some vanilla ice cream into this mix, and I’m in dessert heaven!)

Love peanut butter as much as I do? They you need to check out this peanut butter dessert recipe collection. There are SO many delicious recipes.

Why You’ll Love This Recipe

• These buckeye cookies are so easy to make. With just a few ingredients, you can whip up a batch for the whole family in no time.
• This cookie recipe is made with a box of brownie mix as its base, so no need to fuss about having to make cookie dough from scratch.
• Perfect for a potluck or holiday gift, this recipe is sure to be a hit!
• Peanut butter and chocolate are such a winning flavor combination. What can go wrong?

Ingredients

To make these delicious buckeye brownie cookies, here’s everything you need:

• Brownie mix – To keep this cookie recipe as quick and easy as possible, use a box of your favorite brownie mix. As much as I love making cookies from scratch, I’m all for the convenience of using a mix! Maybe not for every cookie, but it really does make the process much easier.
• Peanut butter – For the most authentic buckeye flavor, use creamy peanut butter. If you don’t have any on hand, crunchy works just as well.
• Vanilla – Try to use pure vanilla extract.
• Cream cheese – Make sure to use softened cream cheese for the filling. Letting it sit out until room temperature before using is key!
• Egg – This will help your brownie cookie come together.
• Butter – As with most cookie recipes, you’ll need to use melted butter for these buckeye cookies. You can microwave 1/4 cup of butter in a small bowl in 10-second increments.
• Powdered sugar – You’ll need powdered sugar to make the peanut butter balls that go on top of the brownie cookies. If you can, sift the powdered sugar to get out any lumps.
• Chocolate – Use your favorite chocolate chips or wafers to melt for the topping of this buckeye cookie. This is what will give it that classic buckeye look! I prefer to use Ghiradelli’s melting wafers.

How to Make

Now that you have all of your ingredients on hand, let’s get to baking! The process is fairly straightforward but with a few key steps. You can find the step-by-step instructions below. I’ve also provided a full ingredient list and detailed instructions in the printable recipe card at the end of this post.

1. First, preheat your oven to 350 degrees F. Prep a cookie sheet lined with parchment paper and set it to the side.
2. In a medium bowl, mix powdered sugar, peanut butter, and vanilla. Roll into 1-inch balls.
3. In another large bowl, pour in brownie mix. Combine with cream cheese, butter, and egg.
4. Next, scoop the batter onto the cookie shoot and bake the brownie cookies for 15-20 minutes.

5. After baking, press peanut butter balls onto warm brownie cookies and allow the cookies to cool.
6. Melt the chocolate wafers in a double boiler or in the microwave in a microwave-safe bowl. Add a spoonful of melted chocolate over each cookie.

Variations

If you’re looking to give your buckeye cookies a twist, here are a few tips to try out:

• Rather than using a brownie mix, use a peanut butter cookie mix instead. This will really amp up the peanut butter flavor!
• Swap out the creamy peanut butter for crunchy, or even use flavored nut butters, such as hazelnut or almond.
• To really take this cookie recipe to the next level, add chopped nuts or candy pieces to the tops of your buckeye cookies.

Frequently Asked Questions

Here are a few questions I’ve gotten about this recipe over the years of making it. If you have a question of your own, drop it in the comments and I’ll get back to you ASAP!

Can I use a different type of brownie mix?

Yes, any favorite type of brownie mix will work for this buckeye cookie recipe.

Can I make these cookies without cream cheese?

Yes, you can skip the cream cheese and just use butter and egg to bind the brownie cookie together. It won’t have the same creamy texture, but it’ll still be delicious!

Can I make these buckeye cookies ahead of time?

Yes, you can certainly make the cookie dough ahead of time and keep it in the fridge. You can also freeze your cookie dough for up to 3 months.

More Cooke Recipes You’ll Love

• Peanut Butter Sprinkle Cookies
• Soft Pumpkin Sugar Cookie
• Maple Cream Sandwich Cookies
• Salted Caramel Coconut Thumbprints
• White Chocolate-Dipped Soft-Batch Butterscotch Cookies

I hope you’ll try baking these chocolate buckeye cookies! There’s so much to love about this dessert; I know you’re going to enjoy it. If you do, please leave a comment and a 5-star rating below. 

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Buckeye Brownie Cookies

What do you get when you combine a brownie, a buckeye, and a cookies. These delicious Buckeye Brownie Cookies. They are pure decadence in bite-sized form.

Print Pin Rate

Course: cookies

Cuisine: American

Keyword: brownie, buckeye, chocolate, peanut butter

Prep Time: 20 minutes minutes

Cook Time: 20 minutes minutes

Total Time: 40 minutes minutes

Servings: 24

Calories: 238kcal

Ingredients

• 1 cup powdered sugar
• 1 cup creamy peanut butter
• 1 teaspoon vanilla
• 1 box brownie mix
• 1/4 cup butter melted
• 4 ounces cream cheese softened
• 1 egg
• 4 ounces chocolate I prefer Ghiradelli’s melting wafers.

Instructions

• Begin by preheating your oven to 350 degrees F.
• Then, in a medium-sized bowl, mix together the peanut butter, powdered sugar, and vanilla until completely combined. Roll into roughly 24 1-inch-diameter balls. Set aside.
• In a large bowl mix together the brownie mix, butter, cream cheese, and egg.
• Using a cookie scoop, scoop the batter onto a cookie sheet lined with parchment paper. Smooth the edges if necessary to form a round cookie.
• Bake the cookies for 15 – 20 minutes.
• After baking, immediately press one of the prepared peanut butter balls into the center of each cookie. Allow the cookies to cool on the pan for about 5 minutes. Then transfer them to a wire rack to finish cooling.
• Once the cookies are cool, melt your chocolate in a double boiler (or in the microwave in a microwave safe bowl). Spoon melted chocolate over the top of each cookie. Allow the chocolate to set before serving.

Nutrition

Calories: 238kcal | Carbohydrates: 27g | Protein: 4g | Fat: 13g | Saturated Fat: 5g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 2g | Monounsaturated Fat: 6g | Trans Fat: 0.1g | Cholesterol: 17mg | Sodium: 142mg | Potassium: 84mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 19g | Vitamin A: 132IU | Calcium: 13mg | Iron: 1mg