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Buckeye Brownie Bites — miniature brownies topped with peanut butter “buckeye” candy balls and drizzled with dark chocolate ganache — are a fun dessert for holiday parties or for sharing at Christmas cookie swaps.

One recipe batch makes 32 bite-size treats, so there are plenty to package in gift boxes or treat bags.

Bake these little buckeye brownie cupcakes in festive miniature paper baking cups and you have a pretty party tray that will be popular with any crowd. With peanut butter and chocolate how could you go wrong?

I’m sharing Buckeye Brownie Bites as part of The Sweetest Season Cookie Exchange, a yearly collaboration by food bloggers to raise money and awareness for the Cookies for Kids’ Cancer charity.

Buckeye Brownie Bites + Cookies for Kids’ Cancer

This season is not just about receiving gifts under our tree, but about giving back. My blogging friends and I are raising money for Cookies for Kids’ Cancer through the end of December! I hope you’ll consider helping us with this worthy cause!

Cookies for Kids’ Cancer is a recognized 501(c)3 non-profit organization dedicated to funding research for new, innovative and less-toxic treatments for childhood cancer.

Since 2008, Cookies for Kids’ Cancer has granted nearly $15 million to pediatric cancer research in the form of 100 research grants to leading pediatric cancer centers across the country.

From these 100 grants have stemmed 37 treatments available to kids battling cancer TODAY.

How to make Buckeye Brownie Bites

  1. Bake brownies in paper liners using miniature muffin pans. See the recipe below for my homemade brownie batter, or if you’re short on time, you can use your favorite boxed brownie mix.
  2. Cool the brownies completely on wire racks.
  3. Mix together the ingredients for the peanut butter balls until smooth and creamy.
  4. Using the palms of your hands, roll the mixture into equal-size balls and place one on top of each brownie. Press down firmly with your finger to make a slight indention and to spread it a bit over the brownie (don’t worry about it covering the entire top).
  5. Make the ganache and drizzle a teaspoon or so on top of the peanut butter balls, allowing it to spill over onto the brownies while leaving some peanut butter showing.
  6. Place the Buckeye Brownie Bites on a tray uncovered in the refrigerator for 10 minutes or until the chocolate sets.
A bunch of bite-size brownies in paper cups

To make this recipe, you may need…

To make this recipe, you’ll need a set of miniature muffin pans and miniature paper baking liners. I like my muffin pans because they are a good weight and the brownie bites bake evenly.

Pressing peanut butter balls onto bite-size brownies in paper cups

Why support Cookies for Kids’ Cancer?

  • Cancer is the #1 cause of death by disease of children in the U.S.
  • The National Cancer Institute’s (NCI) federal budget was $4.6 billion. Of that, breast cancer received 12 percent, prostate cancer received 7 percent, and all 12 major groups of pediatric cancers combined received less than 4 percent.
  • Two-thirds of pediatric cancer patients will develop long-term side effects — many life-threatening — a result of the treatments that “cured” them.
  • Only 4 of the 12 most common types of childhood cancers have average survival rates over 80 percent.
  • 13,500 children in the U.S. are diagnosed with cancer each year.
  • 40,000 U.S. children are actively battling cancer right now.
Drizzling chocolate on buckeye brownie bites

You can help fund cancer research specifically for kids at The Sweetest Season fundraising page. Thanks for your generosity!

Cookies for Kids Cancer
Buckeye Brownie Bites on a plate

Baking cookies to give away to friends and neighbors is one of our Christmas traditions. Every year, I have a really difficult time deciding what cookies to make — here are a few cookie recipes that are always a hit!

A close up of chocolate buckeye brownie bites on a plate

Let’s bake!

The traditional Buckeye candy got its name because it resembles the nut that comes from the Ohio buckeye tree. Over the years, this candy has become very popular during the holidays.

Adding them to a delicious little brownie makes a fun dessert for any holiday party tray. 

Buckeye Brownie Bites on a plate

Buckeye Brownie Bites

Buckeye Brownie Bites — miniature brownies topped with a peanut butter “buckeye” candy ball drizzled with dark chocolate ganache.
5 from 8 votes
Prep Time 45 minutes
Cook Time 15 minutes
Total Time 1 hour
Course Cookies & Bars
Cuisine American
Servings 32 pieces
Calories 112 kcal

Ingredients
  

  • 32 miniature paper baking cups
  • ½ cup semisweet chocolate chips divided
  • ½ cup butter
  • ½ teaspoon vanilla
  • ¼ cup brown sugar
  • 2 large eggs slightly beaten
  • ½ cup all-purpose flour
  • ¼ teaspoon baking powder

Peanut butter balls

  • ½ cup peanut butter
  • ½ cup powdered sugar
  • 2 tablespoons butter softened
  • 1 teaspoon vanilla

Chocolate ganache for drizzling

  • ½ cup semisweet chocolate chips
  • ¼ cup heavy cream

Instructions
 

  • Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Place 32 paper liners in miniature muffin pans.
  • Place butter and chocolate chips in a microwave-safe bowl and heat on HIGH for 1 minute. Remove from microwave and stir until chocolate and butter are melted. Add 1/2 teaspoon vanilla, the brown and white sugars, and two eggs, whisking until fulling incorporated.
  • In a separate bowl, combine flour and baking powder. Gradually add to chocolate mixture. Carefully place a level 1 tablespoon of batter into each muffin cup.
  • Bake for 13-15 minutes, until brownies spring back when touched. Cool in pans for 5 minutes, then remove to a wire rack to cool completely.

Peanut butter balls

  • Using an electric mixer, cream together the ingredients for the peanut butter balls until smooth. Roll mixture into 32 balls. Place on top of cooled brownies and press down slightly with your finger.

Chocolate ganache

  • Place 1/2 cup chocolate chips in a small glass bowl. Heat cream in microwave for 20-30 seconds until hot—but not boiling—then pour over chocolate. Allow to sit for 5 minutes, then stir until smooth. Spoon 1 teaspoon of ganache over each of the peanut butter balls. Place in refrigerator for 10 minutes to let chocolate set.

Video

Notes

Original recipe found in 2012 Christmas with Southern Living

Nutrition

Serving: 1ServingsCalories: 112kcalCarbohydrates: 9gProtein: 2gFat: 8gSaturated Fat: 4gPolyunsaturated Fat: 3gCholesterol: 23mgSodium: 58mgFiber: 1gSugar: 6g

Life Love and Good Food does not claim to be a registered dietician or nutritionist. Nutritional information shared on this site is only an estimate. We recommend running the ingredients through an online nutritional calculator if you need to verify any information.

Keyword brownies, buckeye candy, candy, chocolate, peanut butter
Tried this recipe?Let us know how it was.

6 Comments

  1. 5 stars
    These were delicious. I made them to share, but there weren’t many left after I sampled them. So, I guess I’ll have to make another batch!

  2. 5 stars
    AH-mazing! Who doesn’t love chocolate and peanut butter, made some for a cookie exchange and they were gone, like as in everybody ate them instead of taking them home! LOL! So I shared the recipe!

  3. Two of my favorites all bundled into one delicious bite! I’ve made buckeyes for years but never thought of adding a bite of brownie too. These were simply awesome!

  4. Oh my goodness, made these last weekend for a cookie exchange and they were the first to go! So glad I kept some at home for my family!!

  5. 5 stars
    I absolutely CANNOT wait to make these Buckeye Brownie Bites, Sheila! I’m a huge proponent of chocolate and peanut butter flavors, and the fact that you put them into a bite-sized treat to celebrate the season makes me so incredibly happy! I’m adding these to my to-make list for the season now. 🙂

    Thank you so much for participating in this year’s exchange and joining us in sharing some cookies and spreading the love!

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