A Better Buckeye

 Some time in the '80s my grandmother clipped a recipe out of magazine or newspaper. That's as good as my cooking heritage gets, despite having a famous baker for a great-grandfather. It was the only year I  can remember her baking cookies. She passed a copy of the recipe to my mother the next year with the title 'that peanut butter candy.'

So we've made it every year since then. It has that perfect blend of sweetness, chewiness, saltiness, protein punch, and a light chocolate crunch on the outside.

When we got the recipe I was horrified to find out it had DATES! in it...ewww..aren't they..like..prunes? or something?

You'll never taste the dates, or the walnuts, but they add a depth to the flavor and the slightest chew to the bite.

Peanut Butter Date Candy

1c smooth peanut butter

1c powdered sugar

1c dates, chopped fine

1c walnuts, ground

2 bags chocolate chips

1. If necessary, chop/grind walnuts and dates with a knife, food processor, or mortar and pestle. You can buy them prepared but they're more expensive that way.

2. Dump everything in a bowl. Mix until well combined. You can use a utensil but hands actually work better if you don't mind getting dirty (or live with children who don't mind). 

3. At this point you can either chill it for a few minutes to get some of the stickiness out (recommended) or be impatient and start making little balls @ 1/2" around more or less. Place balls on cookie sheet (this batch requires 2 sheets).  See photo above. If you don't chill don't expect the balls to be perfect. You can smooth them right before coating with chocolate. 

4. Freeze or refrigerate overnight, or at least 2 hours.

5. Melt chocolate chips in microwave or double boiler. You will probably not need all of both bags, but if you are new to making a chocolate coating it helps to have extra. Also, don't put it all in at once. It can be difficult to roll the balls in the chocolate. 

6. Put on some good music. This will take a while. Get two spoons. Here is where I differ from the usual buckeye, I drop a few balls into the chocolate (no more then that the longer they sit in hot chocolate the more they fall apart..keep the other tray chilling). Then I use one spoon to roll it in the chocolate. I roll it onto the other spoon. Then I use the first spoon to cull the extra chocolate off by scraping around the edge. If there are any open spots I 'paint' the chocolate over that spot. Once I think I'm set I put it on another cookie sheet with parchment paper to catch the mess. 

7. At this point you can add festive sprinkles if you like, or not. 

8. Chill. Store. 

These are different from traditional buckeyes in that: 

~the dates give it a slight chewiness

~the walnut gives this a protein punch and balances the sweetness

~the chocolate coating is thicker

~there's no spot to make it look like a buckeye nut

Despite these differences, all my Ohio and Pennsylvania friends immediately cry 'buckeyes!!' whenever they see them. 

Addictive. Addictive. Especially when you're hungry (protein punch). I have to hide them in the garage freezer.