Buckeyes for a tailgate: about 60 peanut butter balls dipped in chocolate with a circle of peanut butter left showing, so they look like the nut from Ohio's state tree. They take about 2 hours at home, mostly chilling, need no oven or grill, and ride to the lot in the cooler, which suits Ohio Stadium, where propane grills are fine but charcoal is banned on campus.
Feeds: about 20 (about 60 pieces) · Hands-on: about 1 hour · Total: about 2 hours, mostly chilling
Home gear: a stand or hand mixer, 2 sheet pans, parchment paper, toothpicks and a small, deep microwave-safe bowl
Pack for the lot
- Buckeyes, in a lidded container with parchment between layers
- A spot in the cooler on top of the ice, not in the meltwater
- A small platter or tray for serving
- A "Contains peanuts" card for the table
- Napkins
Lot notes
- Peanut allergy: buckeyes are mostly peanut butter. Tell your crew, label the platter "Contains peanuts," and keep them away from other food and serving utensils. For a peanut-free batch, sunflower seed butter works in the same amounts, but make it with clean bowls and tools and label it too. If anyone has a severe allergy, ask them before you bring either version.
- The Ohio Stadium rule: propane grills are fine but charcoal is banned on campus, and grills aren't allowed in the garages. Buckeyes need no flame at all, so they work in any lot or garage.
- Keep them cool: the chocolate softens in the sun, and the centers get soft when warm. Keep them in the cooler, on top of the ice in a sealed container so meltwater can't get in.
- No fuel: nothing to light. That frees the propane grill for the rest of the menu.
- Cleanup: take the leftovers home in the cooler and put them back in the fridge.
Can you make buckeyes ahead?
Yes, and you should. They keep in the fridge for up to 1 week or in the freezer for up to 2 months, so make them any night before the game.
How do you keep buckeyes cold at a tailgate?
Pack them in a sealed container on top of the ice in the cooler, and put out a small platter at a time in the shade. The chocolate stays firm and the centers hold their shape.
How much do you need for 20 people?
One batch: about 60 buckeyes is 3 apiece for 20 people. If they're the only dessert, make 1½ batches (about 90) with 2¼ cups peanut butter, 12 tbsp butter, 6 cups powdered sugar and 24 oz chocolate.
Can you make buckeyes at an Ohio Stadium tailgate?
There's nothing to cook, so make them at home and bring them. At Ohio Stadium, propane grills are fine but charcoal is banned on campus, and grills aren't allowed in the garages, but buckeyes need no flame at all.
Why are they called buckeyes?
The dark chocolate and pale circle on top look like the nut of the buckeye tree, Ohio's state tree and the name of Ohio State's teams.