Buckeye Bark-the amazing flavor combination of chocolate and peanut butter without all the work!
I mentioned a few days ago on Facebook that I was playing with melted chocolate again. I just can’t help myself sometimes. It’s just too easy to whip up a fabulous treat.
My son is the Buckeye maker in our house. It’s his thing. No one else is allowed to make them. But he’s been slack. Things like school, friends, the XBox, have been monopolizing his time.
I’ve given him the love of creating in the kitchen. I don’t want to take it away by making “his thing.”
So what’s a mom do do when searching through the cabinets, I spy the peanut butter just sitting at the front of the shelf?
I improvise!
Don’t tell my son, but this may just be better than his Buckeyes!
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Buckeye Bark
Ingredients
- 1 package candy making chocolate almond bark
- 2 cups creamy peanut butter
- 1 teaspoon vanilla
- 1 cup powdered sugar
Instructions
- Melt chocolate according to package directions. Pour half of melted chocolate onto a parchment lined baking sheet. Using a spatula, spread chocolate to create a large chocolate slab. Place in freezer for 10 minutes to solidify.
- Mix together peanut butter and vanilla then stir in powdered sugar until smooth and creamy.
- Spread peanut butter mixture over chilled chocolate slab to cover entirely.
- Pour remaining melted chocolate over top of peanut butter layer. Carefully spread to edges to completely cover peanut butter.
- Return to freezer for 5-10 minutes to set top layer of chocolate. Cut Bark into desired sized pieces and enjoy.
- Store in an air tight container. No need to refrigerate unless in a warm climate.
Notes
Chocolate almond bark comes in a variety of package sizes, usually 16-20 ounces depending on brand. Both will work fine with this recipe.
recipe source ChocolateChocolateandmore.com
Want more Bark recipes?
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Tanya Schroeder says
I have a big bowl of buckeye dough sitting in the fridge because I don’t have the time to roll it out! I’m thinking I should just make this bark! Holy cow, it looks delicious Joan! Pinning!
Laura @ Lauras Baking Talent says
These look great! What a fun new way to make buckeyes. My dad loves bark and pb and chocolate. He would love me even more if I made him these for the holidays 🙂
Kelli says
These look great and I am not a big fan of peanut butter. Mt oldest son loves it though! Could you use chocolate chips? Is the bark different from the candy melts I dip my cake pops in?
Joan Hayes says
Chocolate bark and Candy melts are the same thing, both tempered for candy making so either would work fine. I’d try not to use chocolate chips as those don’t harden back up liike a candy bar and would have to be kept refrigerated.
DEBBIE LOTT says
ACTUALLY I USE CHOCOLATE CHIPS , JUST ABOUT 1/4 OF A PARRIFIN BAR AND IT DOES HARDEN BETTER , I WAS BROUGHT UP USING IT FOR ALL CANDY MAKING , ALSO GOOD FOR KEEPING CHOCOLATE FROM MELTING IN YOUR HAND WHILE EATING SOME CANDY
Becca from ItsYummi.com says
Ohhhh Joan!! ♥♥
Abby says
I was wondering the same thing. I do not have any of that kind of chocolate.
Kayle (The Cooking Actress) says
There is an epic argument with no end going on between me and Michael–he (and most of his family) think Buckeyes are cookies (he also thinks brownies and rice krispie treats are cookies…but I digress) and I’m like THEY’RE CANDY.
yeah. anyway. I love em. and this bark is awesome, love that it’s so simple and easy!
Sarah @ Miss CandiQuik says
Yum!! Can’t go wrong with this recipe!
Susan says
This is just pure perfection and heaven to me! I love that creamy peanut butter coming out the side!
Abi says
Looks delish! What size pan do you recommend? Also, I too have chocolate chips. As Kelli asked above, can I use these instead of the bark chocolate?
Thanks!
Joan Hayes says
I just use a large cookie sheet, I don’t spread all the way to the edges just to the thickness I want. You can use chocolate chips but they won’t harden up like chocolate bark or candy melts will so you might need to keep your finished bark in the refrigerator to keep it hard.
Sheryl says
Can I use chocolate chips? Also, what about natural peanut butter?
Joan Hayes says
Hi Sheryl, you can use chocolate chips but you’ll probably have to keep the bark refrigerated or the chocolate will get melty. Chocolate bark and Candy melts are tempered to harden back up like a candy bar after melting. As for the natural peanut butter, sure you can. i’d add the powdered sugar about 1/2 a cup then see if you need more since natural peanut butter is usually thicker than brands like Jif and Skippy.
Ashley @ Wishes and Dishes says
Love this! Gonna make it for Christmas!
Emily K says
oh, Y.U.M. thanks for the brilliant idea!
Renee'sKitchenAdventures says
wow…does this look amazing! I love buckeyes…what’s not to love? and of course, being from Ohio, it’s kind of a requirement. 🙂
Kate | Food Babbles says
I can vividly remember my grandmother making buckeyes each year during the holidays. LOVE! I adore your simple bark version. I know at first taste, memories would coming flooding back. Yum!
Carla says
What the what?! You are a genius because making real buckeyes is too much work 😉
Tami says
My goodness, this looks good. I drooled a little more with each picture, too.
Ruth wininger says
This is fantastic, and so much easier re than all the little balls. Thank you!
fiddlestickchic says
Going to try this recipe for St Nick’s tonight ( being of German descent we most certainly celebrate it here!) Usually you hang your stocking on the eve of Dec 5th and if you have been VERY good, you get chocolates, an orange or tangerine, an apple, some nuts to crack and perhaps a small gift,,this is for my DH( he will get his favorite CD also) and the kids that live in town here,,,,,,,I was wondering, how would this travel, mailing from a cold state ( WIsconsin) to an even colder state ( Michigan) , our temps have been 30’s and low 20s at night and heaven knows WHAT upper Michigan has been,,,,at times, below zero ( already! which is unusual even for them) Just wondering if I could safely send some in a tin to them in December,,,thanks! Now I am off to the store to get my ingredients and then I will look for a chocolate that tastes like a Mounds bar used to taste ( back when I indulged occasionally, I have been walking many miles per day now so I want to keep weight OFF!) thank you OH so very much!
Joan Hayes says
As long as you are in the cold, just like a candy bar, this Bark will ship well. Happy Holidays!
Fran Rushing says
I just made your recipe today, and the peanut butter just never sets up. It keeps on oozing out of the chocolate layers, even after refrigeration. Perhaps an additional cup of confectioners sugar might be added to the peanut butter to solidify that layer a little better. If I decide to repeat this recipe I think I will tweak it in that direction.
Joan Hayes says
every brand of peanut butter will have a different level of oil so you may need to use more confectioner’s sugar to get the consistency you want.
T says
” 1 package candy making chocolate bark ” hi what does this mean, please? You mean the Baker’s Chocolate in the red box? 4 oz? How much chocolate?! Thanks
Joan Hayes says
No, you don’t want the baker’s chocolate. That’s not meant for making candy with. You would want to find Almond bar or Candy melts usually these are sold in 16-20 ounce package. https://www.walmart.com/ip/Plymouth-Pantry-Almond-Bark-Chocolate-Baking-Bar-24-oz/10313776 or https://loghousefoods.elsstore.com/shop/subcatprodx.asp?category_id=40887&subcategory_id=40887&storeID=EE91300C0C6B4B498C7EEA1101E2B0B1 are both examples of candy making chocolate bark. You melt this chocolate and when it cools back down, it will fully harden like a candy bar. Also, In your other comment you asked how large my baking sheet is, my are 18″ x 25″ but you can use any size since this is a free form candy and your chocolate should not fill the baking sheet all the way to the edges. You can see a photo of my bakr in this post how it looks before being cut. https://chocolatechocolateandmore.com/2012/12/mint-chocolate-bark/
T says
Thank you for the links! =) I’ve never seen this product before. I live in NY so that’s surprising! LOL I will order some =) I appreciate your quick reply. Your pictures are fabulous too!! Tricia
T says
Also how big is your cookie sheet?