Buckeye Pie

I'm from Michigan, and our disdain for our neighbors to the south is legendary.  While I enjoy many Ohio culinary delights like Tony Packo's and Tony's Steakhouse and Cincinnati Chili, I will go on the record that Michigan certainly got the better end of the deal when we ended up getting the upper peninsula in lieu of Toledo.  Other Michiganders aren't so generous: my husband refuses to spend any money in the state of Ohio if he can help it (Cedar Point is the exception).  Michigan Football fans are known to cheer "Oh how I hate OHIO STATE".   There's a lot of hate for the Buckeyes when you venture north....

But perhaps we can consider a buckeye of a different persuasion....Buckeyes are also a confection made from a peanut butter fudge partially dipped in chocolate to leave a circle of peanut butter visible.  Named for their resemblance to the nut of the Ohio buckeye tree (the state tree of Ohio) this candy is particularly popular in Ohio and it is common for Ohioans to make buckeyes at home, but they are also available in mail-order catalogs and candy shops. No Columbus tailgate party would be the same without them, I am told!

Love or hate Ohio, I'll admit buckeye candy is one of my favorites.    I saw a recipe online for buckeye pie,  so I wanted to give it a try.   It had lots of mistakes in it; I improved upon the recipe and here is what I came up with:


Makes a 9 inch pie

graham cracker crust
12 chocolate graham cracker
4 tablespoons butter, melted

buckeyes
2 ounces Neufchâtel cheese
1 1/2 cups creamy peanut butter
1 cup plain graham cracker crumbs
2 cups confectioners’ sugar
10 tablespoons unsalted butter, melted and cooled
1 teaspoon vanilla
8 ounces dark chocolate (I use 70%), coarsely chopped

peanut butter pie fillling
reserved buckeye mixture
6 ounces of Neufchâtel cheese
1/4 cup creamy peanut butter
1/2 cup heavy cream

Start by making the pie crust:

Preheat oven to 350°F. In a 9 inch glass pie dish combine chocolate graham cracker crumbs

and melted butter until crumbs are thoroughly moistened. Press crumbs into bottom and

sides of dish. Bake for about ten minutes until crust is firm. Set aside to cool.

Next, begin work on the buckeyes:

In the bowl of an electric stand mixer add Neufchâtel  and peanut butter, mix until well combined. Add graham cracker crumbs, confectioners sugar, melted butter, and vanilla then mix until thoroughly combined. In a medium bowl, set aside two cups worth of peanut butter mixture for the buckeyes and reserve the rest for the pie filling in the mixer bowl To shape the buckeyes, scoop slightly less than a tablespoon of peanut butter mixture and roll into a ball. Place balls on parchment lined baking sheet stick each with a toothpick. Place peanut butter balls in the freezer for approximately 30 minutes.

Now, back to the pie:

Mix together the reserved buckeye mixture with Neufchâtel  and peanut butter in the bowl of a stand mixer until well combined. Slowly add in heavy cream and mix on medium high until well combined. Scoop mixture into cooled chocolate graham cracker crust and refrigerate until set, 2 to 3 hours or overnight.

Dipping the buckeyeyes

In a microwave safe plastic bowl (glass holds heat too well and can ruin melting chocolate, melt chocolate until smooth. heat on high for 30 seconds then stir,then repeating 10 second increments.  Stir frequently.  When the chocolate is melted smooth, let cool slightly. Remove chilled peanut butter balls from freezer and dip and swirl in chocolate using the toothpicks being careful to leave a circle of exposed peanut butter on top. Return buckeyes to parchment lined baking sheet to set.

When you've finished dipping the buckeyes, remove the toothpicks and smooth over the hole with your finger. Refrigerate for 30 minutes or until completely set. 

Once buckeyes are set, place evenly spaced buckeyes on top of the chilled pie. Cover and refrigerate

any leftovers.  You will have extra buckeyes to snack on, which is great because they are SO GOOD!