Buckeyes

Angela Deshotel's kids bake Christmas desserts with their grandmother every year, and this is the one they get excited about. Grandma lets them do it themselves, with supervision. In Angela's words, it may not always look perfect or professional, but those memories are theirs, and a buckeye tastes great no matter how it looks.

Ingredients

• 1½ cups creamy peanut butter
• ½ cup butter, softened
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
• ½ teaspoon salt
• 3 to 4 cups powdered sugar
• 2 cups semi-sweet chocolate chips
• 2 tablespoons all-vegetable shortening

Instructions

1. Make the peanut butter base. Combine the peanut butter, butter, vanilla, and salt in a large bowl. Beat with an electric mixer on low until blended.
2. Add the sugar. Add 2 cups powdered sugar, beating until blended. Beat in additional powdered sugar until the mixture, when shaped into a ball, will stay on a toothpick.
3. Shape and chill. Shape into 1-inch balls. Refrigerate.
4. Melt the chocolate. Place the chocolate chips and shortening in a microwave-safe bowl. Microwave on medium 30 seconds. Stir. Repeat until smooth. Reheat as needed while coating.
5. Dip. Insert a toothpick in a peanut butter ball. Dip ¾ of the ball into the chocolate, leaving the top uncovered so it looks like a buckeye. Remove the excess.
6. Set. Place on a wax paper-lined tray. Remove the toothpick and smooth over the hole. Refrigerate until firm.