Chocolate Peanut Butter Balls

We're close enough to the holidays for me to start making holiday treats! First on the list is the ever favorite Chocolate Peanut Butter Balls. Now some people may know these as "Buckeyes" but you won't hear that word uttered in our house unless it's in the form of "Beat the Buckeyes" or "The Buckeyes Suck". After all, we are a University of Michigan family. Enjoy!

Chocolate Peanut Butter Balls

2 cups creamy peanut butter
1 stick butter (no substitutes), soften (NOT MELTED)
4 cups powder sugar (this ends up being 1 pound)
1 12 ounce package semi-sweet chocolate chips
2 tbs shortening
1/2 tsp vanilla

In a medium bowl mix the peanut butter and the soften butter. Sift in 1 cup of powder sugar and mix well. Continue until all sugar is incorporated (after the second cup it may be easier to use your hands). Make balls out of the peanut butter mixtures using 1 tablespoon for each ball. Place the balls on a wax paper covered cookie sheet. When all balls are made, place in the freezer for 20 to 30 minutes so they firm up.

In a double boiler mix chocolate chips and shortening. Stir in the vanilla. Shutoff the heat but leave bowl over the water. Dip each ball into the chocolate coating using two toothpicks (one in the ball to use as a "handle" the other to release the ball back onto the wax covered sheet). Return to the freezer for 20 to 30 minutes for the chocolate to set up. Store in an airtight container in the fridge or a cool place.

If you don't feel like making balls, you can spread the peanut butter mixture onto a pan and top with the melted chocolate. Once firm cut into squares.