At Henry Ford's Greenfield Village, there is a restaurant called A Taste of History. I am not telling you of it to rave about its menu, since Dick and I did not have a meal there. What we did discover was buckeyes... a sweet confection of peanut butter fudge-like filling coated in chocolate. After buying just one to try, I took a tiny bite and handed it to Dick to taste. In one chomp, it was gone. I whined. My intent was for him to hand the buckeye back to me for another bite. If my whining, which now had transitioned to a rant, was to cease, Dick knew we must go back for another. After a little nibble from the second one, I handed it to Dick. So he could have a little bite. Chomp. It was gone. Huh? Good grief. No way was he, nor I, going back for another. No, I would find a recipe and make an entire batch, and so I did.
My online search turned up two versions... smooth and crunchy. Rice Krispies provide the crunch. The buckeyes that we had sampled at A Taste of History were crunchy, so that's what I made. I used One Degree Organic Foods Veganic Sprouted Brown Rice Crisps made with organic sprouted brown rice, organic coconut palm sugar, unrefined salt, tocopherols (Vitamin E) as an alternative to Kellogg's Rice Krispies. After researching several buckeye recipes online, this is my version. I think I nailed it.
Crispy Buckeyes
¾ cup powdered sugar
½ cup peanut butter
2 tbsp butter, softened
¼ tsp vanilla
½ cup crispy rice cereal (I smashed it a little.)
½ cup semisweet chocolate chips
½ tbsp coconut oil
Combine first five ingredients using a mixer or food processor. Form into one tablespoon balls. Chill in fridge for 30 minutes. Melt chocolate chips with coconut oil in the top of a double boiler over simmering water just until melted. Stir to hasten the process. Insert a toothpick into a chilled ball, then dip into melted chocolate to coat. Traditional buckeyes are left uncoated on top. (See photo.) Optionally, you can drizzle melted chocolate over top with a spoon to coat completely. Store in refrigerator. Makes 15 balls.
Do you love the black and white Rice Krispies Treats commercials that have a 1950s vibe? I do. Especially the ones featuring Hawaiian artist Israel "IZ" Kamakawiwo'ole's (Kah-MAH-kah-VEE-voh-OH-lay) version of "Over the Rainbow." Like this one. http://youtu.be/BXdNLDFPyPw Listen to it while you nibble on this delectable crispy treat. Then, click over here http://youtu.be/V1bFr2SWP1I?list=RDpYkSHg7RcXU to meet this amazing man who died in 1997 at the age of 38. His ashes were scattered off the coast of the island of Oahu.