Peanut butter and chocolate fans will love the sweet and creamy combination in this Buckeye Pie! This easy to make dessert kind of tastes like a peanut butter cup, and Buckeye fanatics will go wild when you put this buckeye pie recipe the table for dessert!

A pie with a chocolate topping and peanut butter filling, with one slice missing. A slice is served on a plate in the background.

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Why We Love Buckeye Pie

Perfect Midwest Treat – If your family loves the peanut butter and chocolate combo, they will adore the flavor combo of delicious buckeye pie. Those of us from Ohio know that bringing buckeyes or buckeye flavored treats are always welcome at a party, go Bucks! (Except maybe from those weird Michigan fans, ha!)
Great Party or Potluck Treat – This pie is a no-bake cheesecake style treat, and is perfect to share at potlucks and parties. This pie feels extra decadent without a ton of work!
Thick And Creamy Cheesecake Texture – Deliciously thick and creamy, you’ll find this buckeye pie has a similar texture to a peanut butter cheesecake with a crumbly chocolate crust and deliciously chocolate top.

Wait, What Are Buckeyes?

Since not everyone who loves chocolate and peanut butter is from Ohio, I’ll give you a quick break down. Buckeyes are a peanut butter ball dipped in chocolate with a portion of the peanut butter that resembles a buckeye nut. The nut literally looks like a ” buck’s eye,” but the actual buckeye nut from a plant is poisonous to people.

The peanut butter ball Buckeyes are a popular dessert both for the holidays and within Ohio, especially at the holidays or to celebrate The Ohio State University especially football – whose mascot is Brutus Buckeye. Ohioans are very proud of being called Buckeyes. Buckeye themed desserts are often on restaurant dessert menus in Ohio or are served at parties and potlucks, just like this pie!

This is not this Ohio-born girl’s first buckeye treat, in fact I really love that family and friends love when I make buckeye inspired treats. I’ve made traditional buckeyes candies many times, but I’ve also made buckeye pretzels, and my peanut butter balls with rice krispies are almost buckeyes too! You can also use any of these buckeye recipes to decorate the top of a buckeye pie if you prefer.

Ingredients For Buckeye Pie (Chocolate Peanut Butter Pie)

Ingredients for a chocolate peanut butter buckeye pie from overhead in bowls with title text labels.

Find the full printable recipe with specific measurements and directions below in the recipe card.

large egg
water
chocolate cookie pie crust – or cookie pie crust of choice. You can use a graham cracker crust also. I wouldn’t recommend pastry style crust, like is used for an apple pie.
cream cheese, softened
powdered sugar
peanut butter – I used smooth peanut butter, but crunchy can be used too. I don’t recommend using a natural peanut butter for this recipe as the oil can more easily separate in the dessert.
vanilla extract
salt
chocolate melting wafers chocolate chips or chocolate almond bark can also be used
coconut oil

How To Make Buckeye Pie

Preheat the oven to 350 degrees. Crack the egg into a small mixing bowl. Add a teaspoon of water and beat with a fork until well mixed. Brush the egg wash mixture over the pie crust.

A pie crust is being prepared with and egg wash with a silicone brush.

Bake pie crust for 10 minutes. Allow pie crust to cool completely to the touch before filling.
Meanwhile, in a large mixing bowl add cream cheese and powdered sugar. Whip well with an electric mixer until the cream cheese mixture is smooth with no lumps.

A glass bowl of powdered sugar and cream cheese next to bowls of peanut butter, and vanilla for buckeye pie.

A mixing bowl with a cream cheese filling being mixed with an electric mixer with bowls of peanut butter and vanilla nearby for buckeye pie.

To the cream cheese mixture add peanut butter, vanilla and salt. Mix well until the peanut butter is full mixed in and smooth, but it will definitetly be on the thick side.

A bowl of creamy peanut butter buckeye pie filling being mixed with an electric mixer.

Carefully dollop the peanut butter mixture in the bottom of the pie crust. With a silicone spatula, spread the mixture evenly inside the pie crust. Cover and refrigerate for about 3 hours or overnight to chill.

A bowl of peanut butter buckeye pie filling being spread with a silicone spatula in a chocolate pie crust.

A pie with an orange filling is in a foil pie crust. A light blue spatula is resting on top. A bowl of chocolate wafers and a striped cloth are nearby.

Once the pie has chilled, prepare the chocolate. Add the chocolate and coconut oil to a small microwave safe bowl. Heat the chocolate mixture in the microwave at half power, stirring about every 30 seconds increments or until a smooth chocolate sauce forms.
Carefully pour chocolate in the center of the pie. Working quickly, smooth the chocolate evenly across the top of the pie. Make sure the chocolate is even and not thick in any one area as thick spots can make the pie more challenging to slice later.

Melted chocolate being poured over top of a peanut butter buckeye pie.

A chocolate pie crust filled with peanut butter filling topped with a topping chocolate layer for buckeye pie.

Place pie back inside the refrigerator. Chill the pie for an hour to allow the chocolate to fully set. Slice with a large knife, serve and enjoy!

A chocolate-covered buckeye pie after chilling with a firm chocolate topping on a counter.

Do I Have To Bake The Crust?

This is essentially a no bake pie, though we do bake the crust of the pie for just a few minutes. This helps the crust be a little crispier, which then helps to keep the moisture from the filling from making the crust too soft.

While I have skipped the step of baking the crust before with a no bake pie, the crust is much more likely to crumble and not give you a nice slice.

Can You Freeze A Buckeye Pie?

Absolutely you can freeze buckeye pie, it freezes beautifully and will last easily for 3-4 months if stored in a freezer safe container or bag.

When serving I recommend placing the pie on the counter to defrost a little before serving, usually about 20-30 minutes works well. It can be a little tricky to cut the chocolate top cleanly when the pie is completely frozen.

How Long Will Buckeye Pie Last?

This Buckeye pie will taste best if enjoyed within about 4-5 days. You’ll need to store the pie in the refrigerator in a covered airtight container for best results to keep it tasting fresh.