Buckeye Balls

Ingredients:
1 1/2 cups creamy peanut butter
1/2 cup butter, softened
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
3 to 4 cups confectioner's sugar
8 ounces semi-sweet chocolate
2 T shortening

Directions:
1.  Line baking sheets with parchment paper, set aside.
2.  Using an electric mixer, mix peanut butter, butter, vanilla, and 3 cups sugar until smooth stiff dough forms.  Add more sugar to liking or to get desired stiffness.
3.  Roll into balls using 2 teaspoons of dough for each ball.  Place on prepared sheet and set in refridgerator.
4.  Melt shortening and chocolate together in a metal bowl over a pan of lightly simmering water. Stir occasionally until smooth, and remove from heat.
5.  Remove balls from refrigerator. Insert a wooden toothpick into a ball, and dip into melted chocolate. Return to sheet, chocolate side down, and remove toothpick. Use finger to close hole from toothpick.  Repeat with remaining balls.  Refrigerate for 30 minutes to set.


*This is a Christmas tradition at my brother's house and we were missing them so we decided to make our own batch.  May I reccommend making the peanut butter balls a little smaller than you think they need to be--this makes the chocolate/peanut better ratio more desirable and the Buckeye balls a perfect little bite.