This Healthy Buckeyes recipe are made with only 7 ingredients! Vegan peanut butter balls made with sweetened peanut butter are a delicious treat and they are a must for the holiday season – or any time of year! Quick, easy, gluten free and vegan friendly.
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Why You’ll Love This Recipe
- Just seven basic, nutrient dense ingredients.
- Easy recipe and basically foolproof.
- No-bake holiday cookie recipe the whole family will love – get your kids in the kitchen for this one!
- Taste’s just like a Reese’s peanut butter cup – but better!
Chocolate sweet treats are a must for the holiday season! My family and I especially love Chocolate Reindeer Bark and Chocolate Date Nut Bars!!
What Are Buckeye Balls? Why Are They Called Buckeyes?
Buckeye balls are sweetened peanut butter balls with a creamy peanut butter center dipped in a chocolate coating. They get their name because of their resemblance to Buckeyes on a Buckeye tree, which are a nut grown on the Ohio State Tree. This buckeye candy recipe is especially popular in the midwest, but all throughout the United States, too.
Classic Buckeyes always remind me of Christmas time and cookie trays, but really there is never a wrong time to enjoy them.
Recipe Ingredients
We’re using some basic ingredients in this healthy buckeye balls recipe. The ingredients we’re using to help hold this healthy buckeyes recipe together (with a few easy swaps) is:
- creamy peanut butter – I used a drippy, nothing added creamy natural peanut butter. If someone you know has a peanut allergy or you would prefer a peanut-free recipe, swap it out for almond butter, cashew butter, tahini, sunbutter, or any mix of these.
- pure maple syrup – for healthier buckeyes, we are using maple syrup as the liquid sweetener of choice without too much added sugar (A traditional buckeye recipe includes powdered sugar.). Honey or agave syrup also works.
- vanilla extract – for flavor and that special candy sweetness.
- Bob’s Red Mill Super Fine Almond Flour – this creates the cookie dough like texture and helps the buckeye balls hold their shape. If using almond meal, start with 3/4 cup and adjust until you have a cookie dough like texture. For almond free, substitute it for an equal amount of oat flour. I would not use coconut flour here.
- salt – just a pinch if you’re using unsalted peanut butter.
- chocolate – I like dark chocolate chips or semi-sweet chocolate. A quality chocolate is always a good choice for dipping. Pick your favorite bar or chocolate chips. An 8-ounce chocolate bar is equal to a heaping cup chocolate chips. Make sure to use dairy free chocolate or vegan chocolate as needed.
- coconut oil – this helps smooth out the chocolate a bit and give it extra shine. If you find your chocolate is already nice and smooth for dipping, you can leave out.
How to Make Buckeyes
These vegan buckeyes are super easy and relatively quick. Thanks to just seven simple ingredients and pantry staples, you’ll have this health-ified classic dessert ready in no time. Here’s how to do it:
Make Peanut Butter Dough
In a medium bowl, combine peanut butter, maple syrup and vanilla extract until smooth. Add almond flour and salt, mixing with your hands as needed until a dough forms. You should have a soft cookie dough-like texture.
Roll into Dough Balls
Using a small cookie scoop (about 1 heaping tablespoon), scoop dough onto parchment paper lined baking sheet.
Roll dough balls until smooth and place back on the baking sheet. Freeze for 20 minutes. Then, roll again to ensure the buckeye balls get really smooth. Place back in fridge while you melt chocolate.
Prepare Melted Chocolate
Melt chocolate over low heat in a small saucepan or double boiler, stirring until smooth and fully melted. If you want a smoother chocolate, add coconut oil. Transfer chocolate to a heat proof small deep bowl (this will allow you to get a good dip in without messing with the dough ball too much).
Dip Peanut Butter Balls
Using a toothpick, dip peanut butter balls into melted chocolate and set back onto parchment paper baking sheet.
If you’d like, you can gently smooth out the top of the peanut butter balls with your finger. Or leave them as is!
Chill
Place cookie sheet in fridge until chocolate has fully set, about 15 minutes. Enjoy!
Recipe Tips & Notes:
- Use a small cookie scoop to get even, small balls.
- Roll between the palms of your hand until smooth.
- Make sure the balls are very cold before dipping into chocolate.
- Use a small but deep mixing bowl for the chocolate so you can dip the peanut butter ball right in and out, without having to swirl it around to coat.
- Let the excess chocolate drip off before placing back on the parchment paper for a clean edge.
- Parchment paper or a silicone baking mat is needed to make sure the chocolate doesn’t set to the pan, and you’ll be able to remove the buckeye balls easily.
Variations to Try
These vegan buckeyes stick close to the original, but you can have so much fun with another healthy twist. You could also try:
- Sprinkling the tops with flaky sea salt
- Drizzling with dark chocolate
- Swapping out the dark chocolate for white chocolate – yum!
- Add holiday colored sprinkles to the chocolate or peanut butter top.
How to Store Buckeyes
These buckeye balls recipe can be stored in the fridge or freezer for a great make-ahead recipe.
- Serve: Buckeye balls are best enjoyed at cool – room temperature.
- Store: Store in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 3 weeks.
- Freeze: Freeze in a freezer safe container or Ziplock bag for up to 3 months. Thaw overnight in the fridge.
More Holiday Candy Recipes You’ll Love:
If you make these Healthy Buckeyes, be sure to leave a comment and star rating on the blog! I love hearing from you, and it helps others learn more about the recipe too. Xx Ashley
Healthy Buckeyes
Ingredients
- 1 cup all-natural creamy peanut butter, just peanuts, nothing added
- 1/4 cup pure maple syrup
- 1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 1 cup + 2 tablespoons Bob's Red Mill Super Fine Almond Flour
- 1/4 teaspoon fine sea salt, if using unsalted peanut butter
- 8 ounces dark chocolate, equal to about 1 heaping cup chocolate chips
- 1 teaspoon coconut oil,
Instructions
- Make peanut butter dough: In a medium bowl, combine peanut butter with maple syrup and vanilla extract until smooth. Add in almond flour and salt, combining until dough forms (use hands at end as needed). You should have a soft cookie dough-like texture.
- Roll into balls: Using small cookie scoop (about 1 heaping tablespoon), scoop dough onto parchment lined baking sheet. Roll dough ball until smooth and place back on the baking sheet. Place in freezer for 20 minutes. After 20 minutes, roll again getting the balls really smooth, then place back in fridge while you melt chocolate.
- Melt chocolate: Meanwhile, melt chocolate over low heat, stirring until smooth and fully melted. If you want a smoother chocolate, add coconut oil. Transfer chocolate to a heat proof small deep bowl (if possible – this will allow you to get a good dip in without messing with the dough ball too much).
- Dip peanut butter balls: Using a toothpick, dip peanut butter balls into melted chocolate and set back onto parchment paper baking sheet. Option to gently smooth over toothpick hole if you’d like.
- Chill: Place cookie sheet in fridge until chocolate has fully set, about 15 minutes or so. Enjoy!
Video
Recipe Notes:
Nutrition Information
This post was sponsored by Bob’s Red Mill, originally posted in 2020. Post has since been updated with more tips and notes, same delicious recipe.
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