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These Healthy Peanut Butter Buckeyes are easy to make and taste like a chocolate peanut butter cup! This recipe is no-bake and comes together in just 20 minutes! If you love the combination of peanut butter and chocolate also try this Chocolate Peanut Butter Chia Pudding!
Buckeyes peanut butter balls
If you’ve never tried a buckeye, it’s basically a peanut butter ball that is dipped in chocolate. They’re called “buckeyes” because they resemble a nut from a buckeye tree.
Peanut butter buckeyes are particularly popular around Christmas, but honestly, these make an amazing healthy treat any time of year.
Classic buckeyes are made with peanut butter, butter and lots of powdered sugar. But these Healthy Peanut Butter Buckeyes are made with much healthier ingredients like natural peanut butter, almond flour and maple syrup.
Why you’ll love these healthier buckeyes
- No-bake. While baked goods like ginger molasses cookies are always a classic for the holidays, sometimes it’s nice to have a simple recipe that requires no baking at all. These peanut butter balls are the perfect no-bake recipe for the holidays.
- Easy to make. This recipe is made directly in one mixing bowl for an easy recipe with minimal cleanup!
- Vegan, gluten-free and grain-free. If you are in need of a healthier holiday treat that is suitable for many diet types this is the treat for you. Just keep in mind that it isn’t nut free.
How to make this recipe
Step 1
Add the peanut butter, vanilla extract and maple syrup to a large mixing bowl
Step 2
Next add the coconut flour, almond flour and salt.
Step 3
Mix everything together until it forms a dough. The dough should be sticky enough that it can be easily rolled into balls.
Step 4
Using your hands, roll out 1 tbsp-sized balls of dough and place them on a baking sheet. If the dough feels too soft to roll into balls, you can also place it in the fridge for 15-30 minutes to firm up before rolling.
Tip: use a tablespoon to measure the dough so all the balls are the same size.
Step 5
Melt the chocolate in the microwave, then dip each ball 3/4 of the way into the chocolate. You can use a toothpick to stick into each ball to make them easier to dip. You can also optionally drizzle more chocolate on top of each peanut butter ball if you like.
How to store these peanut butter balls
These peanut butter buckeyes must be stored in the fridge. Store in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 2 weeks.
Tips for making this recipe perfectly
- You can use smooth or natural peanut butter for this recipe. Both will work fine. If using natural peanut butter, make sure to mix it well before using it. (Natural peanut butter has a tendency to separate.) Use leftover peanut butter to make a batch of Peanut Butter Chia Pudding!
- The peanut butter dough should be sticky enough to roll into balls but firm enough that they hold their shape nicely. If your dough feels too sticky, add some extra coconut or almond flour.
- If your dough feels like the right texture but you’re having trouble rolling it into balls, you can place the dough in the fridge for 15-30 minutes. This will firm up the dough and make it easier to work with.
- Use a toothpick to dip the peanut butter balls into the melted chocolate.
- If you’d like to cover up the little holes made by the toothpick, you can use a small knife and gently scrape the top of each ball. This will push the dough into the hole to cover it up.
Frequently asked questions
Yes! This recipe freezes well. To freeze place the buckeyes in a freezer-safe container or freezer bag and freeze for up to 3 months. To defrost let thaw on the countertop for 10 peanuts before eating.
Yes. If you’d like to make this recipe nut-free you can replace the almond flour with more coconut flour or with oat flour.
If your peanut butter balls are soft it’s likely that you don’t have enough dry ingredients in them, or they have been sitting out of the fridge too long. If they are too soft when making them, try adding an extra couple of tablespoons of almond flour.
More peanut butter treats to ty
- Peanut Butter and Jelly Balls
- Peanut Butter Protein Bars
- Peanut Butter Blossoms
- Vegan Peanut Butter Cookies
If you tried these Healthy Peanut Butter Buckeyes or any other recipe on the blog let me know how you liked it by leaving a comment/rating below! Be sure to follow along on Pinterest, Instagram and Facebook for even more deliciousness!
Healthy Peanut Butter Buckeyes
- Prep Time: 20 minutes
- Cook Time: 0 minutes
- Total Time: 20 minutes
- Yield: 15 balls
- Category: Dessert
- Method: Mix
- Cuisine: American
- Diet: Gluten Free
Description
These Healthy Peanut Butter Buckeyes are easy to make and taste like a chocolate peanut butter cup! This recipe is no-bake and comes together in just 20 minutes!
Ingredients
- 1 cup natural peanut butter
- 1/4 cup maple syrup
- 1 tsp vanilla extract
- 1/4 cup coconut four
- 1/4 cup almond flour
- pinch of salt
- 1/2 cup 70% dark chocolate chips, melted
Instructions
- Mix the peanut butter, maple syrup, vanilla extract, coconut flour and almond flour together in a bowl until it forms a dough. If your mixture is too runny, add some extra almond flour. If it’s too thick, add a bit more peanut butter.
- Roll into balls, about 1 tbsp of dough per ball and place on a baking sheet with parchment paper.
- Place in the fridge to set for 10 minutes while you prepare the chocolate.
- Use a toothpick to dip each ball into the melted chocolate, covering about 3/4 of the way. You can optionally use any leftover chocolate to drizzle on top.
- Place in the fridge for at least 30 minutes to set.
- Store in the fridge.
Notes
Depending on the brand of peanut butter you use, you may need to add a bit more or less coconut/almond flour. (Some peanut butter can be more liquidy and others can be thicker.) Adjust as needed.
The peanut butter dough should be sticky enough to roll into balls but firm enough that they hold their shape nicely. If your dough feels too sticky, add some extra coconut or almond flour.
If the dough feels too soft to roll into balls, place in the fridge for 15-20 minutes to help the dough firm up.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 ball
- Calories: 110
- Sugar: 5g
- Fat: 8g
- Carbohydrates: 8g
- Fiber: 2g
- Protein: 2g
I love the simplicity of these and it doesn’t contain 2 cups of powdered sugar! Delicious.
Glad you enjoyed the recipe! 🙂
Ooh these look delicious! If I don’t have almond flour could I use all coconut? Or sub for some other flour? Thanks!
Hi Madeline, Yes! You can definitely sub for coconut flour- you may need to adjust the wet ingredients slightly if you find the dough isn’t sticking together as well, since coconut flour can be very absorbant. Another option is to make some oat flour and use that (by grinding up oats)
I love buckeyes, but they are both time consuming and not very healthy so this was a decent alternative. Thank you for sharing it!
Happy you enjoyed the recipe Tiffany!
Can I use all almond flour or any other flour to replace coconut flour?
Cherly, yes you can 🙂
Looks delicious! My son will LOVE it. Thank you for the recipe 🙂
I discovered this blog a weeks ago and I am really happy about it: everything looks healthy, delicious AND easy to make.
Thanks so much Miyuki! Enjoy! 🙂
these are simply beautiful! and so simple to make – lovely recipes, thanks fo sharing:)
Thanks Mary!