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About This Recipe
One of my favorite treats around Christmas time are the little no-bake, chocolate peanut butter balls (we call them “buckeyes”) and this year we’re making them just as delicious (but with a few healthier swaps).
To make this healthy buckeyes recipe, I use creamy peanut butter, coconut flour and honey, to recreate the classic peanut butter chocolate combo you love but with a little more protein and a little less sugar. I promise these healthy peanut butter buckeyes taste just as delicious as original recipe you grew up eating and no one will even know the difference! Honestly, I think I even prefer these because they’re not a sickly sweet.
These chocolate peanut butter balls also makes a great gift during the holiday season! It’s the perfect special treat for neighbors, teachers, friends, co-workers, etc. You could also throw in some Lightened Up Christmas Crack, Dark Chocolate Pretzel Bark or Healthy Peanut Butter Fudge for the perfect holiday treat!
Why You’ll Love These Healthier Buckeyes
- Taste just like the real thing but made with a few easy swaps!
- A healthier version of a holiday classic (no added sugar!)
- Made with healthy ingredients like honey and coconut flour!
- Packed with healthy fats, 4 grams of protein and less sugar!
- A delicious treat for any holiday party this time of year (or just keeping in the freezer for a sweet treat!)
- Peanut butter: since peanut butter is the one of the main ingredients in this recipe, you want to make sure to use a peanut butter you love the taste of! I love using a creamy, salted peanut butter for these but if you’re using a natural peanut butter be sure to stir it really well and you may need to add extra coconut flour to get the right consistency. If using an unsalted peanut butter, you may need to add additional salt.
- Honey: you can also use pure maple syrup (or your sweetener of choice).
- Coconut flour: we use coconut flour as a healthier alternative to the traditional powdered sugar used to stabilize the peanut butter for these healthy buckeyes.
- Vanilla extract: enhances the flavor by adding a subtle sweetness in addition to the honey (or sweetener of choice).
- Chocolate: I love using a combination of dark chocolate melting wafers and semi-sweet chocolate chips! I feel like the mix gives these peanut butter balls the perfect amount of rich chocolate flavor that’s not too bitter and that pairs perfectly with the creamy, sweet, salty peanut butter.
- Nut butter: use almond butter or cashew butter for a fun twist on this healthy buckeye recipe. You can also use sunflower seed butter if you’re looking to make them peanut allergy safe.
- Type of chocolate: you can also use milk chocolate, dark chocolate chips or white chocolate. Feel free to mix different kinds of chocolate together to get your desired chocolate shell flavor.
- Chocolate ratio: you can totally adjust the chocolate coating to peanut butter mixture ratio based on your preference. Love chocolate? Fully submerge your peanut butter ball into the chocolate. Or, if you prefer more peanut butter you can just dip the peanut balls halfway or 3/4 way into the melted chocolate.
- Coating: If you want to add some extra texture or flavor, you can roll the balls in finely chopped nuts (like crushed peanuts, almonds, or pecans), sprinkles, or even a pinch of sea salt.
How To Make
The full printable recipe is below, but let me walk you through the process so you know what to expect when you’re making it!
1. Add the peanut butter, honey, coconut flour, vanilla and salt to a medium bowl and mix with a wooden spoon until combined.
2. Line a small 9×13 sheet pan (or flat plate) with parchment paper. Use a greased 1 Tbsp scoop to scoop a heaping tablespoon (~20g) of dough onto the baking sheet. You should get about 15. Grease palms with nonstick spray and roll into balls, shape and smooth as needed. Place balls in the freezer/fridge to chill and set while you melt the chocolate (If at any point the dough is too sticky you can place it in the fridge to make it easier to work with).
3. Add chocolate chips and melting wafers to a heat safe bowl.
4. Melt chocolate in the microwave in 15-second bursts stirring in between (or over a double boiler). Stir until melted and smooth.
5. Gather the peanut butter balls and two forks. Working one at a time, place a ball on one fork and dip into the chocolate. Use the other fork to help coat. Let extra chocolate drip off and place back on the parchment paper lined baking sheet.
6. Repeat for all the balls then place in the fridge/freezer for about 30 minutes or until the chocolate is set.
Store in an airtight freezer-safe bag or sealed container in the freezer.
Helpful Tips
- Room temperature ingredients: Make sure your peanut butter is room temperature when you go to mix your dough. If your peanut butter is too cold or stiff, it will be harder to mix with the other ingredients. Let it come to room temperature to ensure a smooth and easy mixture.
- Chill the dough: Once mixed together, you can chill the peanut butter mixture for about 30 minutes in the fridge. This makes it easier to handle and shape, and it helps prevent the balls from becoming too soft during the dipping process. Also, if at any time during scooping and rolling the dough because too sticky, you can place it back in the fridge to firm up.
- Keep stored in the freezer: I personally like the keep these stored in the freezer! If you prefer them a little softer to eat, you can take them out about ~5 minutes before serving.
Can I use a different flour besides coconut flour?
Coconut flour is much more absorbent than other flours ( i.e. almond flour, oat flour) so it allows us to use less to keep calories a little lower. But since it is more absorbent, you would have to 3-4x the amount if you wanted to replace with another flour.
Can I add protein powder to these peanut butter balls?
Yes, if you want to add protein add a scoop of protein powder to the peanut butter mixture. You may need to adjust the amount of peanut butter or add a splash of milk to maintain the right texture. You can also mix in chia seeds or ground flaxseeds for additional protein and omega-3s.
How long do these healthy peanut butter balls last in the freezer?
If stored properly, these chocolate peanut butter balls will last up to 3 months in the freezer. Just make sure to try to squeeze as much air out of the bag each time to prevent freezer burn.
Did you make this? If you snap a photo, please be sure leave a review, tag me on Instagram or TikTok at @LaurenFitFoodie or hashtag #LaurenFitFoodie so I can see your creations!
Healthy Buckeyes (Chocolate Peanut Butter Balls)
Ingredients
- 3/4 cup peanut butter (180g) creamy & salted
- 1/4 cup honey (84g)
- 1/2 cup coconut flour (64g)
- 1/2 tsp vanilla extract
- 1/4 tsp salt
Chocolate coating:
- 1/3 cup dark chocolate melting wafers (60g)
- 1/3 cup semi-sweet chocolate chips (60g)
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Instructions
- Add the peanut butter, honey, coconut flour, vanilla and salt to a medium bowl and mix with a wooden spoon until combined.
- Line a small 9×13 sheet pan (or flat plate) with parchment paper. Use a greased 1 Tbsp scoop to scoop a heaping tablespoon (~20g) of dough onto the baking sheet. You should get about 15.
- Grease palms with nonstick spray and roll into balls, shape and smooth as needed. Place balls in the freezer/fridge to chill and set while you melt the chocolate (If at any point the dough is too sticky you can place it in the fridge to make it easier to work with).
- Add chocolate chips and melting wafers to a heat safe bowl. Melt chocolate in the microwave in 15-second bursts stirring in between (or over a double boiler). Stir until melted and smooth.
- Gather the peanut butter balls and two forks. Working one at a time, place a ball on one fork and dip into the chocolate. Use the other fork to help coat. Let extra chocolate drip off and place back on the parchment paper lined baking sheet. Repeat for all the balls then place in the fridge/freezer for about 30 minutes or until the chocolate is set.
Notes
Nutrition Information
Nutrition is hand-calculated and accurate. No autocalulations! However, note that values can vary based on the brands you use and if you substitute ingredients.
