Healthy buckeyes are made with only five ingredients and are easy to make! They are the perfect no-bake dessert.
These healthier buckeyes are amazing! You would never know that they are made with a healthy twist on the traditional recipe which contains a lot of added sugar.
There are some sweet treats that belong on the table during the holiday season like healthier peanut blossoms cookies, old-fashioned butter cookies, almond toffee, and of course these healthy buckeyes!
Why you will 🤍 this recipe
- They are less sweet, made with less sugar, natural peanut butter, almond flour, and no powdered sugar.
- Healthier buckeye balls are naturally sweetened with maple syrup and taste delicious!
Here is what you will need
This is an overview of the ingredients and steps to make this recipe; scroll down for a printable recipe card with exact measurements and detailed instructions.
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🛒Ingredients
- Natural unsweetened peanut butter
- Almond flour
- Real maple syrup
- Dark chocolate chips or chocolate squares (at least 60% cacao)
- Coconut oil
🥄Equipment
- Medium Mixing Bowl -
- Parchment Paper
- Baking Sheet
- Small Cookie Scoop
- Toothpicks or small spoon
How to make this healthy buckeye balls recipe
Prepare: Line a baking sheet with parchment paper or waxed paper and set it aside. Measure out the ingredients.
Step 1.
Place the almond flour and peanut butter into a mixing bowl. Use a wooden spoon or hand mixer to combine the peanut butter together.
Step 2.
Add the maple syrup and stir until everything is combined. Place the dough in the refrigerator for 15 to 20 minutes.
Step 3.
Remove the dough from the refrigerator and roll the dough into balls that are about ¾ to 1 inch in size.
Step 4.
Add the chocolate to a saucepan with the coconut oil and melt the chocolate over medium heat. Alternatively, place the chocolate and coconut oil in a microwave-safe bowl and melt it in the microwave.
Step 5.
Dip the peanut butter balls into the melted chocolate using a toothpick or small spoon.
Step 6.
Let the excess chocolate drip off of the balls before placing them onto the parchment paper.
Ingredient Notes & Substitutions
Peanut Butter. Look for natural peanut butter that does not have any added sugar. Peanut butter can be substituted one for one with any type of nut butter such as almond butter or cashew butter.
Almond Flour. Helps to form the peanut butter into a dough without adding more sugar to the buckeye balls. You can substitute the almond flour with an equal amount of oat flour.
Maple Syrup adds enough sweetness to the healthy buckeyes without overpowering the peanut butter and dark chocolate in this recipe. Maple syrup can be substituted with an equal amount of honey in this recipe.
Dark Chocolate Chips contain a little less sugar and additives than milk chocolate and we love the flavor of dark chocolate. If you prefer milk chocolate, you can substitute milk chocolate for dark chocolate.
Coconut Oil helps to melt the chocolate into a smooth texture which makes it easy to dip the peanut butter balls into. It can be replaced with avocado oil or your favorite vegetable oil.
How to Store Buckeye Peanut Butter Balls
Refrigerate buckeye balls in a glass container for up to two weeks.
Freeze Buckeye balls by arranging them on a cookie sheet and placing them in the freezer for about an hour.
Once they are frozen remove them from the tray and store them in a freezer container for up to 3 months.
To thaw the frozen buckeye balls, leave them out a room temperature for 30 minutes to an hour or just leave them in the refrigerator overnight.
They also taste pretty good frozen!
💡Tips
- A small cookie scoop to will help to form the buckeye balls into uniformly sized balls.
- Use a teaspoon or toothpick to dip the peanut butter balls into the melted chocolate.
- If you use a toothpick to dip the peanut butter balls, smooth out the top of the peanut butter ball with the back of a spoon or your fingers.
- Depending on the brand of flour that you use, the consistency of the dough may differ. Add more peanut butter if it's too dry and does not shape easily. If it's too soft and will not shape, add a little more flour until it reaches the right consistency.
Healthy Buckeyes Questions Answered
Yes! You can but you will need to adjust the amount of flour since coconut flour absorbs more liquid. Start with ¼ cup and adjust the amount of flour from there. Depending on the brand of coconut flour you may need to add more flour for peanut butter.
Peanut butter buckeye balls look very similar to the nut from a buckeye tree which is native to Ohio.
The dough does not have to be chilled, but it will make it much easier to form the balls. If you are short on time, try placing them in the freezer for 5 to 10 minutes.
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How to Melt Chocolate For Buckeye Balls
Melt the chocolate on top of the stove - Place the chocolate with the coconut oil in a small saucepan and heat it over low heat, often stirring until the chocolate melts and is smooth in texture - gradually add up to a teaspoon more of coconut oil to adjust the texture if necessary.
Melt the chocolate in the microwave - in a pyrex (heatproof) dish, set the timer for 30 seconds, and give the chocolate a stir, repeat at 30-second intervals until all the chocolate has melted. If it is too thick, add ½ to 1 teaspoon of melted coconut oil.
Here are the most commonly asked questions about sweet and spicy pickles. If your question isn't answered below, leave me a comment below and I will get back to you as soon as I can.
Healthy Buckeye Balls Recipe Variations
- Dark chocolate salted buckeye balls. Add a pinch up to a quarter teaspoon of sea salt to the peanut butter dough when mixing and sprinkle the finished buckeyes with a dash of sea salt.
- Vegan healthy buckeyes. Use vegan chocolate chips such as Enjoy Life Chocolate Chips to make vegan buckeyes.
- Buckeye bars. Instead of rolling the dough into balls, use a rolling pin and roll the dough out, and spread the melted chocolate on top. Place the mixture in the refrigerator for an hour to set and then cut them into squares.
Try These Healthy Treats
- Maple Glazed Cashews
- Cranberry Dark Chocolate Almond Bark
- Peppermint Chocolate Bites
- Peanut Butter Blossoms Cookies
- Magic Cookie Bars
- Bourbon Balls
📖 Recipe
Click on serving size to scale this recipe
Ingredients
- 1 ½ cups natural peanut butter
- ½ cup almond flour
- 1 tablespoon natural maple syrup
- 6 ounces dark chocolate
Instructions
- Mix the peanut butter and almond flour together in a bowl.
- Add the maple syrup and stir until all of the ingredients are mixed together.
- Place the dough in the refrigerator for 15 to 20 minutes.
- Remove the dough from the refrigerator and form the mixture into balls.
- Melt the chocolate on top of your stove or in the microwave, if the chocolate is too thick add up to a teaspoon of coconut oil to thin it out once it has melted.
- Dip the peanut butter balls into the melted chocolate and place them back in the refrigerator until the chocolate hardens.
Notes
Nutrition
Nutrition information provided is an estimate and can vary based on cooking methods and ingredients used
Lesly Figueroa says
This recipe looks delicious and healthy,
anne says
Thanks Lesly!
Jenny says
Chocolate and peanut butter are my favorite dessert combinations!!! Peanut butter balls are the best Christmas treat!
anne says
Thanks Jenny!They are a favorite of ours!
Karen says
I can't believe I've never had a buckeye! Yours sound delicious.
Lisa R. says
Looks good!
Lydia says
I LOVE buckeyes! And being able to make them healthier and enjoy them a bit more guilt free sounds amazing.
Ang P says
I love that these are GF! Half my family has celiac disease so I always try to bring a treat that will work for them, which isn't easy! Thanks for the great recipe!!
Julie says
I love that this is such a simple recipe with just 5 ingredients!
anne says
Thanks Julie!
Gaylin says
Substitute almond flour for powdered sugar! I like it!
Kristin says
These are so yummy! My mom makes extra and I eat them as a sweet treat when I'm studying. Delicious and healthy! 🙂
Debi says
These are my kinds of treats! A little healthy & all delicious! Thanks for the giveaway as well.
anne says
Thanks Debi and you are welcome for the give-away!
Nichi - The Mandatory Mooch says
What a great holiday treat!
Deb Clark says
So simple and so good! Just had to swing back and say I made these earlier this week and we loved them. Thank you for a great recipe!
Jamie H says
Can you believe I've never had buckeyes? I'm a huge fan of the peanut butter/ chocolate combination, though, so this needs to happen at my house!
Eileen Kelly says
Wow, I am so happy! I have always loved buckeyes but also stopped eating them because of the sugar. These are perfect and delicious.
Mary Cloud says
Maple Syrup, Peanut Butter and Chocolate all sounds good together
Jillian Too says
I love that the recipe is simple with just 5 ingredients.
Argie M says
I never doubt any of your recipes - and have enjoyed every one I have tried. Can't wait for more!
anne says
Thank you Argie!
Connie Alexander says
Great recipe Anne! I haven't had buckeyes in many years. They are loaded with my favorite things, peanut butter, dark chocolate, and maple. YUM! Then you create a way to make them healthier using almond flour, genius! Thank you so much for this amazing recipe, I can't wait to try them. And thank you for the giveaway! Have a happy, safe, and blessed holiday season!
anne says
Thank you Connie, enjoy!
Heather H says
I could eat these all day, so so good!
ChihYu says
So fun to make and so delicious!
Don says
Wow, these look so good and barely have any sugar in them. Loving this!
Kelly says
These buckeye balls are sure to be a hit! Thank you for showing us how to make them healthier with all the great flavor!
Hope says
I have never tried a buckeye - I don't think we get them in New Zealand but they looks very tasty! Peanut butter and chocolate are one of the best combinations!
Raia Todd says
I've always wanted to make these, but have never tried. This will be the year! Your recipe looks SO easy - I can't wait to try!
Zuzana says
they look very good
jennifer says
I love that you've incorporated better ingredients to make a healthier dessert option -- this is always a favorite at my house, who can resist nut butter and chocolate!?
Stacey L Crawford says
Yummy, these were so simple to make & so good!