5 Ingredient Healthy Buckeyes Recipe (No Powdered Sugar)
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Healthy buckeyes use just five simple ingredients and skip the powdered sugar completely. Despite the changes, they have the same creamy peanut butter center and rich chocolate coating.
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Traditional buckeye balls are undeniably tasty, but I enjoy giving classic recipes a healthier twist. If you’re not a fan of overly sweet treats, this lighter version tones down the sugar while keeping the familiar flavor you love; no one will suspect they are made with better-for-you ingredients! They are the perfect addition to your holiday dessert tray, along with healthier peanut blossom cookies, old-fashioned butter cookies, almond toffee , and gluten-free oatmeal cookies.
What makes these buckeyes more healthy?
Here is what you will need
This is a brief summary of the ingredients needed to make this healthy buckeyes recipe and a convenient shopping list from my Instacart affiliate link. For a printable recipe card with exact measurements and detailed instructions, scroll down to the recipe card section.
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Ingredient List
How to make healthy buckeye balls
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 3/4 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.
How to Store Buckeye Balls
Store in the refrigerator in an airtight container for up to two weeks. For longer storage, you can arrange them on a cookie sheet and pop them in the freezer for about an hour. Once frozen, remove them from the cookie tray and place them into a freezer container for up to three 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, or you can enjoy them frozen!
Tips & Tricks
- A small cookie scoop will help to form the buckeye balls into uniformly sized balls.
- Dip the peanut butter balls into the melted chocolate using a teaspoon or toothpick.
- 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.
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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 1/4 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.
Chilling the dough makes it much easier to form the dough into balls. If you are short on time, try placing the dough into the freezer for 5 to 10 minutes before rolling into balls.
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 1/2 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 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
- Gluten-Free Peanut Butter Blossoms Cookies
- Magic Cookie Bars
- Bourbon Balls
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Healthier Buckeye Balls
Ingredients
- 1 1/2 cups natural peanut butter
- 1/2 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
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This recipe looks delicious and healthy,
Thanks Lesly!
Chocolate and peanut butter are my favorite dessert combinations!!! Peanut butter balls are the best Christmas treat!
Thanks Jenny!They are a favorite of ours!
I can’t believe I’ve never had a buckeye! Yours sound delicious.
Looks good!
I LOVE buckeyes! And being able to make them healthier and enjoy them a bit more guilt free sounds amazing.
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!!
I love that this is such a simple recipe with just 5 ingredients!
Thanks Julie!
Substitute almond flour for powdered sugar! I like it!
These are so yummy! My mom makes extra and I eat them as a sweet treat when I’m studying. Delicious and healthy! 🙂
These are my kinds of treats! A little healthy & all delicious! Thanks for the giveaway as well.
Thanks Debi and you are welcome for the give-away!
What a great holiday treat!
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!
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!
Wow, I am so happy! I have always loved buckeyes but also stopped eating them because of the sugar. These are perfect and delicious.
Maple Syrup, Peanut Butter and Chocolate all sounds good together
I love that the recipe is simple with just 5 ingredients.
I never doubt any of your recipes – and have enjoyed every one I have tried. Can’t wait for more!
Thank you Argie!
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!
Thank you Connie, enjoy!
I could eat these all day, so so good!
So fun to make and so delicious!
Wow, these look so good and barely have any sugar in them. Loving this!
These buckeye balls are sure to be a hit! Thank you for showing us how to make them healthier with all the great flavor!
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!
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!
they look very good
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!?
Yummy, these were so simple to make & so good!