How to Make Healthy Vegan Buckeyes
If you have a big ol’ sweet tooth like me, you NEED to give these chocolate-covered peanut butter balls a try! They are simple and relatively quick to make, healthy, and absolutely delicious! I adore them because they make for a perfect pick-me-up snack or a healthier dessert. These vegan buckeyes basically taste like Reese’s peanut butter cups. So, if you like those, then I am confident you will love this recipe!
What Are Buckeyes?
Buckeyes are balls made typically from creamy peanut butter, vanilla, butter, and powdered sugar. They are then rolled into balls of dough and dipped in chocolate. They’re very creamy, nutty, and chocolatey! However, I made my recipe far healthier by using no butter and no powdered sugar. I use coconut oil instead of butter, and Medjool dates and maple syrup instead of powdered sugar. I also use peanut butter, almonds, almond flour, vanilla extract, and salt. Using my food processor, I blend the ingredients until mostly smooth, and then I roll the dough into balls. Then, I top them off with stevia-sweetened dark chocolate!
Why Are They Called Buckeyes?
This no-bake sweet treat resembles buckeye nuts. The buckeye is the state tree of Ohio, and this treat is trendy there, as well as in its neighboring states. My buckeyes look a little less authentic because I drizzle the chocolate on top, whereas most people dip their peanut butter balls into the chocolate using a toothpick. I find drizzling the chocolate on top is faster and easier!
How Do I Store Them?
I store my vegan buckeyes in an airtight container in a single layer. If they fit, you can layer them between sheets of parchment or wax paper. These need to stay chilled, so you can either store them in the fridge or the freezer. I always keep mine in the freezer because then they last much longer. They are totally edible straight from the freezer; however they are tougher on the teeth then, so please keep that in mind. If you keep them in the fridge, the texture of the peanut butter balls is going to be much more creamy.
Check out my other healthy sweet treats!
- Easy & Healthy Vegan Ferrero Rocher Truffles
- Healthy Dark Chocolate Vegan Hobnobs
- Delicious Healthy Vegan Pudding
- Easy, Healthy, & Delicious Vegan Turtle Candies
- Healthy Vegan Caramel Apple Popcorn
If you make my healthy vegan buckeyes recipe, don’t forget to post a picture to Instagram, tag me @chefsummerstorm, and #gardengrub so I can see your recreation!
How to Make Healthy Vegan Buckeyes
Equipment
- Food Processor
Ingredients
Peanut Butter Balls
- 3/4 cup peanut butter, 100% plain
- 3 Medjool dates, pits removed and discarded (You MUST use MEDJOOL dates!)
- 1/2 cup + 2 tbsp super fine almond flour
- 2 tbsp blanched slivered almonds
- 1 tbsp coconut oil (Make sure to use the kind that is solid and NOT liquid at room temperature!)
- 1 tbsp maple syrup, 100% pure
- 1/2 tsp vanilla extract, 100% pure
- 1/8 tsp kosher salt
Chocolate Coating
- 1/2 cup chocolate of choice (I always use Lily's Stevia-Sweetened Dark Chocolate Chips!)
- 1 tsp coconut oil
Instructions
Peanut Butter Balls
- Add all of the ingredients into the food processor and process until mostly smooth. A little bit of texture is normal and okay!
- Line a large sheet pan with a piece of parchment paper. Measure out one(flat) tablespoon portions of the peanut butter mixture and place them on the prepared sheet pan. Then, give them a few squeezes and roll them into tight, smooth, round balls.
- Place the sheet pan into the freezer to allow the balls to chill for at least 20 minutes.
Chocolate Coating
- Fill a small saucepot with about 1 to 2 inches of water. Place the pot over medium-low heat.
- Place the ingredients into a small glass bowl and place the bowl on top of the pot. Stir the chocolate occasionally until it is completely melted and super smooth.
- Once the peanut butter balls have chilled in the freezer for at least 20 minutes, you can evenly distribute the chocolate on top of each one. Each ball gets roughly one teaspoon of chocolate. The easiest way to do this is by using a regular eating spoon and by slowly drizzling the melted chocolate on top.
- Place these back into the freezer to completely harden the chocolate. Then, you can either store them in an airtight container in the fridge OR the freezer. This is a personal preference. Hold them in the freezer if you would like the peanut butter balls to be a tad firmer, and hold them in the fridge if you'd like them to remain creamy and soft.
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