Healthy Buckeyes (Chocolate Peanut Butter Bites)

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Chocolate and peanut butter are one of those classic combinations we can’t get enough of, so we had to create a recipe for healthy buckeyes. Buckeyes are essentially peanut butter balls dipped in chocolate and they. are. so. good. Our healthy buckeyes are the perfect dessert, snack, or post-workout treat! The creamy peanut butter and almond flour add a nutty flavor while the protein powder and honey add a hint of sweetness. Dip the peanut butter bites into dark chocolate (and top with an extra drizzle) and boom – you have the perfect (healthier) buckeye!

A bite taken out of a healthy buckeye with more buckeyes in the background and a jug of milk.

Ingredients

Peanut butter – peanut butter is the star of the show in this recipe. We highly recommend using a natural peanut butter for a couple of reasons. One, it has less ingredients than the more processed peanut butters. Two, it’s runnier, making it easier to mix with the other ingredients!
Vanilla protein powder – this adds protein (obviously) as well as a sweetness to the peanut butter bites. A few of our favorite brands are BiPro, Muscle Milk, and Gold Standard. Be sure to check out the Nutrition Facts label to see how many carbohydrates and added sugars are in each serving. We also look for a third party certification whenever choosing supplements! If you want to make this recipe vegan, you can use a plant-based protein.
Almond flour – almond flour is used to help keep the buckeyes together as well as add a layer of nuttiness. We prefer to use a super-fine almond flour because of the texture.
Honey – while still sugar, honey adds a natural sweetness to these chocolate peanut butter bites. If you want to make the recipe vegan, you can use maple syrup!
Dark chocolate – while OG buckeyes use milk chocolate, you can use whatever type of chocolate you want! We went with dark to give these healthy buckeyes a rich, chocolately flavor. This recipe can be made vegan if you use dairy-free chocolate chips!
Coconut oil – the main reason we put a teaspoon of coconut oil in the melted chocolate chips is to help the chocolate solidify and become more like a chocolate “shell.” This addition isn’t 100% necessary but we like to include it!

Recipe FAQ

What are buckeyes?

Traditional buckeyes are peanut butter balls made with peanut butter, butter, and powdered sugar, and then dipped in chocolate fudge. These are delicious but we found a way to make them a littttttle bit healthier without compromising taste. Buckeyes are similar to peanut butter cups, just rolled into balls. So if you love peanut butter cups, you will love this recipe.

Are buckeyes supposed to be refrigerated?

Yes! Our recipe does require refrigeration (or freezing) because the chocolate will get soft at room temperature. If you store them in the freezer, just be sure to let them thaw out for ~10 minutes before eating!

How long can you keep buckeyes?

These buckeyes will last in the refrigerator for about 2 weeks or the freezer for 2 months (if you can keep them around that long). This healthy buckeyes recipe is better after you let them sit for a day or two to let the flavors realllllllly mix together.

What makes this buckeyes recipe healthy?

Our recipe omits the animal fats and cuts out a lot of the added sugar. We replace those ingredients with plant-based fats like more peanut butter and almond flour, as well as use the sweetness from the protein powder and honey!

A pile of healthy buckeyes drizzled with chocolate.

Other peanut butter recipes you’ll love

If you are a peanut butter lover like us, you need to check out these recipes next:

Healthy buckeyes (chocolate peanut butter bites) displayed on parchment paper with chocolate shavings and chips in the background.

Did you try our recipe?

If so, please rate and review it below! We would love to hear your thoughts. Also tag us on insta @theperfectpear8 so we can see your healthy buckeyes!