These healthy buckeyes are perfectly smooth and gooey on the inside with a chocolatey crunch on the outside. Not only are these paleo, gluten-free, keto and vegan, but they are easy to make with only 5 simple ingredients.
This healthy Buckeye Balls Recipe is another one of my favorite snacks that I always keep a batch in the freezer. They are so easy to make and make the perfect pre or post-workout snacks.
The best workout motivation.
Buckeye Balls are one of those classic Christmas recipes that are just so good. Well, these come pretty close to the original. Even better? they are way healthier and can be enjoyed all year round without all of the guilt.
How to Make Healthy Buckeye Balls
These Buckeye Balls are so simple to make. All you need is your favorite nut butter, date paste (blended Medjool dates), coconut flour, sea salt and your favorite chocolate used for melting.
If you want the classic Buckeye Ball option, go ahead and use peanut butter.
Sunbutter (ground sunflower seeds) and tahini (ground sesame seeds) would also work well in this recipe if you need nut-free options.
When choosing your nut butter, your best option would be one that is smooth and drizzly. I like to go to Whole Foods and ground fresh almonds to get my almond butter, it’s a perfect consistency for this.
Date paste is used to sweeten this recipe instead of refined sugar. Medjool dates make a great alternative to refined sugar because they are naturally very sweet and are loaded with essential nutrients. They also have some pretty great health benefits like lowering cholesterol, bone health support, bowel regularity, and they are great for your skin too.
To make date paste you simply remove the pits from the dates and blend the dates in a blender or food processor.
Note: Fresh and large dates are the best to make date paste. However, if the dates you have are only forming little pieces, don’t worry, they will be blended in once you add the nut butter in.
Why I Love This Buckeye Ball Recipe
Aside from these healthy Buckeye Balls being so delicious and addictive, they are so simple and easy to make. It’s a great way to get the kids involved in the holiday baking and they don’t require any bake time.
They are also very easily modified to meet any dietary requirements or food preferences so it’s easy to make these enjoyable for everyone. You won’t even have to feel guilty about eating too many! Trust me, you’ll eat more than you planned.
Other Add-Ins:
- Oat Flour:
You can also supercharge these buckeye balls by adding gluten-free oat flour to turn then into a pre/post-workout snack!
The gluten-free flour adds complex carbs that will provide steady energy along with the healthy fat and protein from the nut butter.
- Peanut Butter
I love using half peanut butter and half almond butter. You can also replace the almond butter completely with peanut butter. What can beat peanut butter and chocolate after all?
*Please note that the oat-flour or peanut butter will keep these Buckeye Balls gluten-free and vegan, but it would no longer suit paleo and keto diet guidelines.
How to Store These Healthy Buckeyes
I like to store these in the freezer. They don’t need long to defrost since the center is so gooey and soft and they keep longer than if you put them in the fridge (if you don’t eat them all before that!)
What are your favorite snacks at this time of the year? Leave a comment below!
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You May Also Love these No-Bake Snacks:
1. No Bake Chocolate Fudge Bars
2. No-Bake Peanut Butter Chocolate Bars
3. Healthy Peanut Butter Cups
Easy Buckeye Balls (Paleo, Vegan, Keto)
These Paleo Buckeye Balls are another one of my favorite no-bake desserts. Not only are these paleo, gluten-free, keto and vegan, but they are easy to make with only 5simple ingredients.
Ingredients
- 1 1/2 cup smooth almond butter *
- 6 medjool dates **
- 1/4 cup coconut oil
- 3/4 cup coconut flour ***
- 2 cups dark chocolate bars/chips melted
- 1/2 tsp sea salt (optional)
Instructions
- In a food processor, blend up 6 - 8 Medjool dates, until paste-like.
- Add in almond butter, coconut oil (softened in microwave), and a pinch of salt. Blend until smooth. Slowly add in the coconut flour and combine until it forms a thick batter. Place in the fridge for an hour to chill. The batter will thicken and harden more (from the coconut oil hardening up) once it is chilled.
- Remove from the refrigerator and use a cookie dough scoop or your hand to form preferred sized almond butter balls. Place them on a parchment-lined cookie sheet. (If it's too sticky to roll, wet your hands or leave the batter in the freezer for a little bit longer).
- Stick a toothpick in each of the almond balls then place them in the freezer to set for at least an hour.
- Melt your favorite chocolate bars or chocolate chips in the microwave or using a double pot melting method (you can find the method in this post).
- Once the balls are completed chilled (or frozen), remove the cookie sheet from the freezer. Hold the toothpick and dip each ball into the chocolate just enough to leave a hole top. Return to the cookie sheet and remove the toothpick.
- Use the pads of your fingers to smooth over the toothpick marks.
- Place the buckeyes back in the freezer to set for at least 30 minutes. They are best kept in the freezer. Enjoy!
Notes
- * You can also use peanut butter if not following the Paleo diet. My favorite is to use half almond butter and half peanut butter.
- ** For keto-friendly option, you can use Keto Powdered Sugar like this one.
- *** Add extra coconut flour, 1 tablespoon at a time if the batter is very liquidy.
- Since there is no powdered sugar added to these buckeye balls, they will melt fairly easily once they are removed from the freezer.
Note: The Nutrition Fact below may vary depending on the nut butter, sweetener, and chocolate you choose to you.
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Nutrition Information:
Yield:
16Serving Size:
1Amount Per Serving: Calories: 312Total Fat: 21gSaturated Fat: 10gTrans Fat: 0gUnsaturated Fat: 13gCholesterol: 2mgSodium: 94mgCarbohydrates: 18gFiber: 6gSugar: 16gProtein: 8g
The Nutrition Facts above are specific to the ingredients I chose to use for this recipe, which may vary.
Looks wonderful!
They are so good 🙂 Thank you!