These Vegan Buckeyes are chocolate-covered truffles that melt right in your mouth! This healthy buckeye recipe is made with cashew butter instead of peanut butter and no refined-sugar and the perfect holiday treat. Vegan, gluten-free, dairy-free, paleo-friendly with low carb, keto sweetener options.
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Healthy Buckeye Recipe
Looking for a tasty allergen-friendly addition to your holiday cookie plate? These Vegan Buckeyes are sweet, creamy and easy to make with rich nut butter and smooth dark chocolate. No bake, refined sugar-free, gluten-free, paleo, dairy-free and made with just a few simple ingredients, they’re perfect for any guests with allergies or dietary concerns.
This buckeye ball recipe is simple to customize and and can be made sugar-free with the use of a low-carb or keto sweetener.
What Are Buckeye Balls?
If you’ve never heard of buckeye balls before, now is your chance to try one of the most addicting holiday desserts ever! Traditionally, buckeye balls are peanut butter balls that are coated in chocolate. Named for their resemblance to the nut of a buckeye tree, this version is healthier, peanut-free and just as delicious.
Recipe Ingredients
The ingredient list is short and sweet for buckeye candy. Substitutions can easily be made to accomodate different dietary needs!
- Cashew Butter: Our preferred nut butter choice in place of peanut butter. You may also sub with almond butter, pecan butter or even sunflower seed butter to keep these buckeye balls nut-free.
- Vegan Butter: You can sub with refined coconut oil, or ghee if you’re not dairy-free.
- Maple Syrup: Sub with Lakanto sugar-free maple syrup or yacon syrup to make Keto buckeye balls.
- Vanilla Extract: Be sure to use a high quality extract for the best results.
- Superfine Almond Flour: To hold the truffles together in place all-purpose flour.
- Fine Sea Salt: Just a pinch!
- Optional Plant-based Protein Powder: for added protein. We like NuZest Just Clean or Sprout Living Pea Protein but you can use your favorite.
For the chocolate coating
- Dairy-Free Chocolate Chips: You could use chopped chocolate instead if you want to. We like Hu’s Kitchen Gems or Lily’s Sweets.
- Coconut Oil: You’ll need to mix about 1 tbsp of coconut oil in with your chocolate to help it melt.
How to Make Vegan Buckeyes
These buckeye balls have to be the easiest Christmas dessert of all time. You just have to make the dough, chill it, shape your buckeyes, dip them in the melted chocolate and briefly chill them again.
- Make Dough: In a large mixing bowl, add cashew butter, coconut oil, maple syrup and vanilla. Use a fork to mix until smooth. Stir in the almond flour and salt and mix well until combined.
- Chill: Place the bowl in the fridge for 30 minutes or the freezer for 15 minutes, until dough is chilled and firm enough to roll into balls. Meanwhile, line a large baking sheet with parchment paper.
- Shape Buckeyes: Once the dough is chilled, roll into 1/2-tablespoon sized dough balls and place them on the prepared baking sheet.
- Add a Toothpick: Stick a toothpick into each ball for easy dipping. Transfer the entire baking sheet to the freezer while you melt the chocolate.
- Melt Chocolate: Place the chocolate and coconut oil into a heat-safe bowl and melt over a double-boiler or in the microwave in 30 second increments, stirring well in between.
- Dip in Chocolate & Chill: Remove the baking sheet from the freezer and use the toothpicks to dip each ball into the chocolate more than halfway – leaving the top undipped – and place the coated buckeyes back on the parchment paper. Return the pan to the freezer for 10-15 minutes, or until the chocolate is set. Remove the toothpicks before serving.
Tips for Success
Even though this recipe is super straightforward, it doesn’t hurt to share some quick tips! Here are a couple things to keep in mind when making buckeye balls.
- Use a Measuring Spoon: Measure out your dough balls with a 1/2 tbsp measuring spoon to make sure they’re all the same size.
- Don’t Cover in Chocolate Completely: If you want your buckeye balls to have that signature buckeye look, leave some nut butter uncovered around the toothpick. Another reason these are called buckeye balls is because they look like the eye of a deer!
- Try Different Chocolates: Experiment with the type of chocolate you use to make different kinds of buckeye balls. If you’re not dairy-free, you could even make some white chocolate ones!
- Decorate: If you want to add some holiday sparkle to your truffles, top them with festive sprinkles or edible glitter. If you’re adding sprinkles, you’ll want to do so while the chocolate is still warm so they stick.
How to Store Extra Buckeye Balls
Keep leftover buckeye balls in a well-covered container in the fridge. They will stay fresh for up to a week! You can eat them cold or bring them to room temperature before enjoying.
How to Freeze
These vegan buckeyes are also freezer-friendly! As long as they’re well-covered, they should last for up to 2 months. Thaw them overnight in the fridge before eating, and don’t worry if you notice some condensation on the chocolate after they thaw – that’s completely normal!
Looking for more easy vegan desserts to satisfy your sweet tooth? Try these!
These Vegan Buckeyes are chocolate-covered truffles that melt right in your mouth! This healthy buckeye recipe is made with cashew butter instead of peanut butter and no refined-sugar and the perfect holiday treat. Vegan, gluten-free, dairy-free, paleo-friendly with low carb, keto sweetener options.
- 1 1/4 cups smooth unsalted cashew butter , or sub with any nut butter or seed butter of choice
- 2 tbsp softened vegan butter may sub with refined coconut oil or ghee if not dairy-free
- 1/3 cup maple syrup , for low carb/keto, sub with ¼ cup Lakanto sugar-free maple syrup or yacon syrup.
- 1/2 tsp pure vanilla extract
- 1/4 cup superfine blanched almond flour
- 2 tablespoon plant-based protein powder , we like NuZest Just Clean or Sprout Living Pea Protein but you can use your favorite. If you prefer not to use protein powder, you can use 1/3 cup (instead of 1/4 cup) of superfine almond flour instead.
- 1/8 tsp fine sea salt
- 1 2/3 cups dairy-free chocolate chips or chopped chocolate (we like Hu’s Kitchen Gems or Lily’s Sweets)
- 1 tbsp coconut oil
In a large mixing bowl, add cashew butter, vegan butter, maple syrup and vanilla. Use a fork to mix until smooth. Stir in almond flour and salt and mix well until combined.
In a large mixing bowl, add cashew butter, coconut oil, maple syrup and vanilla. Use a fork to mix until smooth. Stir in almond flour and salt and mix well until combined. Place the bowl in the fridge for 30 minutes or the freezer for 15 minutes, until dough is chilled and firm enough to roll into balls.
Meanwhile, line a large baking sheet with parchment paper.Once the dough is chilled, roll into ½ - 1 Tablespoon sized dough balls and place them on the prepared baking sheet. Stick a toothpick into each ball. Transfer the entire baking sheet to the freezer while you melt the chocolate.
Place the chocolate and coconut oil into a heat-safe bowl and melt over a double-boiler or in the microwave in 30 second increments, stirring well in between.
Remove the baking sheet from the freezer and use the toothpicks to dip each ball into the chocolate more than halfway, leaving the top undipped, and place the coated buckeyes back on the parchment paper.
Return the pan to the freezer for 10-15 minutes, or until the chocolate is set. Sprinkle a few with chopped nuts. Remove the toothpicks before serving
How to Store Extra Buckeye Balls
Keep leftover buckeye balls in a well-covered container in the fridge. They will stay fresh for up to a week! You can eat them cold or bring them to room temperature before enjoying.
How to Freeze
These vegan buckeyes are also freezer-friendly! As long as they're well-covered, they should last for up to 2 months. Thaw them overnight in the fridge before eating, and don't worry if you notice some condensation on the chocolate after they thaw – that's completely normal!
GabBy -
These are so delicious! I’ve Already made them twice and so many people have asked For the recipe link! Thank you for an allergy friendly and healthy Recipe that tastes so indulgent!