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Buckeye balls look like the nut from the Ohio State Buckeye tree. Typically, people leave a bit of the peanut butter showing in their Buckeye recipes, but I chose to cover the entire ball in chocolate–so mine don’t really look like the Buckeye nut. My healthy recipe for Buckeyes doesn’t contain any shortening, powdered sugar or oils either. Just four ingredients in this delicious homemade peanut butter cup recipe.

These gluten free healthy Peanut Butter Buckeyes are a protein-packed way to satisfy a chocolate and peanut butter craving! These peanut butter balls, or buckeyes, combine dark chocolate chips (I use dairy free), creamy peanut butter, sweet honey, and coconut flour together for a delicious and not too sweet treat.

collage with text for pinterest

Just give me the recipe!

I receive so many messages and emails asking about my recipes that I’ve decided to give a ton of helpful information and tips in every post so my community can be successful when making my recipes.

If you’d prefer to skip past the tips and special diet information for this recipe, simply scroll down to the bottom of this article for the printable Healthy Buckeye recipe!

hand holding buckeye with a bite taken out

Ingredients

The ingredients for these Buckeyes, or healthy peanut butter cups, are actually really simple. You might even have most of them on hand right now!

  • Creamy peanut butter: You could also use almond butter. Look at the ingredients on the package to find one that is only peanuts and salt or almonds and salt – even better if you can find one without salt, but make sure there’s no added sugar or oil in the nut butter you choose!
  • Coconut flour: You can use other flours, like almond flour, but you’ll have to eyeball the portions, as I have only made them with coconut flour.
  • Honey: I love using local honey! I have heard of some people using maple syrup instead, but I have not personally made this recipe that way.
  • Dark chocolate chips (melted): I often use Enjoy Life dairy free chocolate chips for these buckeyes.

Directions

  1. Mix the ingredients
    Mix peanut butter and honey with the coconut flour in a large bowl, using just enough flour to form a firm ball that stays together.
  2. Roll the Buckeyes
    Roll into 1 inch peanut butter balls and place onto a wax or parchment paper lined baking sheet. Place the balls in the freezer for several minutes to firm them up.
  3. Melt the chocolate
    Melt the chocolate on the stovetop or in the microwave. Make sure to stir the chocolate often and check that it doesn’t burn.
  4. Dip in chocolate
    Dip the balls in the melted chocolate to create a chocolate layer over the peanut butter.
  5. Freeze
    Once the balls are drizzled or dipped in chocolate, store these in the fridge or freezer until you’re ready to enjoy them.
collage of 6 images showing how to make healthy buckeyes

Recipe tips

  • If peanut butter mixture is still too sticky or soft, place in the freezer for 10 minutes and try again. I’ve found the best luck when I leave them in the freezer for 30 minutes or so and then take out half at a time to dip. 
  • If the peanut butter balls lose their shape after freezing just re-roll to form a ball.
  • You can freeze these! I recommend storing them in the freezer for up to two weeks. Then you can remove the buckeyes or peanut butter cups from the freezer and thaw on the counter for 15 minutes or so before enjoying.
  • If you’re looking to add coconut oil to your diet, this is a great place to “hide” it.
  • These buckeye balls might be a little difficult to roll and dip. If that happens to you, drizzling the chocolate over the balls will make them just as delicious as dipping them. Though keep in mind that drizzling uses a lot of chocolate, so be prepared for that!
  • I often make these dairy free by using Enjoy Life dark chocolate chips. They melt and coat the peanut butter balls the same as when you use traditional chocolate. 
  • You could also use pantry chocolate, like I did in this Mocha Coconut Bar recipe, but it’s quite a bit messier than store bought. I wouldn’t recommend it for this particular recipe.
  • If you can find unsalted peanut butter you may want to sprinkle these with a little sea salt before the chocolate hardens.
  • This is one of my go-to desserts in my healthy Thanksgiving meal plan.
chocolate covered peanut butter balls

Healthy Eating Plans

For Ultimate Portion Fix and 21 Day Fix, these are a treat swap. Remember, you get three treat swaps per week. 

2B Mindset: These are considered a “silly carb.” Make sure you are tracking them accordingly and eating sparingly. They should be used as a treat and not something you are eating everyday.

Weight Watchers: These Peanut Butter buckeyes are 4 points each on blue, green, and purple plans.

The points for the new 2022/2023 points plan is 4.

Looking for more healthy desserts?

These desserts are healthy and delicious! No refined sugar, and they use minimally processed ingredients. They’re always a hit at pot luck and happy hour, too!

hand holding buckeye with a bite taken out
4.43 from 35 ratings
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The BEST Healthy Buckeyes

Created by: Becca Ludlum
Prep Time 30 minutes
Freeze 30 minutes
Total Time 1 hour
Approximate Serving Size: 1 buckeye
Servings 40 Servings
These Healthy Buckeyes are a gluten free way to satisfy a peanut butter cup craving! Just four ingredients to a low sugar and healthy dessert–including honey and coconut flour!

Equipment

  • Mixing Bowls
  • Parchment Paper

Ingredients 

  • 2 cups peanut butter or almond butter
  • 2 tbsp honey
  • 1/2 cup coconut flour as needed to form balls
  • 1/2 cup dark chocolate chips melted

Instructions

  • Mix peanut butter and sweetener with coconut flour in a medium bowl, using just enough to form a firm ball that stays together. 2 cups peanut butter , 2 tbsp honey , 1/2 cup coconut flour
  • Roll into 1 inch peanut butter balls and place onto a wax paper lined baking sheet. Place the balls in the freezer for several minutes to firm up. If peanut butter mixture is still too sticky or soft, place in the freezer for 10 minutes and try again. I’ve found the best luck when I leave them in the freezer for 30 minutes or so and then take out half at a time to dip.
  • Melt the chocolate on the stovetop or in the microwave. Make sure to stir the chocolate often and check that it doesn't burn. 1/2 cup dark chocolate chips
  • Dip the balls in chocolate to coat.
  • Once the balls are dipped in chocolate, store these in the fridge or freezer until you’re ready to enjoy them.

Notes

Special Diet Information:
  • 21 Day Fix: 1 Buckeye is 1 Yellow Treat Swap
  • Weight Watchers: 4 Blue Points | 4 Purple Points | 4 Green Points | 2023 Points: 4
Remember, it’ll depend how big you make these for the serving size. Recipe makes roughly 40 but if you make them bigger or smaller you’ll need to recalculate the nutritional info. 

Nutrition

Serving: 1g | Calories: 88kcal | Carbohydrates: 5g | Protein: 3g | Fat: 6g | Saturated Fat: 2g | Cholesterol: 0mg | Sodium: 57mg | Potassium: 87mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 2g | Calcium: 12mg | Iron: 0.3mg

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14 Comments

  1. 5 stars
    These look so yummy! And I love that they are easy & healthy to make.

  2. Justine Howell says:

    5 stars
    These are my weakness, love that you made a healthier version!!

  3. Could you replace the flour with protein powder?

    1. I haven’t done it, but I don’t see why it wouldn’t work!! Let me know how they turn out!

  4. Could you replace coconut flour for almond flour?

    1. You can! I’d start with half the amount and slowly add it in, as coconut flour is super absorbent and almond flour isn’t :)

  5. Sheafferlynn says:

    Have you ever tried using pb2 instead of the regular peanut butter?

  6. Anonymous says:

    How much does it change the nutritional calculation if you use semi sweet instead of dark chocolate?

    1. It definitely adds some sugar :) I’d calculate the nutrition for both recipes using My Fitness Pal or another calculator so you see see exactly what the differences are.

  7. This recipe is a joke. Half a cup of flour didn’t do a think. The mixture was so spreadable. I put it in the freezer as suggested and nothing.

    1. If you use different flour or super thin peanut butter they won’t set up right–I’m happy to help you troubleshoot where it went wrong if you’d like. I make these every month or so, the recipe is definitely not a joke :)

  8. Christine says:

    5 stars
    Buckeyes and peanut butter cups were always my favorite candy. Unfortunately, I found out that I had a couple of auto-immune conditions and it required that I change my diet and cut out sugar. After a couple of years of working on my health I began to crave chocolate-peanut butter deserts. When I read your recipe I could not wait to try it. Hershey’s UNSWEETENED Dark Chocolate Chips melted beautifully and nicely covered the peanut butter balls. This recipe was the first I read that used coconut flour, and I had never even heard of it before. The flour nicely absorbed the oil in the peanut butter and my first Buckeyes batch was awesome! I just finished my second batch. Every day after lunch I have coffee and one of my delicious Buckeyes. Thank you for your recipe. Life is good!

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