Peanut Butter Buckeye Balls (Gluten-Free, Vegan)

What are Buckeye Balls?

Buckeye balls (also known as buckeye candy or peanut butter balls), are a very popular candy in the United States and is often enjoyed during the year-end holiday season. Buckeyes are a no-bake dessert made with a small ball of peanut butter fudge (approximately the size of a golf ball) that is then coated in a layer of chocolate.

The most characteristic part of the appearance of buckeye balls is a small round circle at the top that is often left uncoated, making it resemble the nuts from the Ohio buckeye tree (hence the name).

Essentially, these are gluten-free peanut butter balls with a slight coating of chocolate for the perfect sweet treat!

Peanut Butter + Chocolate = The Perfect Combination

As you know, we’re big fans of the combination of peanut butter and chocolate (check out these 4-ingredient peanut butter cups to see why)!

In this case, this peanut butter buckeyes recipe is another fantastic sweet treat for serving at your Thanksgiving and holiday parties because they’re the perfect homemade candy and bite-sized dessert, and have an amazingly creamy peanut butter fudge filling with a rich chocolate coating.

I know your guests are going to be asking for seconds or thirds, and they will probably even be bugging you for this buckeye balls recipe (so make sure you keep this handy)!

Why This Recipe Works:

• Simple Ingredients: You only need 5 simple ingredients to make these gluten-free peanut butter balls, and these are easily accessible at the local grocery store (in fact you might even already have them on hand)!
• Super Easy to Make: Preparing these peanut butter buckeyes are a piece of cake! Just mix the dough ingredients together, let it chill before shaping the dough into balls, and then dip the balls in melted chocolate. This no bake treat is just the perfect no-fuss candy for the holidays, and it’s sure to be a family favorite!
• Adaptable: While traditional buckeye balls use peanut butter, you can just as easily make these buckeye candies with different nut butters or seed butters too!
• Totally Gluten-Free, Dairy-Free and Vegan: The best part is that these chocolate peanut butter balls recipe is 100% gluten-free, dairy-free and vegan, which means that even those with Celiac disease, or gluten or lactose intolerances, or those simply on a gluten-free or vegan diet can enjoy this easy recipe without issues!

Ingredients You’ll Need:

Here’s a visual overview of the ingredients required for this peanut butter buckeye balls recipe.

(For exact measurements and quantities, please scroll down to the recipe card at the bottom of this post.)

Ingredient Notes/Substitutes:

• Peanut Butter: I like to use natural peanut butter because it doesn’t contain additives or preservatives that normal peanut butter has (you can also make your own homemade peanut butter in 10 minutes). However, using normal peanut butter in this buckeye balls recipe is fine as well. If you are allergic to peanuts, you can substitute the peanut butter with equal quantities of almond butter, cashew butter, sunflower seed butter, or other nut butters or seed butters of your preference. 

• Coconut Oil: I prefer to make this peanut butter buckeyes recipe using refined coconut oil in my cooking because it has a neutral flavor (as opposed to extra virgin coconut oil that has a strong coconut taste). Alternatively, you may also use vegan butter instead. If you are not lactose-intolerant, you may use butter instead, but I would not recommend that you substitute the coconut oil with other vegetable oils because this is a no-bake recipe and you need an oil that solidifies at low temperatures to keep the dough firm and easily shapeable.

• Powdered Sugar: I prefer using powdered sugar (also known as confectioners’ sugar or icing sugar) as opposed to normal caster sugar to make these no-bake peanut butter balls because normal sugar may result in a gritty texture (and you can actually feel the sugar crystals). NOTE: If you are diabetic or insulin-resistant, I highly recommend using Lakanto powdered monkfruit sweetener (a 1:1 powdered sugar substitute that has zero glycemic index).

• Coconut Flour: I use coconut flour because it is lower in carbohydrates and because of its ability to soak up moisture, but you can also substitute it with gluten-free flour (I would add a little bit more flour than the amount of coconut flour specified, but it depends on your blend. Add a bit of flour at a time until the dough is easily shapable). 

• Chocolate Chips: I used vegan dark chocolate chips, but if you are not vegan or lactose-intolerant, go ahead and use normal semisweet chocolate chips instead.

How to Make No-Bake Peanut Butter Balls:

1. Prepare Peanut Butter Dough

In a large bowl, combine the peanut butter, melted coconut oil, powdered sugar, and coconut flour. Mix the ingredients very well until you get a homogeneous peanut butter mixture.

2. Chill the Dough

Let the mixture chill it the refrigerator for at least 30 minutes until the dough is relatively hardened and easy to shape and mold.

3. Shape the Peanut Butter Balls

Scoop 1 heaping teaspoon of dough and roll it into 1-inch balls with the palms of your hands.

Place the peanut butter balls on a plate lined with parchment paper or wax paper and chill in the freezer for at least 30 minutes until hardened. 

4. Prepare the Chocolate Coating

In a small deep microwave-safe bowl, combine the chocolate chips and coconut oil and heat in the microwave for 30-second intervals, mixing well after each interval until you get a smooth and glossy mixture (it took me 2 intervals in total – 60 seconds) to get the chocolate to melt and become smooth.

(Alternatively, if you don’t have a microwave, you may use a double boiler to melt the chocolate instead.)

5. Dip Peanut Butter Balls in Chocolate

Here’s the best way to coat the chilled peanut butter balls in chocolate.

I like using a toothpick to poke each peanut butter ball and dip it in the chocolate mixture, rotating the ball to cover most of it (letting excess chocolate drip back into the bowl), leaving a small circle uncoated at the top. Alternatively, if you don’t have toothpicks on hand, you can use a small fork too.

6. Chill Until Set

Place the coated buckeye balls on a parchment-lined plate and let them chill in the freezer for at least 15 minutes, and then use your finger to cover the toothpick hole by spreading out the dough at the top of the buckeye balls before serving or eating.

Dish by Dish Tips/Tricks:

• Be Patient: It is important that you allow the peanut butter dough to set and harden sufficiently so you can easily shape the dough into small balls. If you remove it from the freezer before it properly hardens, the dough will be sticky and is will be difficult for you to shape the balls and for them to hold their shape.
• Additional Toppings: If you want to jazz these chocolate-dipped peanut butter balls up a notch, you can also coat the buckeyes in chopped peanuts (or chopped cashews, walnuts, pistachios or almonds) after dipping them in chocolate for a slightly more festive touch.
• Chocolate Coating: Feel free to use white chocolate instead of dark chocolate for the coating, or leave out the chocolate completely if you’re not a fan!

Recipe FAQs:

Other Peanut Butter/Chocolate Homemade Treats You’ll Love:

• 4-Ingredient Peanut Butter Cups (Gluten-free, Vegan)
• Flourless Peanut Butter Cookies (Gluten-Free, Dairy-Free)
• 10-Minute Creamy Peanut Butter (Gluten-Free, Vegan)
• Easy Homemade Chocolate (Gluten-Free, Vegan)
• 5-Minute Chocolate Pudding (Gluten-Free, Vegan)

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