These Healthy Peanut Butter Balls are made with just a handful of ingredients that you might already have on hand, and remind me of the “buckeyes” my family makes around the holidays.
Crunchy Peanut Butter Balls
The peanut butter balls I grew up eating were made with crisp rice cereal for an addictive crunchy center, but when I first made this recipe my family was eating grain-free, so we used crunchy peanut butter instead, for a similar crunch.
You can use smooth peanut butter if you’d prefer that. These are delicious either way!
Healthy Peanut Butter Balls
Honey replaces the powdered sugar called for in traditional recipes, and fiber-rich coconut flour helps to balance blood sugar for a healthier dessert option. If you’d prefer to use almond flour, be sure to check the notes below the recipe.
I like to add a little coarse sea salt on top of these peanut butter balls to boost their flavor, but be sure to add it quickly when you dip the balls into the melted chocolate, as it will harden quickly. (The salt will only stick to melted chocolate.)
Dark Chocolate Coating
There is still a bit of refined sugar in the chocolate used for the coating, but if you use a dark chocolate (70% or darker) it’s pretty minimal. You can make a homemade chocolate coating, if you prefer, just keep in mind that a homemade chocolate will melt much faster at room temperature.
Healthy Peanut Butter Balls
Ingredients
Peanut Butter Balls:
- 3/4 cup natural peanut butter (smooth or crunchy)
- 1/4 cup honey (or maple syrup for vegans)
- 1/3 cup coconut flour
- pinch of sea salt
Chocolate Coating:
- 4 ounces dark chocolate (about 1 heaping cup of dark chocolate chips)
- coarse sea salt , for topping (optional)
Instructions
- In a medium bowl, mix together the peanut butter, honey, coconut flour, and salt. Stir until a dough forms that is easy to handle and roll into balls. You can add another tablespoon of coconut flour to the mixture, if needed to get the right texture for rolling.
- Scoop the dough by tablespoons and roll the dough between your hands to make balls. Place the balls on a pan lined with parchment paper, then put them in the freezer to set until firm, about 20 minutes.
- When the peanut butter balls feel firm to the touch, melt the chocolate. (I use a double boiler to do this on my stove, but you can use the microwave if you prefer in 30 second intervals.)
- Remove the peanut butter balls from the freezer, and dip each one into the melted chocolate mixture, coating each one thoroughly. Top the chocolate with a sprinkle of coarse sea salt, if desired. (Work quickly, as the chocolate will harden soon.) Return the chocolate-covered balls to the parchment paper. The chocolate should start to harden right away, but you can place them in the fridge or freezer to set completely.
- Serve cold, from the fridge to keep the chocolate firm. These should keep well in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 2 weeks, or in the freezer for up to 3 months.
Video
Nutrition
Per Serving: Calories: 112, Fat: 7g, Carbohydrates: 9g, Fiber: 1g, Protein: 3g
Recipe Notes:
- You can make this recipe using almond butter or sunflower seed butter instead of peanut butter, if you prefer.
- If you don’t want to use coconut flour in the recipes, I’ve successfully used 3/4 cup blanched almond flour in its place.
- For a vegan dessert, swap the honey for maple syrup instead.
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Reader Feedback: What’s your favorite dessert?
In all my years of making Buckeyes, that’s what we call them in Ohio, I’ve never heard of adding wax. That’s so gross
I’m a huge fan of coconut everything and use both coconut flour and coconut oil regularly. Thanks for a new twist on a old favorite recipe, regular buckeye candies are loaded with powdered sugar but then again they’re irresistibly delicious as well! ♡
Hi Megan, This recipe looks Awesome. For easy coating of chocolate I would in cert tooth picks before freezing. Then once frozen dip balls in chocolate and re-freeze,remove tooth picks before serving 🙂
Use a toothpick to dip the balls into the chocolate so that you don’t get your fingers on them.
So glad for this recipe b/c it sounds like you replaced the exact recipe I grew up on too! Can’t believe how unhealthy our recipe was growing up! Happy Holidays!
I made these using crunchy Sunbutter. We have a peanut allergy. I also used the Enjoy Life Dark chocolate morsels. I followed the rest of the recipe exactly. They were delicious!
AWESOME
These are so good and easy! I did need to use a bit less coconut flour, I love your peanut butter eggs even more!
These look so yummy I have to try them! I will be substituting chocolate protein powder for the flour & maybe adding some flax, maca powder & a fibre blend
This was delicious! I substituted maple syrup for the honey, and if you do this, definitely use a less amount! I also mixed peanut butter and almond butter, superb. Thanks for the recipe!
My mother always made peanut butter balls, and I just made some today after searching for a healthy version, low in sugar. I did not use your recipe exactly, but it was close, used oats instead of coconut flour.One tip for you from how my mother used to do it – use tooth picks to lift the balls, not your fingers The chocolate flows over the spots where the tooth picks were, no need to touch up with a spoon.
Can I use almond flour instead of coconut?
MAKE THESE!!!! You will not regret it. The coconut flour is a wonderful touch. This will be the only recipe I ever use from now on.
Was just talking to my mom about all the childhood cookie recipes… literally STARED for a good minute when she mentioned her peanut butter ball recipe called for paraffin wax!!! (Insert horrified emoji here). Excited to give these a try!
Thanks so much for this recipe! I love the texture the coconut flour gives to the nut butter and am experimenting with a stevia//honey combo to reduce sugar. Yum!
Can’t wait to try these! Could I use oat flour? Also- what kind of chocolate chips? Will vegan ones work?
I haven’t tried it with oat flour yet, but it’s worth a shot! I used vegan chocolate chips– Enjoy Life brand. They work great!
These look delish. I am trying to incorporate more honey instead of sugar and this sounds like a great way to do it. I’ve read that some local raw honey everyday may help allergy sufferers. This sounds like a perfect way to help get that honey in!
Just made these using the almond flour suggestion in your notes– WOW, they are so good! I totally don’t miss the powdered sugar version my mom used to make. Even my kids loved them, and they are picky. Thank you for sharing!
Can you use PB2 powder/water in place of the peanut butter in this recipe?
Such a great recipe! The ratio sweetness-peanut is just perfect, not too sweet, just perfect. I used half honey and half maple syrup but I’m sure using just honey or maple syrup is equally good. I basically tasted the mix until it was salty enough to my liking before rolling it into balls. The coconut flour kinda disappears (a bonus point for me as I’m not a huge fan of it in baked goods) but it works to give the best texture. I also double dipped them in a mix of 85% chocolate and coconut oil to cut the sugar down even more, which was good, but I’ll try to dip them in plain choco next time like you suggested. I’ll def be making them again!
Do you think whole wheat flour be used for those who eat gluten?
So how many Peanutbutter balls per serving? How many grams of sugar?
can you substitute almond flour for coconut flour
Yes, in the notes below the recipe it mentions substitution notes. I’ve used 3/4 cup almond flour with success.
love the vegan/gf guilt-free dessert recipe BUT one heaping cup of chocolate chips yielded way too much chocolate sauce! I had twice as much as needed and just made a bunch of chocolate covered mixed nuts. I used the last of my chocolate chips on this so hopefully this will deter someone else from dong the same….
Hi there! I have been making these for a few months now and they’re incredible. Thanks for the recipe – we love it!
Made exactly as written. Fast and easy. Love the combination! Thanks detoxinista.
WOW this was delicious! My husband and I loved it. I will definitely do this recipe again
I’ve made these peanut butter balls twice this week, they are so good.
Thank you for the recipe.
These are fantastic! I’m working on updating all my moms holiday cookie recipes to healthier versions and this one is fantastic! Who doesn’t love PB and honey anyway? 🙂 Sure beats the two cups of powdered sugar in my moms recipe! I did need an extra tablespoon of coconut flour and I sprinkled with Maldon Sea Salt flakes. Perfection! Thank you!
These are so good!
SO good! Love your recipes.
Hello, is it possible to substitute the coconut floor with oat floar?
Do you think I can use a bar on bitter chocolate to make your recipe? Thank you so much. I adore your recipes.
My daughter and I made these when we had company coming for dinner and we couldn’t stop eating them! Only tweak was I did add some coconut oil to the chocolate because the chocolate chips I used melted really thick. These taste just like candy! So good.