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The Best Easy Keto Buckeyes Recipe – delicious low carb chocolate covered peanut butter ball candies that are simple to make and always a crowd pleaser! Including classic full-sugar buckeye recipe, too!
We have a lot of readers on Sweet C’s who have asked us for more information in their recipes – and plenty who’d like to get straight to the cooking.
To better serve both audiences, we’ve loaded this post with information to make our loyal readers feel confident in the kitchen – while also adding a “skip to recipe” button in the top left corner, and a clickable table of contents below – so you can get straight to the information you need.
Table of contents
Keto Peanut Butter Balls
If you love homemade peanut butter balls or peanut butter cups, you know how rich and flavorful they can be when made from scratch.
We love making buckeyes at Christmas for giving to family and friends – they are simple, easy to make, and last a while – so you can make them and give without worrying they will spoil or go stale.
The problem is they aren’t low carb – but with a few easy changes, you can make a keto peanut butter candy that doesn’t break the carb bank!
This recipe is our favorite easy Buckeye recipe – bursting with rich peanut butter flavor, and a gorgeous chocolate crunch with tips on how to make them gorgeous, every time.
These candies are called buckeyes for their similar resemblance to buckeye nuts – since they are dipped in chocolate and only a small circle on top remains uncovered – sort of like the eye of a buck!
Buckeyes are considered lucky – so these delicious peanut butter and chocolate versions must be a bit lucky too, right?
How to Make Keto Buckeyes
To make this recipe, you will need the following ingredients:
- All natural peanut butter (for keto, we use Justins natural, if not making keto, we use Jif) – all natural peanut butter is a good choice for making low sugar or keto desserts, as it generally doesn’t include processed sugar. Look for brands with lower carbs and less sugar!
- Salted butter – softened salted butter brings a rich, creamy flavor to these candies, a perfect fat composition so they melt in your mouth, and a perfect texture!
- Vanilla extract – vanilla gives a perfect home-baked flavor that is nostalgic and lightly sweet.
- Confectioners swerve – confectioners sugar is normally used in buckeyes, but in the keto version, swerve is the perfect swap for flavor and texture – it has a lighter sweet flavor, blends perfectly, and acts as a binder!
- Lily’s semisweet chocolate chips (if not keto, you can use chocolate wafers for easiest melting) – semisweet chocolate chips without added sugar are essential for keeping sugar and carbs down – while giving the classic chocolate flavor that pairs perfectly with peanut butter!
- Coconut oil – coconut oil gives a hint of shine to buckeyes, so they look like they just came from the candy store!
Once you’ve gathered your ingredients, you will use the following method:
- Mix. Add the peanut butter, butter, and vanilla to a large bowl or stand mixer and cream together for 30 seconds. Sift the Swerve or powdered sugar into the bowl and beat until smooth.
- Chill. Chill the mixture in the refrigerator for 30 minutes.
- Roll & shape. Line a cookie sheet with parchment paper and portion the peanut butter mixture out with a medium cookie scoop and roll into balls.
- Chill. Place them on the cookie sheet and chill in the freezer for 20 to 30 minutes.
- Dip. Just before removing the balls from the freezer, melt the chocolate an coconut oil in a wide glass on 30-second intervals, stirring between each, until fully melted. Use a toothpick to spear the balls and dip them in the melted chocolate. Use a fork to help remove the toothpick from the ball and place back on the parchment paper. Use your finger or a paring knife to lightly cover the hole from the toothpick.
- Set. Allow to set until the chocolate hardens.
How to store buckeyes. Buckeyes are popular in part because how easy they are to make – and how long they last – making them a great make-ahead treat for Christmas cookies, parties, or just to have on hand for when a craving strikes.
- Buckeyes are best when consumed within two days if not refrigerated or frozen.
- Refrigerated buckeyes, kept in an airtight container, can last up to two weeks.
- Frozen buckeyes kept in an airtight container can last up to four months.
Use the double boiler method. Using a double boiler (or a small pan, nested into a larger pan with water in it), add chocolate and bring the water in the bottom pan to a boil, stirring the chocolate as it melts. Make sure to add the coconut oil to help make the chocolate smooth, easy to dip, and extra shiny! Don’t overcook chocolate, or it will seize up – and be sure to stir frequently to prevent burning. To buy a double boiler, click here.
Use the microwave melting method. If you’d like to save time, or don’t have a double boiler or pans you can nest, you can microwave this chocolate to melt as well. Microwave chocolate or chocolate wafers in 30 second bursts, and stir in between each burst, to prevent chocolate from burning. Often chocolate melts around the bottom and the sides – and will burn if microwaved again – when a simple stir could’ve melted the remaining solid chocolate.
Recipe FAQ’s
Buckeyes in an airtight container in the refrigerator can last up to two weeks.
Buckeyes in an airtight container can last up to four months in the freezer.
Buckeyes are peanut butter balls, dipped into chocolate, with a tiny bit of the top left un-dipped – resembling a buckeye.
We used Justin’s All Natural peanut butter – but any peanut butter with no added sugar will work.
We found Lily’s semisweet chocolate chips work best – but any without added sugar will work.
We use Lakanto Powdered Monkfruit or Swerve Confectioners sugar as a direct replacement for powdered sugar.
Easy Cookies and Candies You’ll Love
If you’re not watching carbs and love these easy buckeyes, be sure to check out my other easy cookies and candy recipes – simple, delicious recipes that are great as Christmas cookies or bake sale cookies – or just anytime you need a sweet treat!
To see even more tasty treats, please visit our dessert recipe index.
You can find more of our favorite keto recipes and keto desserts here.
The Best Easy Keto Buckeyes Recipe
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The Best Easy Keto Buckeyes Recipe
Equipment
Ingredients
- 1? cup all natural peanut butter, for keto, we use Justins natural, if not making keto, we use Jif
- ½ cup salted butter, softened
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 3½ cups confectioners swerve, if not keto, use powdered sugar
- 3 cups lily’s semisweet chocolate chips, if not keto, you can use chocolate wafers for easiest melting
- 1 tablespoon coconut oil
Instructions
- Add the peanut butter, butter, and vanilla to a large bowl or stand mixer and cream together for 30 seconds.
- Sift the Swerve or powdered sugar into the bowl and beat until smooth.
- Chill the mixture in the refrigerator for 30 minutes.
- Line a cookie sheet with parchment paper and portion the peanut butter mixture out with a medium cookie scoop and roll into balls.
- Place them on the cookie sheet and chill in the freezer for 20 to 30 minutes.
- Just before removing the balls from the freezer, melt the chocolate an coconut oil in a wide glass on 30-second intervals, stirring between each, until fully melted.
- Use a toothpick to spear the balls and dip them in the melted chocolate. Use a fork to help remove the toothpick from the ball and place back on the parchment paper.
- Use your finger or a paring knife to lightly cover the hole from the toothpick.
- Allow to set until the chocolate hardens.
Notes
- Store in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 7 days or freeze in a freezer bag for up to 3 months.
- Some all natural peanut butters can be runny – if your peanut butter balls are too runny, you can stir in up to two tablespoons coconut flour to help thicken. Try to mix natural peanut butter well so it is smooth, like a more processed peanut butter.
- If you use chocolate wafers for the regular/full sugar version, omit coconut oil.
- There will be excess chocolate remaining since you need to be able to dip these balls almost fully without covering the tops, so you need the chocolate to be deep enough at all times for the balls to sink in.
- Don’t let the balls sit out too long before dipping because they can start to sweat and it will make it hard for the chocolate to stick.
- Do not freeze for more than 30 minutes prior to dipping. Place in the refrigerator if not ready to dip.
Nutrition
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
