A classic recipe turned healthy, these Protein Buckeyes are a dessert you’ll want to sink your teeth into! Thick bites of peanut butter wrapped in a hardened chocolate shell, with 7 grams of protein each, this buckeye recipe is going to be a staple in your house.
A Quick Look At The Recipe
- ⏲️Ready In: 40 Minutes
- 👪Serves: 8
- 🍽 Calories and Protein: 157 kcals and 8 grams of protein
- 📋 Main Ingredients: Peanut butter, maple syrup, protein powder, and chocolate chips.
- 📖 Dietary Notes: Dairy-free, gluten-free, and grain-free. Can be made vegan depending on the protein powder.
- ⭐ Why You'll Love It: Made with a creamy peanut butter protein base, topped with hardened chocolate for a delicious, protein-fueling treat.
SUMMARIZE & SAVE THIS CONTENT ON
These are just protein balls wearing a chocolate shell, and I make a batch every other week because my kids ask for them constantly. Real protein instead of powdered sugar means you don't have to talk yourself into "just one" (same deal with my chocolate protein peanut butter cups).
This is the whole premise behind my Strong and Sweet Protein Guide: dessert-like snacks with 17 grams of protein or more. These healthy protein buckeyes can be used as an easy, high-protein snack or more like a dessert to curb your sweet tooth. In fact, they’re one of my favorite bedtime snacks when I just need SOMETHING.
Jump To
💭What Makes This Recipe Different
Only 6 ingredients: No fillers, no stabilizers, no mystery add-ins. Just basic pantry-based food staples for a high-protein diet.
Real peanut butter does the work: You need a fresh, natural jar for the oils, that's what holds these together without any weird texture tricks.
Protein that doesn't taste like protein: Swapped from vegan protein powder to beef protein because it doesn't turn chalky or fight with the peanut butter flavor.
Ingredients and Substitutions
- Chocolate chips: Make sure to use dairy-free or paleo chocolate chips if needed.
- Peanut butter: Any nut butter will work in the protein balls if you want to switch it up, but the buckeyes work best with a fresh, natural one just like my viral date bark. You need the oils, or the mixture becomes too thick. I use homemade peanut butter more often than not.
- Protein powder: Originally made with a vegan powder, I've recently switched to beef-protein powder, and that's what's now used.
See the recipe card for full information on ingredients and quantities.
Variations
There are a few ways to make peanut butter protien bites unique or specific to dietary preference. Below are a few of our favorites.
Sprinkles: Make them festive by topping the chocolate with colorful sprinkles before placing them in the freezer.
Crunch: Use a chunky peanut butter as the base or toss on some chopped peanuts to top after you dip them. This works for my protein Twix bars, too.
Caramel: Drizzle homemade coconut milk caramel sauce over top for maximum indulgence.
Expert Tips
Rolling your hands in oil before portioning the balls is what holds them together, so don’t skip it. A trigger ice cream scoop can be used also.
You want the peanut butter buckeyes to be frozen solid before you dip them, or they fall off the toothpick and don’t hold tight well.
Take care to heat the chocolate chips over low heat and remove them when they’re mostly melted. If you burn the chocolate, it won’t be drippy enough to dip the balls.
How To Make Protein Buckeyes
Step 1: In a large bowl, combine the peanut butter ball ingredients.
Step 2: Mix until combined.
Step 3: Grease your hands and roll the batter into balls. Freeze.
Step 4: Melt the chocolate and coconut oil on low heat. Mix until smooth, then use a toothpick to dip the balls in the chocolate.
Step 5: Return the buckeyes to the freezer to set.
How To Store Them
Protein buckeyes can be stored in the fridge in a single layer in a covered dish for 3-5 days. Or, you can freeze the buckeyes in a freezer-safe bag for up to 3 months. Let them thaw in the fridge overnight when you need them.
If chilled, let them come to room temperature for 5-10 minutes before enjoying them.
Protein Buckeyes FAQs
You can dip the protein buckeyes by scooping them up with a fork, placing them in the melted chocolate, and moving them around. Or, pierce the buckeyes with a cake pop stick and dip them into the chocolate that way.
Natural peanut butter is the best to use for buckeyes, and you need a fresh jar. This helps it mix in with the other ingredients easily so that everything combines.
More Chocolate Peanut Butter Snacks
If you tried this Dairy-Free Protein Buckeyes Recipe or any other recipe on my blog, please leave a 🌟 star rating and let me know how it goes!
Peanut Butter Protein Buckeyes
Video
Ingredients
For the peanut butter balls
- ½ cup Peanut butter natural
- ¼ cup Beef-based protein powder vanilla
- ⅛ cup Beef-based protein powder yes you need both
- 1 teaspoon Vanilla extract
- 1 tablespoon Maple syrup
For the chocolate
- ⅓ cup Dairy-free chocolate chips
- ¾ teaspoons Coconut oil
Instructions
- In a small bowl, combine the peanut butter ball ingredients.
- Mix until everything is sticky, it may look a bit dry.
- Line a cutting board with parchment paper and grease your hands with coconut oil.
- Grease your hands with oil and roll the batter into balls roughly 1-1.5 inches in diameter, and place them on the parchment paper. Re-grease your hands as needed.
- Place in the freezer for 30-45 minutes. This helps them be better able to dip.
- When ready, heat the coconut oil and chocolate chips in a small pot over low heat until almost fully melted. Remove from the heat and stir until fully melted and combined.
- Remove the buckeyes from the freezer. Place a toothpick into the top of one peanut butter ball and then dip it into the chocolate coating it ¾ of the way.
- Place the ball back on the cutting board and repeat until done.
- Place the peanut butter buckeyes back in the freezer to set for another 45 minutes.
- Let them thaw to enjoy them.
- Makes 8 balls.
Notes
- Vegan protein powder was used for this Buckeye recipe, and it tends to absorb liquid like crazy. So first off, you need to not hate the taste of your protein powder, as it will come through. Second, you may need to adjust the liquids in the peanut butter part to get the perfect texture. You want it slightly dry but still a bit sticky. Also, if using plant-based protein, only use ¼ cup of it.
- You can use whey protein or collagen powder, but you’ll probably need a bit more as it doesn’t absorb as much. You could also add 1-2 tablespoons of flour to help with this.
- I now use Equip Protein for both their flavor and quality. If you try Equip, code mamabear saves you money.
Disclaimer:
Nutrition values are estimates only, using online calculators. Please verify using your own data"
Nutrition
Shelby Stover says
I make these for my kids at least every other week because they love them so much!