No-Bake Protein Buckeyes
Published 12/6/2023 • Updated 11/5/2024
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Protein Buckeyes are an OG Fit Foodie holiday dessert recipe. Made with protein powder, honey, and dark chocolate chips, these are such a fun and festive dessert recipe!
If you’re looking for a protein-packed sweet treat for the holidays, you’ve come to the right recipe. We’ve been making these protein buckeyes since the mid 2010’s and they get better and better every year.
They’re essentially a version of our protein balls turned into a buckeye ball! You’re welcome.
What do you need for protein buckeyes?
- Peanut butter
- Vanilla
- Protein powder
- Honey
- Chocolate Chips
- Coconut oil
We tested this recipe with our favorite protein powder, Garden of Life Whey along with our favorite collagen, Vital Proteins Collagen, and they both came out fabulous.
Topping Ideas for Protein Buckeyes
While you can keep these buckeyes looking like normal buckeye balls, we loved topping these with something special. Here are some ideas:
- Sprinkles
- Shredded coconut
- Crushed peanuts
- Crushed chocolate
- Mini chocolate chips
Best Protein Powders
Check out our top protein powder recommendations for baking, smoothies, and everything in between.
Garden of Life
Raw Organic Protein
Simply Tera's
Pure Whey Protein
Sun Warrior
Protein Powder
Garden of Life
Organic Whey Protein
Storage Recommendations
We recommend keeping these in the freezer, for best results. And, bonus! they’ll last up to 3 months.
More of our Favorite…
Healthy Christmas Cookies
Get all of your favorite Healthy Christmas Cookies in one spot! From Hot Cocoa Cookies to Gluten-Free Biscotti, we have Christmas Cookies for all.
No-Bake Protein Buckeyes
Ingredients
- 1 cup drippy, all-natural peanut butter, I used Kirkland All-Natural
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 1/2 cup vanilla protein powder, collagen works, too
- 2 tablespoons honey
- 1.5-2 tablespoons water
- ¾ cup dark chocolate chips
- 1/2 tablespoon coconut oil
Toppings
- Shredded, unsweetened coconut
- Sprinkles
Instructions
- Combine peanut butter, vanilla, protein powder, honey, and 1.5 tablespoons water in a medium-sized bowl. Mix until the texture is like cookie dough. You may need to add more water in order to get it to a cookie dough-like texture.
- Line a baking sheet with parchment paper. Using a 1 tablespoon cookie dough scoop, scoop dough into your hands and roll it into a ball. Place them on the parchment paper and repeat.
- Freeze the balls for around 30 minutes.
- While your balls are chilling, melt the chocolate. Place the chocolate chips and coconut oil in a small bowl. You want it to be big enough to fit the chocolate chips, but small enough so that you can dip the balls. Microwave in 20-second increments, stirring between each increment until glossy and melted.
- If you want to add toppings to your protein buckeyes, prep small bowls of them for dipping.
- Place a ball on the end of a fork. Dip the ball into the chocolate, leaving a ring at the tip. Hold your fork with your left and and use your right hand to tap your wrist, so that any extra chocolate drips off. Finally, use a toothpick to slide the ball off the fork into your toppings.
- Once coated, transfer the balls back onto the parchment-lined baking sheet and freeze to speed up the drying process.
Tips & Notes
- How dense and chalky the peanut butter portion of the buckeye varies by what protein powder is used, how drippy your peanut butter is, and how much water was used. If the dough tastes chalky, add 1 teaspoon of water to the mixture at a time until it is no longer chalky.
Watch It
Nutrition
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
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These look like drugs! 😛
Always remind me of Ohio State Uni. and driving there to visit for my brother a few years back, hahaha!
Booooooo OSU.
I love chocolate and peanut butter anything (plus, I grew up in Ohio so buckeyes are kiiind of a staple)! These look great 😀
WORRRRRRD! Choco + PB = LOVE
How do you keep the chocolate from going over the top of the buck eye? The tops look so smooth. It doesn’t seem possible. I like Reeses peanut butter cups so I will have to try this. Great recipe.
http://askmelissaanything.blogspot.com/
I explain how I do it in the recipe! It involves a fork and a toothpick!
Your backlit photos look so great!! And I’ve never had a buckeye, but anything with peanut butter, chocolate and protein is SO my jam! Pinned!
There better be at least 3 batches of these in your freezer when I get to Minn. I came bearing balls too. BearingBalls.com…now there’s a blog name!
I make new batch just for you (Russian accent)
I was tickled to see this arrive in my inbox! I can’t wait to try these!
WOO!!!!
Um you are hero. These are my weakness and you just healthified them. I love you. Too weird? hope not 😉 PS. backlit for life! Yours looks great!
I need to keep up the backlit like stat!
I have absolutely no clue what a buckeye is but these look delicious nevertheless! Can’t go wrong with pnb and chocolate 🙂
Hahahaha. It involves chocolate and pb so #winning
Buck eyes are the best! Love this healthy version!
WOOOO!!!