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 were really good. I took a short cut and spread the peanut butter dough into an 8×8 pan and spread the chocolate on top. I put them in the freezer and after set cut them into small bars.
GENIUS. It’s just protein peanut butter fudge. I’ve totally done this before 🙂
Hi Lee, these look fab. I have all the ingredients right now except the protein powder (which I’d have to order) – wondering what I could use as a substitute (if I need anything?) – coconut flour to thicken the dough? Thanks!
Hey Taylor! I would add a few tablespoons of flour. Not sure I’d use coconut flour because it’s so dense, but you could try oat flour or white whole wheat. You could even do almond flour! I’d add it by the tablespoon until you get the consistency you want! Hope this helps 🙂
Just to follow up, I made it with the coconut flour (I was too excited to wait for your response haha) and they were DELICIOUS – only used about 1 tbs but I imagine they had the same consistency, and a little extra coconutty flavor never hurt right?! Thanks again 🙂 (PS boyfriend LOVED these and has started trawling your site to request more delicious snacks.)
Hey Taylor! I am SOOOO sorry for the late response, but a happy your substitutions worked! Coconut flour can be a bit tricky, so I’m glad things worked out and that it’s BF approved!
OMG these are so good 😀 just made them… used a little less pb and less choice chips but AHHHH making them every week for desert/snack
Story of my life. SO GOOD, right!?
These BuckEyes sounds awesome…will definitely be trying these. I hope this isn’t a stupid question…but the recipe says to microwave the CC’s for 60 minutes. Was that supposed to be 60 seconds….60 minutes seems like a long time.
Oh my gosh yes! It’s 60 seconds. Changing now!!!!!
Microwave for 60 MINUTES?????
What is the modification you mentioned if you use plant protein?
Hi Kolleen! I actually haven’t tried this recipe with plant protein, but you may need to add more liquid or more protein powder depending on the consistency of the dough!
These look so delicious! I am trying them this week. Thanks for a great recipe!
Woooo! Hope you love it 🙂
Looking for a recipe for my 90 yo mom to get some protein – these look like just the thing – she is a picky eater now & only wants sweets – Thank You for this recipe. One thing, though…the recipe calls for melting the chocolate for 60 minutes – yikes! Thanks again, I’ll be back looking for more goodies.
Christine
OMG these look absolutely incredible! My family is from Ohio so they will really appreciate these buckeyes! <3 Thanks for taking the time to share these. I just came across your blog and am now adding you to my follow list! Beautiful recipes!
YAY. So glad you found meeee!!!
I grew up in Ohio and Buckeyes are the bomb! Yours look really great – love the healthier ingredients!