Healthier Buckeyes

Buckeyes have always been a classic Christmas cookie in my house! This year is no exception, I just had to whip up a healthier, IBD-conducive version of the original recipe…

Refined-Sugar-Free Buckeye Cookies

It’s no secret that peanut butter and chocolate are a match made in heaven. So it’s also no surprise that these are delicious. Since they’re no-bake as well, it’s almost fool proof!

This Christmas favorite in my household had to get slightly tweaked to cut out the refined sugar, dairy, and grains. BUT besides that, I simply just followed the same recipe that my Grandma has been making for years with a few easy substitutions (see below)!

Not only are these buckeyes healthier, but they also look so cute on a festive cookie tray! Even without holiday sprinkles and sugary icing, these are always a good contrast to the other light & bright Christmas cookies. I always like to sprinkle them with coarse sea salt to enhance their holiday look even more!

Even though buckeyes are one of the easiest cookies to make, they also take the cake for the messiest! Make sure to roll up your sleeves and mentally prepare for your kitchen to look like a melted chocolate bomb exploded all over it. LOL. But it’s soooo worth it, promise.

Healthy Buckeye Ingredient Substitutions

1. Substitute honey for 1/2 pound of 10x sugar. I repeat: A HALF POUND. Sugar isn’t inherently bad- our bodies absolutely need glucose to survive- for somebody with a chronic inflammatory digestive disease (aka me and millions of Americans) this would absolutely destroy me for at least a week! Honey is a natural sweetener that is also considered “legal” on the Specific Carbohydrate Diet (SCD). The SCD has helped me manage my ulcerative colitis symptoms for about 10 months now by eliminating certain inflammatory carbohydrates and sugar.
2. Substitute chopped walnuts for Rice Krispies. Although many recipes from blogs online don’t call for this ingredient, my grandma always added them into the dough for texture! I still wanted to keep that idea alive, especially since I grew up eating buckeyes with that slight, subtle crunch. So I used the best grain replacement I know of… NUTS! I used walnuts here since they have a “softer” crunch (if that makes sense, lol) than other nuts!
3. Substitute coconut oil for margarine. I think it goes without saying that margarine is a BIG no-go when it comes to eating healthy. Margarine is made from hydrogenated vegetable oil, which inherently contains small amounts of trans fats from partially hydrogenated fatty acid chains. It’s very difficult to hydrogenate 100% of the fatty acids! Coconut oil is one of my favorite minimally-processed, dairy-free butter/margarine alternatives.
4. Substitute 100% dark chocolate for milk chocolate chips. 100% dark chocolate is actually a nutrient POWERHOUSE! I eat it almost every single day! It has been shown to contain high amounts of antioxidants, polyphenols, and has been shown in studies to help improve cognitive function.

How to Make Healthy, Grain-Free Buckeyes

Step 1: In a microwave-safe glass mixing bowl, combine the natural peanut butter and coconut oil. Melt for about 45 seconds in the microwave.

Step 2: Add in the almond flour, coconut flour, honey, vanilla extract, and chopped walnuts. Stir well, cover dough, and place in the freezer to chill for about 15 minutes.

Step 3: Use a tablespoon to scoop the cookie dough and roll into balls between the palms of your hands.

Step 4: Melt the 100% dark chocolate with the coconut oil in a double broiler or microwave. Use a spoon to dip the cookie dough balls into the melted chocolate. (optional) Drizzle the leftover chocolate on top!

Let them cool completely or chill before serving.

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