Healthy No-Bake Buckeye Bars Recipe

You don’t have to be an Ohio fan to enjoy these Buckeyes! My healthy no-bake buckeye bars recipe is made without refined sugar and reminds you of a Reese’s Peanut Butter cup. Chocolate peanut butter lovers, this treat is one for you!

Be Sure To Try My Healthy Reese’s Cups Next!

What is a Healthy Buckeye?

Traditional buckeyes originate from Ohio and resemble the nut of the Ohio Buckeye tree. The candy typically comes as a peanut butter ball, coated in chocolate with a tiny bit of the top left exposed. These treats are popular on game days and around the holidays. As such, they’re known for being delicious but laden with confectioner’s sugar. My healthier version substitutes a natural sweetener, such as honey or maple syrup, for processed sugar. Don’t worry, NONE of that delicious taste is sacrificed! You can also use low-sugar or natural peanut butter, as long as it’s creamy and runny. When I add chocolate to my recipes, I love using Enjoy Life brand chocolate chips. They’re high in cacao, which contains healthy antioxidants, and are free from allergens. With only six ingredients, this dessert delivers and tastes amazing! In fact, these are so good that the other night guests were over and they were instantly devoured.

Easy, Healthy, No-Bake Buckeye Bars Recipe

One of my favorite things I love about this recipe, or any recipe, is when it comes together in mere minutes. No rolling or baking necessary! You’ll mix a few ingredients, press the base, layer on the chocolate, and refrigerate. Voila! This is one of the quickest, easiest, and most satisfying desserts around.

step 1:

Prepare your baking dish by lining it with parchment paper. My recipe yields 9 bars in an 8×8 glass pan. However, you could easily double the recipe to make more in a 9×13 dish. Next, blend your oats to make a fine oat flour.

step 2:

Measure your peanut butter. Make sure it’s creamy and runny. If you need to make it a little runnier, zap it in the microwave for a few seconds.

step 3:

In a mixing bowl, add your sweetener and vanilla to the peanut butter and mix well. Then you’ll add the oat flour into the mixture and stir until incorporated.

step 4:

Now, you’re going to transfer your peanut butter mixture to the baking dish. It should have the texture of play-doh. Press down onto the parchment paper until it spreads out and touches the edges.

step 5:

Now, melt the chocolate chips using the double boiler method, or melt in a microwave-safe bowl for about a minute. Ensure you add the coconut oil at this stage, this will help keep the chocolate smooth and avoid clumping. Don’t overheat the chocolate! Low heat is key.

step 6:

Pour the warm chocolate over the base and spread evenly over the top. I love to sprinkle flaky or coarse sea salt on top. The saltiness balances out all that sweet perfectly!

step 7:

Refrigerate for at least one hour. Then, you can slice the dessert into 9 or 18 squares depending on how much yield you made. When the chocolate is set and the base is firm, it’s time to enjoy or share a well-deserved treat! Displaying on a pretty platter is optional- serve straight out of the baking dish if you want to!

Serving & Storing No-Bake Buckeye Bars

Serve– These bars make a great addition to any weeknight supper, or weekend dinner party. Bookmark this recipe if you signed up to host Easter dinner and need a simple, crowd-pleasing dessert. Your guests will thank you. Bring to a friend’s house, show up to a meeting without empty hands, or impress at a potluck. They’re a great treat the kids can help whip up too!

Store– Keep these bars refrigerated in an air-tight container to keep them fresh and firm. If stored at room temperature, they will become quite soft, and the chocolate will become sticky. You can freeze individual bars by wrapping them in parchment paper enclosed in a Ziploc bag. Store for a week in the refrigerator (if they last that long!) or up to three months in the freezer.

other recipes you might enjoy:

• GF Frozen Peanut Butter Balls
• Healthy Baklava Stuffed Dates
• Healthy No-Bake Cookies
• Carrot Cake Snack Bars

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