How to make peanut butter balls without powdered sugar

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Finally, a low carb Peanut Butter Ball recipe that doesn’t compromise flavor. Made with real peanut butter and dipped in sugar free chocolate, this delicious dessert is guaranteed to satisfy those chocolate and peanut butter cravings!

Whether you’re making these for the holidays, or to satisfy your sweet tooth, the whole family will love Buckeyes. Or try our Sugar Free Peanut Butter Fudge recipe! Love truffles? Be sure to try our keto chocolate truffles. Or give our coconut lime energy balls a try next.

Why these Keto Peanut Butter Balls are Best

When you’re living and baking sugar free, peanut butter feels like a miracle ingredient. Natural peanut butter makes a perfect base for so many Keto and low carb desserts because it’s rich in creamy nutty flavor, high in protein and those good-for-you fats.

You don’t even need the sugar!

That is, until you want a dessert that tastes just as sweet and indulgent as your favorite peanut butter cups or Buckeyes–the classic midwestern peanut butter ball that inspired this recipe.

That’s where sugar substitutes become so important! While there are countless sugar free sweeteners lining grocery store shelves these days, not all sweeteners are created equal.

This Keto Peanut Butter Balls recipe uses powdered monk fruit in place of powdered sugar.

This secret ingredient is completely natural, doesn’t raise your blood sugar levels AND sweetens treats without leaving a weird aftertaste.

It’s by far my favorite natural sugar substitute for baking and cooking and it worked beautifully in this recipe too.

If you love chocolate and peanut butter together, I just know you’re going to love these peanut butter balls as much as I do. Sweet and rich tasting bites of peanut butter dipped in chocolate are so delicious you won’t miss the sugar!

Ingredient Notes

• Peanut Butter – Make sure to use unsweetened all natural peanut butter that is NO STIR. My favorite brand is Santa Cruz and Jif makes a great natural no-stir one too. Whatever brand you choose make sure the label says “no sugar” and “no stir”.
• Peanuts – Dry roasted and chopped peanuts add the best crunch to these. If preferred you can use crunchy peanut butter and leave out the extra nuts.
• Monk fruit –  BESTI brand is my new favorite, as it’s paired with allulose (not erythritol). It tastes like sugar, but doesn’t raise blood sugar and it’s zero calories, zero carbs. You’ll need the powdered kind for this recipe or substitute your favorite powdered sugar free sweetener like stevia or Swerve.
• Chocolate – Find sugar free chocolate chips or bars in the natural foods section of your grocery store. I use Lily’s brand which has the best flavor of the ones I’ve tried so far.

Step by Step Instructions

STEP 1. Crush peanuts

Place the chopped nuts in a ziploc bag and use a rolling pin or heavy bottle to crush them into smaller pieces.

STEP 2. Shape the peanut butter balls

Mix together the peanut butter, monk fruit, then fold in the peanuts until everything is completely combined. Scoop the batter up by the cookie scoop full, then use your hands to form into balls.

Place each ball on baking sheet lined with parchment paper, then let them chill in the fridge for an hour.

STEP 3. Dip in chocolate

Melt the sugar free chocolate in a double boiler (or according to package directions). Use a toothpick to carefully dip each chilled peanut butter ball into the chocolate then return to the parchment paper.

Let the Buckeyes set until the chocolate is firmed up. Serve right away or store in an airtight container.

Recipe FAQs

Do these need to be stored in the fridge?

No, they keep well at room temperature for up to 2 weeks. Of course, if you like the taste of them cold you can store them in the fridge too.

Can you freeze Buckeyes?

Yes, these are super freezer friendly! They’ll keep well frozen for up to 3 months; just keep in mind the chocolate may get discolored–it won’t affect the taste.

Why are they called Buckeyes?

Peanut Butter Balls dipped in chocolate are called buckeyes in the midwest because they resemble the distinctive seeds of Ohio buckeye trees. To make buckeye candies traditionally, leave a circle of peanut butter visible at the top of each chocolate dipped ball.

Why is my peanut butter mixture dry and crumbly?

It is supposed to be a bit crumbly at first. Don’t worry, the warmth of your hands will soften the mixture as you form it into balls so they will hold their shape if you keep working with them!

More Low Carb Recipes

• Crustless Pumpkin Pie
• Sugar Free Whipped Cream
• Carrot Cake Balls
• Chocolate Pudding Pie
• Keto Chocolate Chip Cookies

Prep Time 30 minutes

Cook Time 2 minutes

Additional Time 1 hour

Total Time 1 hour 32 minutes

Ingredients

• 1 cup sugar free peanut butter **
• 1 cup dry roasted peanuts, chopped
• 1 cup powdered monk fruit **
• 12 oz sugar free chocolate chips (or bars) **

Instructions

1. In a ziploc bag, crush peanuts to small bits (but not into flour).
2. In a large mixing bowl, combine peanut butter with powdered monk fruit until fully combined.
3. Fold in the peanuts.
4. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper. Using a small (1 Tbsp) cookie scoop, measure out a scoop of peanut butter filling and roll into a ball in your hands (using the warmth of your hands to bring the mixture together).
5. Place on cookie sheet and repeat until all buckeyes have been formed. Refrigerate for one hour.
6. Melt sugar free chocolate in a double boiler. Once melted, use a toothpick in the peanut butter ball and dip the bottom into the melted chocolate. Return it to the parchment paper to set. Repeat until all buckeyes have been dipped in melted chocolate.
7. Store in airtight container for up to two weeks at room temperature.

Notes

• I love using a natural, NO STIR, creamy sugar free peanut butter. My favorite brand (that I think has the best flavor) is "Santa Cruz"- you can find it on Amazon.
• You can swap out the creamy peanut butter for crunchy and skip the extra peanuts! But, increase the amount of peanut butter to 1 1/4 cups.
• Using Monk fruit is perfect for baking. BESTI brand, as it's paired with allulose (not erythritol). It tastes like sugar, but doesn't raise blood sugar and it's zero calories, zero carbs.
• I use Lily's chocolate chips. They have the best flavor of the sugar free chocolate I've tried. You could also use Lily's chocolate bars. They melt the same in a double boiler.
• You could avoid DIPPING the peanut butter balls and just add the chocolate chips (unmelted) to the peanut butter mixture instead.
• The mixture will be slightly dry. Use the warmth of your hands to press and roll into a ball.
• Freezer: Buckeyes are also freezer friendly. Store in airtight freezer safe container for up to three months. The chocolate may discolor while freezing.

Nutrition Information:

Yield:

Keto Peanut Butter Balls covered in chocolate taste indulgently rich and satisfying but won’t spike your blood sugar. Don’t forget to make an extra batch to stash in the freezer for later!