Healthier Buckeyes. | My Little Celebration

Sometimes you see something or hear a song and feel immediately drawn to or inspired by it.
And I love that.

Like January Wedding by the Avett Brothers.
Or this motivating fitness pin.
Or anything involving chocolate and peanut butter.

Swoon, swoon and swoon.

So being the relentless foodie that I am, while writing an article for work this week I came across several recipes for buckeye candies and I simply couldn’t resist. I was drawn to them like a bug to one of those annoying neon zappy light things.

‘can’t. stop. looking. at the liiight. must go to the liiiighht. aaaanndd zzzzzzzzzaaap!’

After finding a more traditional recipe I noticed it called for an entire stick of butter and SIX cups of powdered sugar, and I was all like, “uh uh on no she di-int. RUDE.’ And then I was all like ‘Ima make that healthy.’ And that’s what I did.

I slimmed the butter down to a mere two tablespoons and the powdered sugar down to about 1.5 to 2 cups. Not bad considering that’s close to a thousand calories saved. UH THOUSAND. Think of all the other places you can go and spend those calories now. Like pancakes for breakfast! Or ice cream! Yeah, I like that second idea. I think I’m onto something…

Healthier Buckeyes
adapted from all recipes | makes 25- 30 candies 

Ingredients
1 cup natural creamy peanut butter
1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract
2 Tablespoons unsalted butter, melted
2 cups powdered sugar
1 bag semisweet chocolate chips (about 3 cups)
chocolate sprinkles, crushed peanuts (optional)

Method | Mix peanut butter, vanilla and butter together in a large bowl. Add powdered sugar and stir until batter is stiff – about 2 cups or a little more. Roll dough into 1-inch balls – about 30 total. Place balls on a parchment or silicone-lined baking sheet or plate and stick a toothpick in the top of each for dipping. Once they’re hardened – about an hour – melt your chocolate chips over a double boiler, remove pan from freezer, and work quickly dipping the balls into the chocolate leaving a small space on top so it resembles a ‘buckeye.’ Roll in chocolate sprinkles or crushed peanuts while still wet, if desired. Place back in freezer to harden and store in the freezer or fridge until serving.

Oh my dear word.
These are like a Reese’s Easter Egg but shaped like an eyeball.
They’re like a pillowy cloud of peanut butter bliss enveloped in a crunchy chocolate shell.
They’re like a chocolate, peanut butter addict’s dream.
They’re like, totally awesome.

I think backing off the powdered sugar gave these just the right amount of sweetness to balance the salty peanut butter. I wouldn’t alter these one bit. And who needs all that butter anyways? Not me or my favorite skinny jeans. Uh uh, no want.

Tee hee. Look. It’s like a little buckeye butt. How cuuuuuuuute.

Enjoy! And try not to get addicted ; )

Dana