Get ready to make the Best Keto Buckeyes – rich, peanut buttery, and chocolatey without the sugar rush. These low-carb treats are designed to satisfy your cravings for classic buckeye flavors using keto-friendly ingredients, so you can enjoy creamy peanut filling and a smooth chocolate coating while staying on track.

Suited to holidays, parties, or a fun snack at home, this keto buckeye recipe is easy to mix, roll, and dip, then chills up into the kind of bite that feels totally indulgent without the carbs. Buckeyes are considered lucky – so these good peanut butter and chocolate versions must be a bit lucky too, right?

We have a lot of readers on Avdaye who have asked us for more information in their recipes – and plenty who'd like to get straight to the cooking.

How to mAke Keto Peanut Butter Balls

If you love homemade peanut butter balls or peanut butter cups, you know how rich and flavorful they can be when made from scratch. These candies are called buckeyes for their similar resemblance to buckeye nuts – since they are dipped in chocolate and only a small circle on top remains uncovered – sort of like the eye of a buck!

Keto Buckeye Ingredients

To make this recipe, you will need the following ingredients:

All natural peanut butter (for keto, we use Justins natural, if not making keto, we use Jif) – all natural peanut butter is a good choice for making low sugar or keto desserts, as it generally doesn't include processed sugar. Look for brands with lower carbs and less sugar!
Salted butter – softened salted butter brings a rich, creamy flavor to these candies, a solid fat composition so they melt in your mouth, and a solid texture!
Vanilla extract – vanilla gives a solid home-baked flavor that is nostalgic and lightly sweet.
Confectioners swerve – confectioners sugar is normally used in buckeyes, but in the keto version, swerve is the solid swap for flavor and texture – it has a lighter sweet flavor, blends perfectly, and acts as a binder!
Lily's semisweet chocolate chips (if not keto, you can use chocolate wafers for easiest melting) – semisweet chocolate chips without added sugar are essential for keeping sugar and carbs down – while giving the classic chocolate flavor that pairs perfectly with peanut butter!
Coconut oil – coconut oil gives a hint of shine to buckeyes, so they look like they came from the candy store!

Steps to Make Keto Buckeyes

Once you've gathered your ingredients, you will use the following method:

Mix. Add the peanut butter, butter, and vanilla to a large bowl or stand mixer and cream together for 30 seconds. Sift the Swerve or powdered sugar into the bowl and beat until smooth.
Chill. Chill the mixture in the refrigerator for 30 minutes.
Roll & shape. Line a cookie sheet with parchment paper and portion the peanut butter mixture out with a medium cookie scoop and roll into balls.
Chill. Place them on the cookie sheet and chill in the freezer for 20 to 30 minutes.
Dip. before removing the balls from the freezer, melt the chocolate an coconut oil in a wide glass on 30-second intervals, stirring between each, until fully melted. Use a toothpick to spear the balls and dip them in the melted chocolate. Use a fork to help remove the toothpick from the ball and place back on the parchment paper. Use your finger or a paring knife to lightly cover the hole from the toothpick.
Set. Allow to set until the chocolate hardens.

Kitchen notes

How to store buckeyes. Buckeyes are popular in part because how easy they are to make – and how long they last – making them a great make-ahead treat for Christmas cookies, parties, or to have on hand for when a craving strikes.

Buckeyes are best when consumed within two days if not refrigerated or frozen.
Refrigerated buckeyes, kept in an airtight container, can last up to two weeks.
Frozen buckeyes kept in an airtight container can last up to four months.

Use the double boiler method. Using a double boiler (or a small pan, nested into a larger pan with water in it), add chocolate and bring the water in the bottom pan to a boil, stirring the chocolate as it melts. add the coconut oil to help make the chocolate smooth, easy to dip, and extra shiny! Don't overcook chocolate, or it will seize up – and stir frequently to prevent burning. To buy a double boiler, click here.

Use the microwave melting method. If you'd like to save time, or don't have a double boiler or pans you can nest, you can microwave this chocolate to melt as well. Microwave chocolate or chocolate wafers in 30 second bursts, and stir in between each burst, to prevent chocolate from burning. Often chocolate melts around the bottom and the sides – and will burn if microwaved again – when a simple stir could've melted the remaining solid chocolate.

Cookies and Candies You'll Love

If you're not watching carbs and love these easy buckeyes, check out our other easy cookies and candy recipes – simple, good recipes that are great as Christmas cookies or bake sale cookies – or anytime you need a sweet treat!

To see even more tasty treats, please visit our dessert recipe index.

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Buckeye FAQ's

How long do buckeyes keep?

Buckeyes in an airtight container in the refrigerator can last up to two weeks.
Buckeyes in an airtight container can last up to four months in the freezer.

What are buckeyes?

Buckeyes are peanut butter balls, dipped into chocolate, with a tiny bit of the top left un-dipped – resembling a buckeye.

What is the best low carb peanut butter?

We used Justin's All Natural peanut butter – but any peanut butter with no added sugar will work.

What chocolate chips are low carb?

We found Lily's semisweet chocolate chips work best – but any without added sugar will work.

What is 1:1 replacement for keto powdered sugar?

We use Lakanto Powdered Monkfruit or Swerve Confectioners sugar as a direct replacement for powdered sugar.

Ingredients

1 ⅓ cup all natural peanut butter, for keto, we use Justins natural, if not making keto, we use Jif
½ cup salted butter, softened
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
3½ cups confectioners swerve, if not keto, use powdered sugar
3 cups lily's semisweet chocolate chips, if not keto, you can use chocolate wafers for easiest melting
1 tablespoon coconut oil

Method

Add the peanut butter, butter, and vanilla to a large bowl or stand mixer and cream together for 30 seconds.
Sift the Swerve or powdered sugar into the bowl and beat until smooth.
Chill the mixture in the refrigerator for 30 minutes.
Line a cookie sheet with parchment paper and portion the peanut butter mixture out with a medium cookie scoop and roll into balls.
Place them on the cookie sheet and chill in the freezer for 20 to 30 minutes.
before removing the balls from the freezer, melt the chocolate an coconut oil in a wide glass on 30-second intervals, stirring between each, until fully melted.
Use a toothpick to spear the balls and dip them in the melted chocolate. Use a fork to help remove the toothpick from the ball and place back on the parchment paper.
Use your finger or a paring knife to lightly cover the hole from the toothpick.
Allow to set until the chocolate hardens.

Easy Keto Buckeyes