True admission. I have never had the famous Christmas Cookie called a “Buck Eye.” Have you? I wonder if they are a regional cookie, as I had never even heard of it until a few years ago and the miracle of pinterest and blogger cookie round ups. But, there was nothing upsetting to me obviously. I mean peanut butter and chocolate are like love + love =Infinite love.
I need some infinite love this week. My babysitter was basically hospitalized with severe vertigo (obviously worse for her- poor dear!), I have a child with Strep throat (please keep your fingers crossed that I have contained it), about a million obligations as the Holidays have started and I am working on a book deadline (isn’t that just always the way?!) So back to needing some love….
I chose it in the form of chocolate- because I am obviously a glutton and a comfort food emotional eater.
And what goes better with chocolate than peanut butter? Nothing. So I thought about making those weirdly named “Buck Eyes” and then just decided to make a Buck Eye/Truffle hybrid, which is really just a Fancy Chocolate Peanut Butter Truffle.
Because I am crazy and I wanted to be able to eat them by the handful without being violently ill, I also removed the dairy from them. Much better ☺ So now we have Vegan Chocolate Peanut Butter Truffles and they are pretty much roll your eye’s back in your head good. They are smooth and creamy and totally indulgent. It is like a very naughty grown up reeses pieces peanut butter cup. But better. My mom happened to stop by and try one and she insisted that I bring them for Christmas Dinner. That is saying something in my family. Enjoy!
Recipe: Vegan Chocolate Peanut Butter Truffles
makes 24 truffles
Ingredients
- 1 cup peanut butter
- ¼ cup vegan butter, at room temperature
- ½ teaspoon vanilla
- ½ teaspoon kosher salt
- 2 cups powdered sugar
- 1 1/2 cups “Enjoy Life” dairy, gluten, soy and nut free chocolate chips
- 1 tablespoon coconut oil, melted
- ¼ cup roasted, salted peanuts, finely chopped
- sea salt
Instructions
- In the bowl of a standing mixer combine the peanut butter, vegan butter, vanilla and kosher salt. Whip until fluffy and completely combined.
- Add the powdered sugar to the bowl and whip until you have a uniform dough. It will be soft, but not sticky.
- Prepare a small sheet pan with a piece of wax paper. Using a tablespoon to measure out the dough, take each tablespoon of dough and roll it between your palms until you have a smooth ball. Place it on the prepared sheet pan.
- When all the dough balls are finished (I had 2 dozen), place the sheet pan in the freezer. Let the balls freeze for about an hour.
- When the hour is just about up, combine the chocolate chips and the coconut oil in a bowl and microwave for about a minute, or until the chips look mostly melted. Whisk the chocolate chips around until they are completely smooth and melted.
- Now, remove the balls from the freezer. Stick a toothpick into the part of the ball that was on the bottom, against the sheet pan- it will inevitably be flatter than the top of the ball.
- Dip the the peanut butter ball into the chocolate until it is completely submerged then gently shake off the excess chocolate. Gently ease the ball, toothpick side down back onto the cold sheet pan on the piece of wax. Immediately sprinkle with the chopped peanuts and a tiny pinch of sea salt. Repeat this process with the rest of the peanut butter balls.
- I then put each ball in a mini muffin/candy wrapper and these could be stored in an airtight container or in the freezer.
Preparation time: 30 minute(s) plus 60 minutes to freeze
They look awesome – I’ll take a dozen! 🙂 Pinned!
Thank you Averie!
I grew up on buckeyes, but as a kid we just called them peanut butter balls! And this vegan version is lovely. Totally need to try these!
Thank you Katrina! Where did you grow up??
Heather
Do you use smooth peanut butter or crunchy. We get both kinds here in Australia. I am assuming smooth but I want to make these and if I get wrong it could be a disaster.
I used smooth Peanut butter Barbara!
I’ve never had buckeyes either. I think they are definitely a regional thing. But I will never say no to chocolate + PB!!!
ME TOO Liz!! Southern perhaps? Who has a basketball team named the buckeye’s? Did I make that up?
oh, poor baby…and poor babysitter…hope they heal fast. and yes buck eyes have been a tradition in my family for years..but these, these look delicious, definitely making these!!! Thank you….and I am sending you some LOVE! and hugs (((())))
Thanks Christine 🙂 So sweet.
Yum!
Good luck over the holidays. I’ve had vertigo once because of an inner ear infection. Awful feeling.
Stay healthy and don’t stress!
I will try not too! Thanks Angela 🙂
I LOVE buckeyes and just don’t know how people have survived without them! Love the look of these Heather!
Oh, man! These are calling my name!
Yikes, that’s a lot going on. I hope the strep is contained as you said, the babysitter recovers quickly and you meet your deadline!
Btw- I’ve never heard of Buckeyes either until I started blogging.
These look awesome and just the kind of comfort needed to ease you through all that’s going on.
I wanted to make ones with dates but was out of dates and was thinking what else could I use to make an amazing truffle…thanks for sharing…I’m on this today in my nest. Happy Nesting.
Buckeyes are regional! The name comes from the candy’s resemblance to a buckeye nut 🙂 These look delish!
aha! Thank you rachelle!
Buck eyes are great! But these look better!!
Hope everybody is feeling better soon! I love peanut butter and chocolate anything, these look perfect!!!
So decadent! I want to try these truffles, and I love that they’re vegan! Thanks for sharing!
I have had and made buck eyes, they are delicious!! Yours sound divine!
These truffles look dangerously delicious! I think I need a dozen ;).
Buckeyes are the best! I grew up in Ohio, the buckeye state, so they were a staple. Anyone who watches the Ohio State Buckeyes play makes them for game day!