~ These no-bake “buckeye” candies will be the stand-out favorite on your Christmas cookie platter this year! Totally simple and more healthy than most cookies and holiday treats, this recipe for chocolate-covered peanut butter balls will be the go-to for all of your holiday parties! ~

This Recipe Is:   •  Freezable  •  Make Ahead  •  Vegetarian  •  Gluten Free  •

I’m not from Ohio. Originally.

But I’ve lived here almost as long as I lived north of Pittsburgh. And my family now constantly makes fun of my Ohio “accent” – even though I totally don’t have one. (I definitely don’t speak Pittsburghese … that’s for sure. N’at.)

So even though I’ll always have a special place in my heart for PA, I think I’ve fully embraced my Ohio-ness.

O – H!

(And this is where all of the people who were, are, or will ever be from Ohio yell, “I – O!”)

People don’t call out “P – E!” and then someone yells “N – N – S – Y – L – V – A – N – I – A!” Doesn’t happen.

So Ohioians for sure have that going for ’em.

And ya know what else Ohioans have going for them??

Buckeyes!

Not the nut. Or Ohio State’s mascot.

Nope. I’m talking the delicious, chocolate-covered, peanut butter, ball-shaped goodness that makes an appearance on Christmas cookie trays every year.

Pure awesomesauce.

I recently saw a hilarious video where they had people from California (another state that doesn’t have a chant to spell its name. Just sayin’ …) try foods native to Ohio.

Some foods didn’t go over as well as others … but pretty much everyone agreed that the buckeyes were fantastic (and they even asked for more)!

I grew up with buckeyes on our Christmas cookie platter every year. I must have lived just close enough to the Ohio border to have them. And thank goodness I did! What a void I’d have in my life if I didn’t have the creamy peanut-buttery scrumptiousness … all nestled inside a chocolaty shell. Ahhh … bliss.

I remember they were always the first to be eaten off the cookie plate. And they’re definitely still the most popular with my family!

Since Shelley and I started THK, I’ve had buckeyes on my mind.

The originals … while totally delectable … are pretty lacking in the nutrition department. I knew there had to be a way to enjoy our beloved buckeyes without all the butter and sugar.

You know we put our recipes through lots of trial runs here at THK … to be sure they’re totally maxed out on both deliciousness and nutrition! But, honestly, these babies were practically perfect from Round 1!

I did experiment with crunchy vs. regular peanut butter. And well, it’s super good either way. Our taste-testers honestly couldn’t decide! So use what you’ve got on hand! Just make them!

These nuggets of candied joy are wonderfully dense and satisfying … rich and so decadent that no one will ever guess they’re healthier, too. Seriously, nobody missed all the butter and powdered sugar. Nobody. The biggest complaint … there simply weren’t enough of them!

Our husbands couldn’t stop eating them. Our kids couldn’t either. My dad came by for lunch one day, and he couldn’t stop eating them … before lunch (silly, Dad!).

So, yeah … you’re gonna want to make up a few extra batches of these.

They’ll certainly be the healthiest treats on the cookie platter. Unless you’re also making our Pistachio-White Chocolate (No Butter!) Butter Cookies. Or maybe our No Bake Chocolate-Coconut Peanut Butter Bars. But yeah. These bites of yum will let you enjoy the cookie buffet without feeling guilty.

You’ll be the hero of the holiday party!

Even better, though … wanna be a real hero? Known for more than just your phenomenal cookies?

You may remember back in September, when Shelley and I were involved in a terrific project that helped raise money for the Feeding America food bank network. We loved creating a recipe for a wonderful cookbook (which is still for sale and makes an amazing gift … with all proceeds benefitting Second Harvest Food Bank!).

Well, we’re helping out again – and you can, too! Join us in supporting food banks nationwide this holiday season, in their campaign to make milk more widely available to those in need.

Did you know that milk is the most requested item at food banks? Still, families that depend on Feeding America food banks receive less than one gallon of milk … per year.

Help those in need. Give the gift of milk through The Great American Milk Drive. From now until December 31st, every donation that is made will be 100% matched. Even better? The donation will go to a food bank in your area. You can make a difference for a family in your own community.

We’ve made our donation … and we hope you will, too!

And, you never know … maybe people will start spelling your name cheer-style wherever you go! You are a hero, after all!