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Going back to my hometown roots today.
I may live in Colorado, but I will always be an Ohio girl. I am pretty sure I could never live there again (nope, positive), but it’s where I spent a big chunk of my life and where all of my extended family still lives. So, it will always be apart of me… and I like that. Plus, it’s where I learned all about buckeyes!
I don’t know what about Ohio made me think of this random thought, maybe all the farms… and green, but someday I hope to live on a farm. A big farm in the middle of nowhere. Yup, that’s my dream. The simple life, nothin fancy, pick up trucks, tall boots(!!), rows of vegetables, cows all over and trees for miles. Preferably I would love this farm to be in the mountains somewhere, because I really do love the mountains and even when I leave them for a few days I am always excited to see them again upon return. The problem is that farming is not all that conducive as high up as we are. That’s not stopping me from trying to talk my dad into becoming a full on farmer though (wish me luck). We have the land, we have the chickens (who are going to be laying eggs any day now!), we just need a new barn (no – not the one we are renovating for me to move into – a new one) and um, lot’s of animals. Oh, and definitely some warmer temps so all my veggies and herbs do not freeze. That’ll be a tricky one. Ahh well, a girl can dream. Greenhouses are cool too!
Maybe someday though.
So anyway, Sunday I was really feeling like buckeyes. The Browns had just won their first game of the season and it was just time to celebrate… err more like it had been too long since I last made buckeyes and everybody in the house was just craving them.
Last year I made this Buckeye Cake that I will remember forever and ever. It’s so flipping good and not to mention a total show stopper. If you want to impress, make this cake. People kind of go “WOW” when they see it.
This year though, I am just feeling a little simpler. It’s this new phrase I have repeating in my head “everything should be simple”. Or well, at least that is what I sometimes have going on my head. It really just depends on the day or even the hour. Truth is, I am all over the place. One hour I am all about simplifying and the next, I’m making something with five different parts. Crazy? Yes, that would be me for sure.
Whenever I make buckeyes, I never actually use a lot of powdered sugar. I have always made them on the healthier side, but then I wondered if I could make them even healthier and possibly include some of my favorite seasonal ingredients.
So I tried and believe it or not, my first attempt worked perfectly. So good and not even the pickiest brother knew there was anything different about these buckeyes. They asked though, because they know me. You see they were surprised I was making something so normal, but I fibbed and told them there was nothing very different about these buckeyes. They ate um, loved um, and now they’re all gone.
FYI, the brother test is the test is like feeding a lie detector, it never fails!
I am a little scared to tell you what I made these with, but just be open to them. I promise they taste just like any other sugar laden buckeye.
These Healthy Harvest Buckeyes (harvest for the healthy ingredients loaded into these buckeyes) are a combo of beans, applesauce, pumpkin, vanilla, salt and peanut butter. I know, sounds so gross, but I promise you’ll taste zero pumpkin and zero applesauce. The beans just add a creamy texture, no taste at all. DO NOT BE FREAKED. Remember, the brother test never fails.
And then of course, lots of chocolate.
See what I mean when I say healthy? Seriously, these have like a zero guilt factor and it’s pretty amazing how good they are. Plus, they are no bake, no fuss, vegan and gluten-free too!
Whoa – I do not even know who I am today.
Healthy (Harvest) Buckeyes.
Servings: 35 Buckeyes
Calories Per Serving: 79 kcal
Nutritional information is only an estimate. The accuracy of the nutritional information for any recipe on this site is not guaranteed.
Ingredients
- 1 (14 ounce) can cannellini beans drained + rinsed
- 1/2 cup unsweetened applesauce
- 1/2 cup pumpkin puree
- 2 tablespoons coconut oil
- 1 tablespoon vanilla extract
- 1 cup creamy peanut butter
- Pinch of sea salt
- 10 ounces dark or semi-sweet chocolate melted (use vegan chocolate if needed)
Instructions
- Line two cookie sheets with wax paper.
- In the bowl of a food processor, add the cannellini beans and puree until mostly smooth. Add the applesauce, pumpkin, coconut oil and vanilla. Puree until completely smooth and creamy, about 2 minutes, scrapping down the sides if needed. Add the peanut butter and salt, process another minute.
- Scoop 1/2 tablespoon size amounts of dough out and roll into a rough ball. Place on the prepared cookie sheet. Repeat with the remaining dough, cover the pans and place in the fridge for 15 minutes.
- After 15 minutes, remove the balls from the fridge and roll them once more between your hands to smooth the balls out. Stick a toothpick into the top of each ball. Cover the cookie sheets and place them in the freezer for at least 45 minutes, but not too much longer than an hour.
- Just before removing the balls from the freezer melt the chocolate over a double broiler or in the microwave.
- Working with one ball at a time, dip the frozen balls into the chocolate leaving a small opening at the top so the peanut butter can peak out. Place the balls back on the cookie sheet. Repeat with the remaining balls. Store in the fridge until ready to eat. These are best straight out of the fridge with some cold milk!
Notes
*I used an organic brand of pumpkin that is very thick and not pourable at all. This helped my dough firm up. If you are using a canned pumpkin that is pourable, you may need to add 1/4 cup to 1/2 cup of white whole wheat or regular flour to help the dough firm up. You will not taste they flour at all.
Tomorrow though, there is probably going to be a lot of cheese. Just a fair warning.
Tieghan! I spend as much time laughing as I do looking- “I do not even know who I am today” These look delicious! My best friend & her family & I made these every Christmas. They always always started out a nice size. By the end of the batch, Connie would be rolling them the size of golf balls or bigger- no one EVER complained…Will try these 🙂
Haha! I am the size way, they start small and then get bigger! haha! 🙂
Thanks Julia!
I love these. I love the sneaky healthy!! They’re perfect!
Thanks Dorothy! I couldn’t believe they worked out! 🙂
These are flippin’ brilliant! I’m from Ohio and living in Colorado now, too… Glad to know someone else in the state is eagerly spreading the joy that are buckeyes!
Yeah!! So awesome!
Thanks Emily!
YUM! Buckeyes are one of my all-time favorite treats, but usually I only have them at Christmas…maybe I can justify having them more often if I make this version 🙂
Everyone keeps saying these are a Christmas thing?? I always have them in the fall, haha! 🙂
Thanks Katie!
You are so smart!! My aunt used to make buckeyes for us at Christmas but I always thought the PB filling was too sweet. These look so good!
It is such a sweet filling, I have always reduce the powdered sugar majorly. I couldn’t believe I made them without sugar. They turned out great!!
Thanks Laura! 🙂
Never heard of buckeyes before.. they must be native to America as they aren’t common here in Australia. In saying that, I must recreate the recipe.. curious to know what they taste like!
It is totally an American thing, but basically it peanut butter, sugar and chocolate. Very good! 🙂
Thanks Thalia!
I’ve actually made healthier buckeyes before but these are even better!
Thanks Erin! 🙂
I am from Ohio, and am acquainted with buckeyes. Delicious. I want to make this version! By the way, I noticed your short title today! “Keep it Simple”, huh? Nothing wrong with that! By the way, I am looking forward to cheesiness tomorrow!
Haha! Thanks so much, Joshua!! 🙂
Hope you had a great day!
I put this recipe in the recipe box to try. Tonight though I am making your pulled pork tacos. They look so darn delish!! I have also started some of the Cinnamon Brioche Bread of yours. I sure hope they both turn out and are fabulous!! I will let you know.
Oh wow!! Hope you love all three recipes! That bread is one of my favorites! 🙂
Can totally relate to the brother test! These look incredible and I can’t believe how healthy you made them – mine are laden with sugar 🙂 Pinned!
Thank you so much, Trish!! I was so surprised it work, but everybody loved them!!
Now!I want these now! White beans? Pumpkin? I’m diving into these this fall.
Thanks!
Girl these look so so delicious!!
Thanks Ami! 🙂
Green Acres is the Place to Be, Farm Living is the Life for me…or are you to young for @ song? 🙂 Anyhow I feel same way. We’ve managed to “make do” with a mini farm on 6acres but are being surrounded/invaded by subdivisions, would luv to be surrounded by mountains! We are looking into CO but after reading your post other day bout it snowin already…scared me! I’m a southern girl.
I will be making these Buckeyes today. I have lots of pumpkins in the garden & can’t think of a better use.
Haha, if you are a southern girl, the mountains might be a little tough. You never know though!! 🙂
Thank you so much, Sarah!
This is genius! I would never have thought to use pumpkin and applesauce with beans! But I am sure they taste just as yummy as they look! What an awesome way to get your “sugar fix” without having to feel guilty afterwards! Can’t wait to try these out for myself!
Seriously these are no guilt! It’s awesome! 🙂
Thanks!
I too am a Ohio expat… These are just the kinda thing that make me homesick. I’m gonna make ’em ASAP!
Awesome! 🙂
Thanks!