Keto Buckeye Cookies - A Chocolate Lover's Dream

Chocoholics rejoice! You can indulge in rich, fudgy cookies while sticking to your keto diet thanks to this easy keto buckeye cookie recipe. These nutty, chocolatey cookies mimic the classic Buckeye candy in cookie form with none of the guilt. They deliver big, bold chocolate flavor in every bite along with a dose of healthy fats. Keep reading to learn all the secrets behind making this keto-friendly treat at home.

What are Buckeye Cookies?

Buckeye cookies are inspired by Buckeye candies - a popular peanut butter ball dipped in chocolate. The cookie version swaps out sugar for keto-approved sweeteners to create a low carb, fudgy cookie with all the classic buckeye flavors.

The base starts with creamy peanut butter or almond butter mixed with eggs, vanilla and sweetener to form a dough. After portioning into balls and chilling, they get dipped in melted chocolate or cocoa powder for the signature buckeye look.

Why They're Great for Keto Diets

Buckeye cookies check all the boxes for keto-friendliness:

• No flour - they're made with almond meal instead
• No added sugar - sweetened with erythritol or stevia
• High healthy fat - from nut butter and chocolate
• Low carb - just 2g net carbs per cookie!

This smartly formulated treat lets you indulge while sticking to your macros.

Step-By-Step Instructions

Ready to get baking? Here's how to make keto buckeye cookies at home:

Ingredients

• 1 cup almond butter or peanut butter
• 1/4 cup erythritol
• 1 egg
• 1 tsp vanilla
• 1/2 cup almond flour
• 1/2 tsp salt
• 1/2 cup sugar-free chocolate chips or chopped chocolate

Directions

1. Beat together nut butter, erythritol, egg and vanilla until smooth.

2. Stir in almond flour and salt until a dough forms.

3. Scoop dough by tablespoonfuls and roll into balls. Place on a parchment-lined baking sheet and freeze 20 minutes.

4. Melt chocolate chips in a microwave at 50% power, stirring often. Dip frozen balls in chocolate to coat halfway.

5. Return to sheet and freeze until set, about 10 minutes.

6. Store cooled cookies in the fridge or freezer.

Dipping Alternatives

Instead of chocolate, try dipping in:

• Cocoa powder or shredded coconut
• Chopped nuts
• Crushed cookies like Oreos
• Sprinkles or coconut flakes

Tips for Perfect Buckeyes

To achieve cookie perfection, follow these handy tips:

• Chill the dough - This prevents spreading while baking.
• Portion evenly - So cookies bake and look uniform.
• Freeze before dipping - Lets chocolate adhere better for clean coating.
• Use parchment paper - Prevents sticking when shaping cookies.
• Store in fridge or freezer - Keeps cookies from getting too soft.

Get Creative with Keto-Friendly Mix-Ins

The possibilities are endless when it comes to adapting these cookies:

Nut Butter Swaps

• Almond butter
• Sunflower seed butter
• Cashew butter
• Macadamia nut butter

Chocolate Upgrades

• Chopped dark chocolate
• Cacao nibs
• Chocolate protein powder
• Sugar free chocolate chips

Crunchy Mix-Ins

• Chopped nuts
• Toasted coconut flakes
• Crushed pork rinds
• Chopped pretzels

Serving Suggestions

Once you've mastered the classic buckeye, try serving them:

• On a charcuterie board with nuts, berries and cheese
• In cute bags tied with ribbon as gifts
• Crushed on top of keto ice cream sundaes
• Broken into chunks to mix into trail mix
• Stacked into mini ice cream sandwiches

Get Creative with Keto-Friendly Cookies

The keto cookie options don't end with buckeyes. Try your hand at some other low carb cookies like:

• Peanut Butter - Just peanut butter, egg, sweetener and vanilla
• Pistachio Shortbread - With pistachio flour and butter
• Snickerdoodles - With almond flour and cinnamon
• Macaroons - Shredded coconut and egg white cookies
• Chocolate Chip - Use sugar free chocolate chips

Satisfy Your Chocolate Cravings the Keto Way

These keto buckeye cookies prove you can still indulge in rich chocolate goodness while sticking to your diet. Their secretly low carb formula lets you enjoy the classic buckeye flavors in ever bite. So go ahead - give in to that chocolate craving the smart way!

FAQs

How long do the cookies stay fresh?

Buckeye cookies will stay fresh sealed at room temp for 5 days or in the fridge for 2 weeks. Freeze for up to 3 months.

Do you have to freeze the cookies before dipping?

Freezing helps the chocolate adhere better, but you can skip this step if you dip quickly before the cookies soften.

Can you use regular chocolate chips?

For a lower carb recipe, sugar-free chips are recommended. But you can use regular chips in smaller portions.

What can be used in place of almond flour?

Substitute an equal amount of pecan flour, sunflower seed flour or pumpkin seed flour.

How do you melt the chocolate without burning it?

Microwave in 30 second intervals at 50% power, stirring frequently, until smooth and runny but not too hot.