My friend just had her birthday a little while ago and because I got sick and then she got sick, I haven’t gotten around to passing along her gifts yet. Tonight the hand-off will take place, barring any unforseen sicknesses! After wondering what to give as a special vegan birthday treat, I decided to make 2 different kinds of uber-yummy balls.
Buckeyes are an insanely addictive peanut butter and chocolate confection that I had seen on my friend’s flickr stream. When I googled for the recipe, a ton of variations came up, so I decided to forge ahead and give it a go, cutting back the amount of sugar and butter, along with making it vegan-friendly. Most recipes call for rice krispies but I only had Vector (which is my favorite store-bought cereal because of the cinnamon and crunch, by the way) and it worked out really really well. If I make these again (and Cornelius totally wants me to), I’ll add in even more cereal just for more of a crunch. Beware, besides being super addictive, they are also kinda melty, so keep in the fridge and don’t eat outside in the hot sun or you’ll be a tasty delicious mess.
The next kind of vegan ball (hee hee), is a recipe I found tucked into an old thrifted vintage cookbook. The kind of found hand-written note that someone used as a bookmark. I love it for that reason alone! Besides turning this recipe into one a vegan could love, I also cut the recipe in half because it was a gift and I didn’t want to end up eating the leftovers all myself! Feel free to double this recipe as it was meant to be. These aren’t super sweet which is nice but you can definitely use sweetened coconut if you want a sweeter flavour. I added in some chopped almonds, but any kind of nut or dried fruit (or not!) would do.
peanut butter buckeyes
1/4 c Earth Balance margarine
1 3/4 c natural crunchy peanut butter
1 c powdered sugar
1 c of crispy cereal (I used Vector)
1 c semi sweet chocolate1. Get your margarine and peanut butter to room temperature and combine them, adding in the powdered sugar. Stir well. Crush cereal with your hands (oh the power!) and mix them in too. If you aren’t using a flake cereal, you may not need to crush (poor you). Roll mixture into balls and freeze.
2. Melt chocolate in microwave and roll each ball in the melted chocolate and place on a cookie sheet. Freeze until firm. Store in sealed container in the fridge.
coconut snowballs
1/2 c sugar
1/4 c Earth Balance margarine
1 t vanilla
1/4 c cocoa
1/4 c almond milk
1/2 c shredded coconut (plus more for snowy coating)
1/4 c chopped almonds
1 1/2 c oats1. In a medium sized pot, combine the sugar, margarine, vanilla, cocoa and almond milk over medium-high heat until everything is melted and comes to a simmering boil. Let boil for 3 minutes and remove from heat.
2. Add in the coconut, almonds and oats and stir well. If it’s a bit too wet, add in a bit more coconut. When cooled slightly, take a tablespoon of the mixture and roll into a ball.
3. Add coconut to a plate and roll ball into it…creating the look of a “snowball”. Store balls in a sealed container and refrigerate.
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Oh no, I’m drooling at work!
i love buckeyes. they are hugely popular in ohio {duh} and i miss them now that i’ve moved away.
YUMMY! Oh my goodness, I’m loving the buckeyes!
Wow, those look yummy
These both look so decadent and I know if I made them I would eat the whole batch – seriously! Who can pass up an opportunity to unite peanut butter and chocolate…they go so great together 😀 You must have a lot of willpower to not keep these for yourself.
These look delicious. I bet it is hard to stop eating them!
who makes buckeyes with krispies? gross.
try them without. even better frozen.
Oh yum!
In the Midwest, everyone eats Buckeyes. Here in the mid-Atlantic, they’re much harder to find, but boy do I love them.
I may have to try my hand at making them myself, now that I’m feeling inspired by you!
I like your balls! They look super yummy…. though I will heed your warning and try them when I have lots of people to share them with.
Oh my goodness, those look good. I haven’t really been into dessert porn since Christmas…..but I am now.
OMG. Delicious! And vegan? I can’t wait to try these. (Funny that you posted these yesterday, too, because there was a big election in Ohio, the buckeye state!)
a friend shared your blog with me — yummy!
i understand completely, fawn!
connie, i had no idea that buckeyes were tied to ohio (duh!)
thanks bree!
they do indeed, mrs. mordecai!
lauren, they really are easy to make! give it a try and get back that ol’ midwestern feeling!
bijoux, the ones marked for my friend were put aside early on. the leftovers were eaten up quickly!
too true, gretchen!
anon, i think i’d like them with more flakey goodness as a foil to all the sweetness. frozen would be delicious, i agree!
indeed, rachel!
the balls are good, hag 🙂
haha judy, dessert porn, indeed!
veg*triathlete, definitely funny! i swear i had no idea.
thanks for stopping by, bethany!
Must. Make. Buckeyes.
I think Kashi’s Go Lean Crunch might be nice to use in them, as it’s crunchy and cinnamony, too.
But I just can’t get over that photo …
Kickpleat, I love that you don’t put ads on your blog. It’s really refreshing.
ahhh!! buckeyes are the treat of my hometown (in Ohio) – and you made them vegan??? you’re too kind!! :0D
i have to say, buckeyes seem like something i should be all over – peanut butter! chocolate! – but i have never met a buckeye that i liked. it makes no sense! maybe the addition of the crispy cereal will help for me.
Just having a cup of tea & those snowballs would be nice to have right about now! Cheers!
Yes, those would definitely be in the addictive category! Looks like a great recipe.
Oooh, I have a huge box of Vector in the pantry! I’ve got to make these.
What perfect timing–I just learned of the existence of the buckeye, and here it is, in technicolor deliciousness! How timely–as usual you’ve read my mind. And these snowballs look like no slouch! Yes, I must say, nice balls all around.
I have to tell you, my friend, I am making these buckeyes for a naked lady party tomorrow, and I’ve just finished mixing up the pb/sugar/cereal filling, and I want to sit down and eat it with a spoon. Damn!
Also, I ran into a friend while I was buying ingredients, and he asked if I got some wax for the chocolate. I am not so into food-grade wax, but apparently everyone’s mom makes them that way in Ohio…
Those coconut snowballs look sooo good.
What an awesome present! I saved both recipes. 🙂 Love the way you wrote the recipe.
tania, kashi’s would be great in this. enjoy!
thanks hilary for noticing!!
veggiegirl, glad to oblige 😉
the culinary chase, i couldn’t agree more!
michelle, the cereal really does wonders for these treats. it makes them less cloyingly sweet and adds a nice crunch. yum!
lynn, these are very addictive!
try it out sara, it’s easy and hey, what are you going to do with that vector? eat it for breakfast? c’mon!
cakespy, thanks for the props on the balls 🙂
i saw a ton of recipes using wax in the chocolate, maven. i guess it’s so it doesn’t melt on the fingers. sounds kinda gross to me!
thanks jessica, they were 🙂
well enjoy, eat me delicious! both recipes are super delicious.
The buckeyes might be delicious, but I guess I’m a bit of a purist from Ohio — a properly made buckeye should LOOK like a buckeye (the nut), and not just be chocolate-covered peanut butter. Without that circle of uncovered PB at the top, they’re just chocolate-PB balls.
otter, before making these i’ve never heard of buckeyes (the nut, the sports team, the ohio-ness of it all). thanks!
These look like they are copied from the Swedish ‘kokosbollar’ or ‘chokladbollar’! Must be a canadian adaptation.
am i missing something? how can it be vegan if there’s chocolate? or are you using a certain type of vegan chocolate? if so, please share!
annao, yes, i’m using vegan chocoloate – camino brand which is readily available.
wonderful! thanks for the info – they look delish and are top on my list to make…thanks again 🙂
these look delicious!
Good Job! 🙂