Vegan Chickpea Gingerbread Buckeyes are a delicious and healthy holiday treat. They’re rich in protein and fiber; you’d never guess they contain chickpeas!
Why You’ll Love These Vegan Buckeyes
Who doesn’t enjoy a delicious buckeye or an aromatic gingerbread cookie? I wait all year to indulge in gingerbread, my favorite seasonal flavor. (I’ve already made my Gingerbread Banana Bread twice, and it’s not even December yet.)
These little treats combine the best of both worlds, bringing classic holiday flavors to new heights. Kids and adults will love these vegan buckeyes; they’re a great way to sneak in extra fiber. The best part is that you can’t taste the chickpeas at all. Trust me, no one would guess that these smooth, delicious bites are made with beans.
They’re the perfect holiday dessert for parties, cookie swaps, or office gatherings, especially since they’re secretly healthy! Simple, easy, and full of holiday spirit, I hope you join me in enjoying these buckeyes.
Recipe Ingredients
- Chickpeas: Rinse them well to remove as much brine as possible. You can use leftover chickpeas in salads or dishes like Chickpea Quinoa Bowls.
- Peanut Butter: Use salted, creamy peanut butter with only peanuts and salt. This type blends the best.
- Powdered Sugar: A classic ingredient in buckeyes. For a lower-sugar option, you can use Lakanto Powdered Monk Fruit Sweetener.
- Molasses: Essential in any gingerbread recipe, molasses is made from refining sugarcane or sugar beet juice into sugar.
- Spices: A blend of ground cinnamon and ginger gives these treats their classic gingerbread flavor.
- Chocolate Chips: You can use semi-sweet, milk, or dark chocolate. For a vegan or dairy-free option, look for Enjoy Life Chocolate Chips.
For a complete list of ingredients and quantities, see the recipe card below.
Step-by-Step Instructions
Step 1: Blend Ingredients
Combine chickpeas, powdered sugar, peanut butter, molasses, and spices in a blender or food processor until creamy.
Step 2: Form Balls
Roll the dough into bite-sized balls and chill them. Then, dip each ball halfway into melted chocolate.
Step 3: Chill
Place each buckeye on parchment paper and refrigerate until firm.
This process is super easy and fun, making it a great activity for kids. The hardest part is resisting the urge to eat all the dough while making them!
Equipment
- Food processor
Ingredients
- 1 cup canned chickpeas (drained, thoroughly rinsed, and patted dry)
- 3/4 cup natural creamy peanut butter (the only two ingredients should be peanuts and salt)
- 1/3 cup powdered sugar
- 1/4 tsp sea salt
- 2 Tbsp. molasses
- 1/4 tsp. ground cinnamon
- 1/4 tsp. ground ginger
- 1 cup semi-sweet chocolate chips (use Enjoy Life brand is making vegan/dairy-free)
- Turbinado sugar for garnish
Instructions
- Place chickpeas in a food processor. Blend until finely ground, about 15 seconds. Add peanut butter, powdered sugar, molasses, cinnamon, ginger, and salt. Blend for about 1 minute, stopping to scrape down the sides as needed, until ingredients form a smooth ball of dough.
- Roll dough into 12 to 14 balls (about 1.5 Tbsp. each), and place on a parchment-lined baking sheet. Chill for 15 to 20 minutes, until slightly firm.
- Place chocolate chips in a microwave-safe bowl. Heat in 30-second increments, stirring after each time, for about 90 to 120 seconds, until melted.
- Dip buckeyes into chocolate and place back on parchment paper. Sprinkle Turbinado sugar overtop, if desired. (If you have any leftover melted chocolate, feel free to drizzle it over the Buckeyes.) Refrigerate for 15 minutes, or until chocolate hardens.
Notes
- Store Buckeyes in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 1 week.
- You can also freeze Buckeyes for up to 3 months. Thaw overnight in the refrigerator.
NUTRITION INFORMATON: Serving: 1buckeye | Calories: 139kcal | Carbohydrates: 16g | Protein: 4g | Fat: 7.5g | Saturated Fat: 2.5g | Sodium: 66mg | Fiber: 2g | Sugar: 10g
* I calculate these values by hand to ensure accuracy, however expect up to a 10% variable depending on food brands.*
If you’ve tried this recipe, please take a minute to rate the recipe and let me know how things went for you in the comments below. It’s always such a pleasure to hear from you!
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