An update to the classic recipe, Vanilla Almond Butter Buckeye Bars are filled with creamy almond butter and coated in a creamy white chocolate coating! The hardest part is waiting for them to chill!
Ice cream. Red Velvet Cake. Buckeye Balls. And Povitica.
What do all these amazing, sugary confections have in common?
With one bite, I am transported back to my 16-year-old self in my parents kitchen, whipping up each of these desserts with my Mother.
Whether it was an afternoon treat of caramel delight ice cream. To a holiday dessert spread filled with my Grandmother’s Red Velvet Cake (still going to share with this with you all!), to dipping buckeye balls, to making my families famous Povitica. They each have their own memory and instantly brighten any day.
With each of these memories, my worries drift away, thinking of the carefree and joyful hours my Mama and Grandma spent frosting layers of cake and rolling out the walnut loaded bread. I feel those days are what planted the seed for my love to cook and experiment in the kitchen. It is a place to loved ones connect, and that is no different for my family.
While my mother will say she doesn’t love to cook, we always had a delicious meal on the table every night and ate dinner as family on the regular. The idea of a family dinner was ingrained in me from a very early age and I am a firm believer that it helps a family to connect, even during these social media and electronic relationship days. As we start our family, I can’t wait to have my kids come running in the door from playing outside, when I let them know dinner is ready! It’s the small things in the life that really help me feel grounded and family dinners are just that.
For a few Christmas’, my mother and I would spend a few hours before our Christmas Eve celebration making classic treats to share with everyone while unwrapping presents. Because sugar = present unwrapping fuel.
And one treat I still choose to make every year (along with chocolate dipped pretzels!), are buckeye balls. You may have had these little gems. A soft peanut butter nugget type filling is rolled into balls, chilled then dipped into chocolate. A riff of a Reeses peanut butter cup and completely irresistible to me.
As the holidays approach, I will be in the kitchen with my loved ones, with our newest addition not far away, whipping up this spin on the class! Vanilla Almond Butter Buckeye Bars came about with my love of almond butter these days! And white chocolate replaces the classic milk chocolate because the smooth, sweet flavor of white chocolate pairs perfect with the nutty almond butter. I chose a vanilla almond butter along with adding vanilla extract because I am firm believer you can never have enough vanilla. But feel free to use your favorite almond butter, just be sure to stir the oil into the butter before measuring!
meal prep tips:
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these bars are perfect for a party as you can make them ahead of time! They keep great for a week in a sealed container!
An update to the classic recipe, Vanilla Almond Butter Buckeye Bars are filled with creamy almond butter and coated in a creamy white chocolate coating! The hardest part is waiting for them to chill!
15 minPrep Time
1 hrCook Time
1 hr, 15 Total Time
Yields 16
Save RecipeIngredients
- 1 1/2 cups smooth vanilla almond butter , or your favorite almond butter
- 1/2 cup unsalted butter, room temperature
- 3/4 cup honey graham cracker crumbs (gluten-free, if needed)
- 1 tablespoon pure vanilla extract
- 1 to 2 cups powdered sugar, as needed
- 3/4 cup white chocolate chips
- Sea salt, for sprinkling
Instructions
- Using a stand mixer or a large bowl, mix to
gether the almond butter, butter and graham cracker crumbs. - Slowly add the powdered sugar, adding a cup at a time. (You may not need the full amount depending on how much oil your almond butter has).
- Melt the white chocolate and spread it out over the bars. Work quickly because the chocolate starts to set up right away.
- Sprinkle with sea salt.
- Let it set for an hour before cutting it into squares.
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