You’ve probably seen tradition Buckeyes, right? They’re a sweetened peanut butter filling, coated in chocolate. I wanted to take my absolute LOVE for Halva, sweetened tahini (ground sesame paste), and pair it with dark chocolate. An unexpected twist on a holiday favorite!
These no-bake little confections are full of nutty, sweet flavor, and make really gorgeous edible gifts for friends and family. While I was making these, my son Noah, 5, helped out by rolling out the halva into balls. He kept saying it felt just like Play-Doh, and he’s right!
I like to make these Halva Buckeyes on the smaller side, because they are rich, so you don’t want to overdo it. I used a kitchen scale to try to make them roughly the same size, about 10-12 grams each. Of course, when kids are helping out, you have to throw most of the precision out the window, so no, they’re not perfect but, it’s cool. You get the idea!
I love these just the way they are, but the recipe is a blueprint! You could sub in any nut or seed butter than you like! I think the next time I make them, I’ll add some finely chopped nuts in the tahini dough for a little crunch, and maybe some sea salt on top! I used very dark chocolate (72%) for the coating, because I only believe in dark chocolate, but if you prefer milk chocolate here, go for it!
Make sure to tag me @leanne.shor on Instagram if you make these Halva Buckeyes! I love seeing my recipes come to life! To pin this recipe and save it to your favorite boards, simply Tap any image on this page and the Pin It! icon will appear, or click the icon at the end of each post!
xoxo, L
Halva Buckeyes
Sweetened Tahini Halva Confections dipped in dark chocolate - an updated holiday favorite!
Ingredients
- 3/4 cup pure raw tahini paste
- 2 1/4 cups powdered sugar
- 1/2 tsp kosher salt
- 1 tsp pure vanilla extract
- 7 oz. good quality dark chocolate chopped fine
- 1 tsp non-hydrogenated organic vegetable shortening, I like Spectrum brand
Instructions
In a medium size mixing bowl, combine the tahini paste, powdered sugar, salt, and vanilla extract. Using an electric mixer, mix on medium speed for 2-3 minutes until thoroughly combined. The mixture will be a bit crumbly. That's ok!
Line a large plate or baking sheet with parchment paper. Roll the halva mixture into small balls, about 10-12 grams each. Place the balls on the prepared baking sheet/plate. Chill in the freezer for 15-20 minutes until very firm.
Place 1 1/2 cups of water in a small saucepan, and bring to a boil. Place a small heatproof bowl on top, making sure it completely covers the top of the pot. Place 6 oz. of the chopped chocolate and vegetable shortening in the bowl, and stir until most of the chocolate is melted. Remove from the heat, and add the remaining 1 oz of chopped chocolate to the bowl. Continue to stir until all of the chocolate is melted.
Poke a toothpick or a small wooden skewer in each ball, and dip into the warm melted chocolate partway, leaving the signature Buckeye at the top. Place back on the parchment, and return to the fridge for another 10-15 minutes until set.
Serve at room temperature or very chilled.