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You can relax and turn off the oven while still enjoying the perfect holiday dessert with these no-bake Peppermint Brownies. They are naturally sweetened with dates and completely vegan.
These chilled brownies come together in the food processor and are chilled instead of baked, so they are perfect if you need to free up some oven space! They are a great, easy dessert option when you’re craving something sweet and minty, but don’t feel like baking. You can also store them in the freezer so you have a little something sweet whenever you want!
A holiday dessert inspired by my famous no bake carrot cake and no bake pumpkin pie.
Why You’ll Love This Recipe
- No Baking Required: I love a no-bake dessert! You can get all of the sweet flavors without even turning on the oven. These easy peppermint brownies are no-bake, so you only need a food processor and a refrigerator to make them.
- Vegan and Paleo with No Added Sugar: Not only is this recipe vegan and Paleo-friendly, but there’s no added sugar. It’s naturally sweetened with dates and chocolate.
- Bold Holiday Flavor: Peppermint and chocolate are a delicious flavor combination that I especially love around the holidays. These brownies are the perfect treat to enjoy over the holiday season without sacrificing your nutritional goals.
Ingredients
- Dates: You’ll need whole, pitted dates for this recipe. They act as the binder and the moisture in the batter to hold everything together.
- Almonds and Walnuts: Whole, raw almonds and walnuts add a crunch and nutty flavor to the brownies without the use of flour.
- Cocoa Powder: You can’t achieve that chocolatey brownie flavor without unsweetened cocoa powder.
- Peppermint Extract: You’ll need peppermint extract to achieve the peppermint flavor, but be wary of how much you use because this extract is potent.
- Chocolate Chips: Melted dairy-free chocolate chips give these brownies a lovely chocolate topping.
- Coconut Oil: Use coconut oil to help the chocolate melt into a silkier consistency, and it also helps harden the chocolate when it’s chilled.
- Candy Canes: Crush your favorite vegan and Paleo-friendly candy canes or peppermint candies to sprinkle over the top for a festive look and added crunch.
See the recipe card below for exact ingredient amounts, nutritional information, and detailed instructions.
Variations & Dietary Modifications
- Make Peppermint Mocha Brownies: If you love drinking peppermint mochas around the holidays, give these brownies a little mocha flavor and add a little scoop of instant espresso powder to the batter mixture before processing it.
- Try Different Flavors: These brownies are a great base for many different flavors of dessert! Skip the peppermint extract and add orange zest or orange extract for chocolate-orange brownies, or add peanuts and a drizzle of peanut butter. You could even make a berry sauce like in my raw strawberry cake.
- Add Coconut: Since this recipe already uses coconut oil, you can add a bit of shredded coconut to the brownie base for some extra fiber and healthy fats.
How to Make Peppermint Brownies
This no-bake peppermint brownies recipe is so simple, but results in a decadent dessert! All you need to make it are a food processor and a 9×5” baking pan lined with parchment paper.
Step 1: Blend the Brownie Layer Ingredients. Add the dates, almonds, walnuts, cocoa powder, and peppermint extract to your food processor. Process them on high until they clump together into a ball.
Step 2: Spread into the Baking Pan. Spread the brownie batter into the bottom of the lined baking pan. Press it down to ensure a smooth, even layer. Place the pan in the refrigerator while you make the chocolate layer.
Step 3: Make the Brownie Topping. Melt the chocolate chips and coconut oil in a microwave-safe bowl in 10-30 second increments, stirring between each increment. When it’s completely melted, spread the chocolate over the top of your brownies. Crush candy canes in a plastic bag and sprinkle them over the top of the chocolate.
Step 4: Chill Until Set. Place the brownies in the refrigerator for 30 minutes to chill and set. Then remove them using the parchment paper and slice them into 12 bars. Enjoy with a coffee flavored with some gingerbread coffee creamer.
Recipe Tip
- Soak the Dates: Make the dates moist and easier to blend by soaking them in warm water for 10-15 minutes before blending them.
- Pulse Until Clumped, Not Crumbly: Don’t stop processing the brownie batter until it turns into a ball of clumped dough. If you stop at crumbles, then the brownies won’t stick together.
- You Must Chill: You have to chill no-bake desserts, or they will melt and fall apart. Don’t skip chilling them for at least 30 minutes before serving them.
- Storing: Keep leftovers in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 7 days. You can also freeze these chocolate peppermint brownies for 2-3 months. If they are too hard straight from the fridge, let them sit at room temperature for a few minutes before enjoying. Thaw frozen brownies in the refrigerator for 24 hours before enjoying them.
Serving Suggestions
These no-bake brownies with peppermint are the perfect low-hassle treat to enjoy during the holidays. It’s a busy season where we spend so much time dealing with the heat of the oven, so it’s nice to have a break with a chilled dessert. These make amazing snacks to take in your lunchbox or to enjoy after dinner.
- Chocolate desserts and coffee go hand in hand. I love to enjoy these peppermint brownies with a skinny peppermint mocha for an afternoon pick-me-up.
- These brownies are the perfect dish to take to a holiday party! You can bring dessert and a healthy buffalo chicken dip that’s sure to wow everyone.
- Enjoy this for dessert after enjoying a bowl of vegan black bean chili if you’re trying to eat more vegan meals.
- Make them for a holiday gathering along with these healthy eggnog bars and healthy sugar cookies for tasty and healthier desserts for the holidays!
Peppermint Brownies Recipe FAQs
Yes, for a more subtle flavor, try using a ½ teaspoon of peppermint extract instead of a whole teaspoon to reduce the potency of the flavor.
If your brownies are crumbly and won’t stay together, then the batter was probably too dry. Next time, soak your dates in water to soften them before blending. You could also add a splash more water to increase the moisture, but don’t add too much, or the brownies will be a watery mess.
This problem is easily fixed by chilling the brownies for a longer period of time. They need to be cold or else the ingredients soften, and the coconut oil melts into a greasy mess.
Absolutely! Prepare them up to a month ahead of time. Leave off the chocolate and candy topping, wrap, and store in the freezer for up to a month. Thaw them on the counter, then add the melted chocolate and candy topping, before chilling and slicing.
More Delicious Healthy Holiday Dessert Recipes
If you tried this Peppermint Brownies recipe or any other recipe on my website, please leave a 🌟 star rating and let me know how you go in the 📝 comments below.
No-Bake Peppermint Brownies
Ingredients
For the Brownie Layer
- 1 ½ cups Dates, pitted
- ½ cup Almonds, raw
- 1 cup Walnuts, raw
- 5 tablespoons Unsweetened Cocoa Powder
- 1 teaspoon Peppermint Extract, or vanilla extract
- ½ cup Water
For the Chocolate Layer
- ½ cup Chocolate Chips, or dairy free chocolate chips
- 1 teaspoon Coconut Oil
- 1-2 Candy Canes , crushed
Instructions
- Place the ingredients for the brownie layer in a food processor. Process on high until it clumps into a ball.
- Transfer the brownie batter into a 9"x5" baking pan lined with parchment paper.
- Place in the refrigerator while you make the chocolate layer. Place the chocolate and coconut oil in a bowl. Melt until smooth. Spread the melted chocolate over the brownie layer.
- Crush candy canes in a plastic bag then sprinkle it over the top.
- Place in the refrigerator 30 minutes to set then remove and slice into 12 bars.
Notes
- Soak the dates for 10-15 minutes in warm water to ensure they are moist and will hold the brownie dough together.
- Don’t stop processing the brownie batter until it forms into a ball of dough. If it’s just crumbles, then your brownies will fall apart.
- You have to chill the brownies for at least 30 minutes before slicing and serving them, or they will melt into a gooey mess and won’t stay together.
Nutrition
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
I can’t believe you fell!!! That’s some shit I would do. LOL! Really glad you weren’t badly hurt though.
These sound amazing. I’m always trying to make GF treat for Vegas… who refuses to consistently eat GF even though she needs to.
I know. Totally went down like an old lady. My boyfriend said “that’s what you get for turning 40.”
I love the chocolate layer Megan. I love the brownie layer!
I’m imagining biting through that chocolate layer enjoying that lovely soft crunch and sweet taste from the crushed candy canes then delving into that soft and glorious brownie layer. Yum yum! 😀
OMG it’s like you were here tasting them Neil. You described it perfectly!
Where are mine?!?!?
In my belly. LOL
Forget about dessert…I’d eat these for breakfast! They sound amazing, and I love how thick they are!
Hehe that’s what I say. Thanks Blair!