Six peppermint and chocolate dessert recipes to kick off the holiday season.
Peppermint Mocha are my favorite holiday season guilty pleasure and it’s no surprise that I’ve translated a variation of that drink flavor into a few different desserts. The holiday season is upon us so it’s time to get baking!
Peppermint Dark Chocolate Covered Oreos
Peppermint Chocolate Pavlova Parfaits (gluten-free)
Peppermint Mocha Truffles (gluten-free)
Thick and Fudgy Peppermint Mocha Brownies
Fudgy and gooey chocolate cookies full of intense chocolate flavor, melted marshmallows and peppermint pieces make the best Christmas dessert.
It’s beginning to smell a lot like… cookies! I made this batch of Peppermint Hot Cocoa Cookies for Matt’s co-workers as a holiday treat, but struggled not to eat many, many of them myself. Even L got to try a few bites and was not happy when I told him they were all gone. Sorry, buddy! I know the feeling.
Actually, these are similar (er, almost the same) as my other Hot Cocoa Cookies. But I didn’t feel like those photos did the cookies justice and I wanted to make another version that just screamed holiday flavors. Plus, the people in Matt’s office have been big fans of some other peppermint chocolate desserts and I knew these would be a hit.
A few things to note about these cookies: 1) They are big! They spread a lot during baking and get just a little bit gooey (in a good way) from the marshmallows so make sure to leave plenty of space between them for baking 2) They are ultra rich. If you love chocolate, like really love chocolate, like I do, these will make you very happy. 3) As a result of the gooeyness, be careful when storing them. I had no problems when I layered them with parchment paper before freezing.
Thick and Fudgy Peppermint Mocha Brownies
Holiday parfaits layered with peppermint whipped cream, fluffy meringue and shaved chocolate.
I’m having a bit of a moment with pavlovas. Something seemingly simple can be playful and surprising when you translate it into a new and different flavor combination. Over the summer we enjoyed a refreshing lemon berry combo then warmed up in the fall with cinnamon and caramelized apples. Now we are turning towards Christmas with peppermint and chocolate.
I’m going to be honest and tell you that my main motivation for a new pavlova recipe was the extra meringue stored in my freezer. Since I’d bagged it up and then packed a million more things in there it was somewhat crumbled so I decided to make another pavlova parfait. It’s actually the perfect dessert for serving at a dinner party because you can make pretty individual servings for everyone to enjoy. On top of that, it’s naturally gluten-free so if you have a crowd, you don’t have to worry about some dietary constraints. Dessert storage win!
This dessert was a huge hit with my friends who didn’t even get the pretty servings. Theirs got compiled into a big tupperware for easy transporting. Besides, with peppermint whipped cream no one was overly concerned with how their dessert looked.
Chocolate covered Oreos are the best homemade Christmas gift! The three different recipes for this easy no-bake treat are so much fun.
Chocolate covered Oreos aren’t exactly a new thing. I’ve been making them for years and have seen them sold in many candy stores. Usually, though, they are plain milk or dark chocolate. After spotting a variety of flavors at Trader Joe’s (and yes, I know, they aren’t technically “Oreos”), and using lots of self-restraint not to buy the big tin, I decided to make my own. That way, I was able to pick my favorite flavor combinations and control what chocolate I use! Bonus, they make a great treat for gift giving and bringing to holiday parties.
For this post I made three variations of Chocolate Covered Oreos:
Even though I love baking holiday cookies, it’s nice to change it up once and a while with something that looks extra pretty and fancy (people are always impressed with chocolate dipped anything). Plus, I can’t bring myself to give someone store-bought food gifts. Sidenote: I actually love when people buy me food gifts. Is that weird?
Happy Hanukkah!!
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Peanut Butter Caramel Candy Cups
Chocolate Covered Peanut Butter Ritz Sandwiches
Rich dark chocolate truffles with a hint of coffee and splash of peppermint. The best no-bake edible Christmas gift!
Peppermint mocha is my ultimate holiday weakness. The drink, the sweets, everything. In fact, despite the fact that I’ve mostly given up fake sweeteners and usually drink coffee sans sugar, the skinny peppermint mocha latte is my once or twice a year guilty pleasure treat that I truly savor. Last year I remember drinking one as we took L, just a newborn then, on a walk. It was a chilly late fall day and he seemed to be going through an eat-every-hour growth spurt. That peppermint mocha latte was my little break.
There is something so sinful about peppermint mocha treats. The rich deep chocolate flavor combined with a pop of mint is so satisfying. In making these truffles, I chose to go with an extra-dark chocolate for a base to keep them from being too sweet. That, combined with some instant espresso and a splash of peppermint extract, creates a great balanced flavor.
The recipe isn’t all that complicated. In fact, the hardest part is just rolling out all the truffles. I’d even recommend doubling or tripling the batch if you plan on making them for gifts or parties.
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Thick and Fudgy Peppermint Mocha Brownies
This recipe for Double Dip Mints was inspired by one of my favorite candy stores. Homemade milk chocolate dipped peppermint patties are even better than the original candy you are used to!
In all of my summers of going down the shore, there are definitely mixed memories of people and events that seem to be somewhat of a blur at this point. Aside from a few special moments, without a doubt, one of my favorite things about the annual trips is visiting Jagielky’s, an unbelievable chocolate store with a vast selection of homemade sweets. I’m not even really a candy person in general, I can usually take it or leave it, but their chocolates are to-die-for. The homemade caramel in the cashew turtles is just perfect and their almond butter crunch bars (milk chocolate and almond covered toffee) are one of my favorite treats in the world. My mom and sister love their homemade marshmallow-filled chocolates and I never leave without a chocolate covered Oreo for Matt. But there is one candy that always seemed to me so simple yet so genius and I had to recreate it, the Double Dip Mint.
The Double Dip Mint is really very straight forward. It is basically like someone took a peppermint patty and then dipped it in milk chocolate. So instead of one type of chocolate coating, you get two. So for those of you who haven’t picked sides on milk versus dark, these are perfect for you. My homemade version might not be quite as delicious as the specialty treat I’ve been buying for years, but it’s pretty darn close. Plus, this time of year I’m not heading to the shore so making them myself is necessary.
I worked off of Christina’s peppermint patty recipe and increased the volume so that you could sneak a few for yourself and then gift a dozen to a friend for the holidays. Feel free to double or triple the recipe as needed!
Mint Cookies & Cream Buttercream Cups
Super rich and fudgy brownies infused with the infamous peppermint mocha holiday flavor.
Sometimes you just need a great brownie. These peppermint mocha brownies are the perfect holiday brownie for this season’s festivities. Thick, fudgy, rich and decadent… the peppermint mocha combination is a holiday favorite around here and it is hard to beat in brownie form. I’m partial to a super fudgy brownie with a crackly top and that is exactly what you get with this treat!
Fudgy Double Creme de Menthe Brownies
Fudgy Brownie Ice Cream Sandwiches
