16 Peppermint Desserts to Make for the Holidays

So Fresh and Festive

Written by
Lizz Schumer
A journalist, writer, and author, Lizz Schumer has 10+ years of experience covering food and drink for a wide variety of well-known print and online publications.
Learn about The Spruce Eats' Editorial Process
Lizz Schumer
Updated 03/16/20
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The Spruce / Leah Maroney

There's something about peppermint that just screams "holiday time," so freshen up your dessert table with these delicious treats. The cool, zingy flavor complements many sweets perfectly, from brownies and bars to cookies and festive cakes. Try a few this season to bring to a bake sale, a holiday get-together, or as a perfectly seasonal classroom treat.

  • 01 of 16

    Peppermint Brownies

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     The Spruce / Leah Maroney

    These ganache-coated peppermint brownies will use up leftover candy canes or peppermint candies so they don't go soft after the holidays, but you might want to buy extras just to make them. They're a chocolate-lovers dream with a delicious crumb and frosting that's as rich as any hot cocoa. It's also a kid-friendly recipe if the little ones want to pitch in and help.

  • 02 of 16

    Classic Peppermint Bark

    Peppermint bark

    The Spruce

    Peppermint bark is probably the most classic peppermint dessert around Christmas time and for good reason. If you don't have time or the inclination to temper the chocolate, use chocolate melting disks, or don't temper at all. If you decide to go that route, store the peppermint bark in the fridge because untempered chocolate melts more easily.

  • 03 of 16

    Peppermint Bark Cheesecake

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     The Spruce / Leah Maroney

    With a pretty contrasting peppermint bark and cookie crust and a nice crunch from crushed-up candies, this festive cheesecake tastes as great as it'll look on your dessert table. Use store-bought peppermint bark to save time and effort or make your own for an extra-special treat. Garnish with more bark or crushed candy canes or candies.

  • 04 of 16

    Grasshopper Pie

    Grasshopper Pie

    The Spruce / Elaine Lemm

    Turn the classic cocktail into a dessert with this boozy no-bake grasshopper pie. It comes out fluffy and impressive, but serve it to the adults only because it does have creme de menthe. For an even easier treat, use a pre-made graham cracker crust instead of crushing up your own. It does need several hours to chill, so plan ahead accordingly.

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  • 05 of 16

    Vegan Hot Cocoa Cupcakes

    hot cocoa cupcakes

    Allyson Kramer

    These hot chocolate cupcakes taste just like sipping a candy cane-spiked cup of cocoa, but without any dairy products. Chickpea flour acts as both a flour and a natural binder and buckwheat flour gives them a lovely depth of flavor without adding too much nuttiness. If you don't have any, regular flour will also work just fine.

  • 06 of 16

    Christmas Peppermint Cake

    Chocolate Candy Cane Cake

    The Spruce / Elizabeth LaBau

    This gorgeous festive cake uses crushed candy canes and peppermint extract in the filling for a tasty mint flavor that complements the deep chocolate cake perfectly. Decorate it with more miniature candy canes and chocolate curls for a presentation that just begs for a photo.

  • 07 of 16

    Andes Mint Cookies

    Andes Mint Cookies

    The Spruce Eats / Kristina Vanni

    The mint-chocolate flavor of Andes Mint cookies is easily obtained with the little candies. This delicious treat incorporates the chocolate mints into the batter in two stages. Some melts into the dough and the rest leave behind yummy mint chocolate pieces.

  • 08 of 16

    Christmas Bark

    Three Chocolate Peppermint Bark Recipe

     Elaine Lemm

    This chocolate candy dessert is easy to make and festive looking, perfect for the holiday but delicious any time of year. Dark chocolate is melted and combined with peppermint extract and then drizzled with both milk and white chocolate. Decorate with colorful candies, refrigerate until hardened, and break up the bark into pieces.

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  • 09 of 16

    Chocolate Mint Cupcakes

    Mint Chocolate Cake

    DanielBendjy / E+ / Getty Images

    Because they start with a cake mix, these easy cupcakes make a perfect treat for a busy evening. Beat the frosting long enough to give it time to get soft and fluffy or use canned frosting for an even faster dessert. Turn the frosting green for a pretty presentation or simply dust the tops with more crushed candy.

  • 10 of 16

    Peppermint Cookies

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     The Spruce / Leah Maroney

    With a texture that tastes like a fudge brownie, but in cookie form, these treats have as much chocolate as minty goodness. Top them with crushed peppermint candies for extra texture and color that will impress both Santa and your cookie swap partners. They taste lovely with a cup of cocoa on a cold winter's night.

  • 11 of 16

    White Chocolate Heart-Shaped Thin Mints

    white chocolate thin mint hearts

    The Spruce / Leah Maroney

    Make these beautiful minty hearts to add to a pretty cookie platter, to share as a lovely gift, or as a stand-alone classroom treat kids will love. Creamy white chocolate and an assertive minty zing make them as delicious as they are adorable, so make a big batch.

  • 12 of 16

    Peppermint Hot Chocolate Pancakes

    Peppermint Hot Chocolate Pancakes

    Laurel Randolph 

    You can have dessert for breakfast with these peppermint-studded cocoa pancakes. Make them for a decadent Christmas breakfast or brunch or serve them as a sweet ending to a meal, for a fun and different twist on dessert. Serve them with chocolate sauce, some vanilla ice cream, or fresh whipped cream for contrast.

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  • 13 of 16

    Fresh Mint Truffles

    Fresh Mint Truffles

    The Spruce / Elizabeth LaBau

    Instead of using peppermint extract or crushed candies, these gorgeous and elegant mint truffles use fresh peppermint. Candied mint leaves make a lovely topping, but you can also use fresh. If you do, eat them within a day so the leaves don't wilt. You can also leave them plain or decorate with chocolate sprinkles, curls, or sanding sugar.

  • 14 of 16

    No-Bake Peppermint Cheesecake

    mint cheesecake

    The Spruce / Elaine Lemm

    Cream cheese and peppermint complement each other perfectly in this lightly herbal no-bake cheesecake. Make the cake ahead of time to give it plenty of time to chill, and garnish with a few pretty fresh mint leaves before serving. It also tastes great with a graham crust, if you prefer.

  • 15 of 16

    Mint Chocolate Chip Ice Cream

    Mint chocolate chip ice cream
    James And James / Getty Images

    If you want to avoid added sugar, you don't have to skip dessert with this simple ice cream. Use sugar-free ice cream for a lighter treat and matcha powder to give it that pretty color we all know and love. Cacao nibs add a hint of class, but you can also use chocolate chips or shavings if you want a more typical chocolate taste.

  • 16 of 16

    Skinny Mint Cookies

    Chocolate mint cookies

    MSPhotographic / Getty Images

    If you like the classic Girl Scout cookie, you'll love this homemade version. They make a great project with the kids and come together quickly and easily. Use any wafer cookies you like; a mint version gives them a deliciously festive peppermint kick.