These vegan chocolate peppermint cookies are festive, simple to make, and Santa-approved! They have all the holiday flavor but are vegan and grain-free! You can enjoy these at home any time of year, but they're especially tasty during the holiday season, and the perfect treat to bring along to a holiday party!
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During the holidays, we're always running around, needing to bring desserts or appetizers to friends and families. But we're always trying to create something that everyone can enjoy. And these holiday cookies - well, these are it!
These chocolate cookies are grain-free (I'm still fairly certain it’s magic) and vegan, thanks to modern egg substitutes (the superhero for vegan cookie recipes). They're very similar to chocolate crinkle cookies - one of my favorite cookies! Enjoy alongside a mug of hot chocolate, mulled wine, or a hotty toddy!
Want more white chocolate or peppermint flavor? Try our matcha crinkle cookies, white chocolate Christmas crack, or our peppermint tea latte.
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Chocolate Peppermint Cookie Ingredients and Substitutions
*All substitution options given are a 1:1 replacement unless otherwise noted
Chocolate Nut Butter: Any nut butter, including cashew butter or almond butter, can be used or Nutella (not vegan). Our favorite is Jubli! It is top 8 allergen friendly and absolutely creamy and delicious! You can also make your own nut butter using this recipe!
The variety of nut butter used will determine how much Just Egg you need. For example, using Jubli results in needing 3 tablespoons of Just Egg while using chocolate Justin’s nut butter results in needing 6 tablespoons of Just Egg.
Just remember - the batter should be sticky, like thick mud. Add more Just Egg or Flax Egg, 1 tablespoon at a time until desired texture is reached.
Coconut Sugar: Stevia, monk fruit sweetener, brown sugar, cane sugar, or maple sugar. A syrup based sweetener can probably be used but it has not been tested. We prefer to use Better Body Foods Coconut Sugar. They are a company focusing on sustainable farming and processing of coconut products.
Just Egg (vegan egg replacement): A flax egg should be able to be used, but we have not tried it. Use 1 tablespoon of flaxseed or chia seeds soaked in 3 tablespoons of water for 5 minutes to replace 3 tablespoons of Just Egg.
See note above regarding the type of nut butter used. Just Egg can be found in the refrigerated section, near margarine at Target, Whole Foods, and other grocers.
Baking soda
Pure vanilla extract: Vanilla extract, paste, or beans can be used. Origine Paradise Provisions makes a great pure vanilla! Origin produces organic and sustainably sourced extracts and flavorings. You may be able to use peppermint oil or essential oil but it has not been tested.
Unsweetened Cocoa Powder: Melted chocolate chips can be used or cacao powder. This can also be omitted. The flavor will not be as intense but still delicious! If omitting, keep an eye on the texture - remember, like thick mud!
Pure Peppermint Extract: No substitute for this, but it can be left out. Mint or spearmint extract should not be used. We aren’t in the business of making tooth paste cookies, although it is probably an under served market! We love and use Watkins Peppermint!
Peppermint White Chocolate Candy (vegan): Check labels for vegan options, but any of your favorite chocolate type candies can be used. White chocolate chips, chocolate chunks, candy cane pieces (crushed candy canes), dark chocolate chips, anything that floats your boat.
If not vegan, Andes makes a great peppermint white chocolate crunch that would be good too! Or, you could do chocolate chips and peppermint chips for double chocolate peppermint cookies!
How to make these (with photos and video!)
Step 1: Preheat the oven to 350 degrees. Line a baking or cookie sheet with parchment paper, or a silicon mat, or spray with a nonstick spray.
helpful tip
- You can use a paper towel and scoop up approximately 1 tablespoon of vegan butter or coconut oil (at room temperature) in the paper towel and place it on the baking tray. Using the paper towel, rub the butter or oil all over the pan for a truly non-stick surface!
Step 2: Combine ingredients except the peppermint candies. Mix all other ingredients (both wet ingredients and dry ingredients) in a large bowl with a fork, hand mixer, electric mixer, or stand mixer. The batter (or cookie dough) should be sticky and more on the wet side, but not runny. Like thick mud - ha!
Step 3: Add candy! Fold in the candy. Not all peppermint candy is vegan, check out our substitutions for the best vegan options!
Step 4: Bake. Roll into balls approximately 1.5 tablespoons in size. Place on a lined baking sheet with enough room to expand (about 2 inches of space between each ball of dough). Bake for 12-15 minutes.
Step 5: Let rest. When the time is up and the cookies are crackled on top, remove them from the oven. The top of the cookies will be domed and puffed up - but that is correct!
Let them rest for 10 minutes to deflate and become gooey on the inside and crisp on the outside. Ideally, let chill on a cooling rack if you have one. If not, resting on the baking sheet is fine. Enjoy!
Common Questions
If I want to take these to a party, when should I make them?
These cookies are best made the day before and stored in a sealed container. If not sealed, they tend to dry out. They can be made the day of or right before, but they should be left to rest without moving from the pan for at least 10 minutes so they can be handled without breaking. We like to set the pan outside in the snow (ya, winter!) to cool them faster.
Can I use an egg if I'm not vegan?
Yes! A single egg will replace 3 tablespoon of vegan egg replacement.
Can I use brown sugar instead of coconut sugar?
Yes, brown sugar or white sugar will work. Liquid sugar will not work.
Try these other holiday recipes!
Chocolate Peppermint Protein Balls
Recipe
1 Bowl Gluten Free Peppermint Chocolate Cookies
Ingredients
- ¾ cup chocolate nut butter (or Nutella)
- ¾ cup coconut sugar
- ¼ cup unsweetened cocoa powder
- 3-6 tablespoon Just Egg Replacement (or 1 egg *see notes*)
- 1 teaspoon baking soda
- ⅛ teaspoon pure peppermint extract
- 1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
- ½ cup vegan white chocolate peppermint bark
Before you start!
If you make this recipe, please take a moment to leave us a review. We love to hear from you!
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper or a silicon mat or spray with non stick spray.
- Add all ingredients except candy to a bowl and mix with a fork or hand mixer.
- Fold in candies.
- Separate into 8-10 balls and place on baking sheet with enough room to spread.
- Bake for 12-15 minutes or until puffed up and crackled on top.
- Remove from oven and let rest 10 minutes until they have had time to deflate and harden slightly. Resting is VERY important to create that crisp exterior and gooey inside.
- Enjoy!
Video
Notes
Looking for more information?
Additional substitution information can be found above in the substitution section of this post.
Nutrition Disclaimer
Nutritional information is an estimate and for informational purposes only.
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