Peppermint desserts are the cool, bright flavor of the holidays, and these 15 easy peppermint desserts cover cookies, truffles, brownies and even baked donuts. Many are chocolate and peppermint combinations, and several are vegan or gluten-free. Every one comes from the Dessertlush archive and links to the full recipe with exact measurements and step-by-step instructions.
Times and servings for these peppermint desserts come from each recipe card. Most cookies are ready in 25 to 30 minutes, the truffles need time to chill, and the batches run from 6 to 24, so you can pick the right peppermint desserts for a small treat or a holiday cookie tin.
Which Peppermint Dessert Should You Make?
Use this quick guide to choose among the peppermint desserts below by speed, batch size or diet.
- Fastest: Peppermint Chocolate Chip Cookies take 25 minutes in total, and Chocolate Peppermint Cookies (gluten-free), Vegan Chocolate Peppermint Cookies, Easy Christmas Peppermint Sugar Cookies and Quick & Easy Peppermint Meltaways with Peppermint Cream Cheese Frosting take 30 each.
- Biggest batches: Peppermint Chocolate Chip Cookies, Chocolate Peppermint Cookies (gluten-free), Vegan Chocolate Peppermint Cookies, Peppermint Mocha Cookies, Easy Christmas Peppermint Sugar Cookies, Quick & Easy Peppermint Meltaways with Peppermint Cream Cheese Frosting, Vegan Candy Cane Cookies, Easy No Bake Peppermint Gluten Free Oreo Truffles and Dark Chocolate Peppermint Truffles all make 24.
- No-bake: Healthy Chocolate Peppermint Truffles, Easy No Bake Peppermint Gluten Free Oreo Truffles and Dark Chocolate Peppermint Truffles.
- Vegan: Vegan Chocolate Peppermint Cookies, Vegan Candy Cane Cookies, Vegan Gluten-Free Peppermint Brownie Truffles and Healthy Peppermint Hot Cocoa Brownies (Vegan, Gluten Free).
- Gluten-free: Chocolate Peppermint Cookies (gluten-free), Gluten-Free Double Chocolate Peppermint Cookies, Easy No Bake Peppermint Gluten Free Oreo Truffles, Vegan Gluten-Free Peppermint Brownie Truffles and Healthy Peppermint Hot Cocoa Brownies (Vegan, Gluten Free).
- Naturally sweetened with dates: Healthy Chocolate Peppermint Truffles and Medjool Date Chocolate Peppermint Donuts.
- Chocolate peppermint brownies: Dark Chocolate Peppermint Brownies and Healthy Peppermint Hot Cocoa Brownies (Vegan, Gluten Free).
- Needs the most chilling: Dark Chocolate Peppermint Truffles takes 2 hr 25 min and Vegan Gluten-Free Peppermint Brownie Truffles takes 2 hr 10 min.
Peppermint Cookies
Cookies are the easiest peppermint desserts to bake, with chocolate, mocha, sugar and meltaway options plus vegan and gluten-free choices.
1. Peppermint Chocolate Chip Cookies
Chocolate chip cookies flavored with peppermint extract and semi-sweet chocolate chips. 15 minutes of prep and 10 of baking.
Get the recipe →2. Chocolate Peppermint Cookies (gluten-free)
Gluten-free chocolate cookies made with a 1:1 gluten-free flour blend, cocoa and peppermint. 20 minutes of prep and 10 of baking.
Get the recipe →3. Gluten-Free Double Chocolate Peppermint Cookies
Gluten-free double chocolate cookies made with Dutch-process cocoa and peppermint. 20 minutes of prep and 11 of baking; the rest of the hour is resting time.
Get the recipe →4. Vegan Chocolate Peppermint Cookies
Vegan chocolate cookies made with cocoa, a flax egg and peppermint extract. 20 minutes of prep and 10 of baking.
Get the recipe →5. Peppermint Mocha Cookies
Chocolate cookies made with cocoa, instant espresso powder and peppermint extract. 20 minutes of prep and 12 of baking.
Get the recipe →6. Easy Christmas Peppermint Sugar Cookies
Sugar cookies flavored with peppermint extract and topped with white chocolate melting wafers and crushed candy canes. 20 minutes of prep and 10 of baking.
Get the recipe →7. Quick & Easy Peppermint Meltaways with Peppermint Cream Cheese Frosting
Soft peppermint cookies made with cornstarch and topped with a peppermint cream cheese frosting and crushed peppermint. 20 minutes of prep and 10 of baking.
Get the recipe →8. Vegan Candy Cane Cookies
Vegan candy cane cookies made with peppermint extract and red vegan gel food coloring. 45 minutes of prep and 10 of baking.
Get the recipe →Peppermint Truffles
Peppermint truffles are the no-bake peppermint desserts for gifting, from date-sweetened bites to dark chocolate and Oreo versions.
9. Healthy Chocolate Peppermint Truffles
No-bake truffles made from Medjool dates, almond flour, cocoa and peppermint extract, rolled in cocoa. 15 minutes of prep; the rest of the 45 minutes is chilling time.
Get the recipe →10. Easy No Bake Peppermint Gluten Free Oreo Truffles
No-bake truffles made with gluten-free chocolate sandwich cookies, cream cheese and peppermint extract, coated in white chocolate and crushed candy canes. 20 minutes of prep and 5 of cooking; the rest of the 1 hr 25 min is chilling time.
Get the recipe →11. Dark Chocolate Peppermint Truffles
Dark chocolate truffles made with heavy cream, butter, pure peppermint extract and crushed peppermint candies. 20 minutes of prep and 5 of cooking; the rest of the 2 hr 25 min is chilling time.
Get the recipe →12. Vegan Gluten-Free Peppermint Brownie Truffles
Vegan, gluten-free brownies baked in an 8×8 pan and rolled into peppermint truffles. 45 minutes of prep and 25 of baking; the rest of the 2 hr 10 min is chilling time.
Get the recipe →Peppermint Brownies and Donuts
Brownies and donuts add chocolate peppermint flavor in a single pan or a donut tin.
13. Dark Chocolate Peppermint Brownies
Brownies made with 70% dark chocolate and peppermint extract, baked in an 8×8 pan. 20 minutes of prep and 35 of baking.
Get the recipe →14. Healthy Peppermint Hot Cocoa Brownies (Vegan, Gluten Free)
Vegan, gluten-free brownies made with almond flour, cocoa, maple syrup and peppermint extract, baked in an 8×8 pan. 15 minutes of prep and 25 of baking.
Get the recipe →15. Medjool Date Chocolate Peppermint Donuts
Donuts made with Medjool dates, almond flour, cocoa and peppermint extract, baked in a 6-cavity pan. 20 minutes of prep and 12 of baking.
Get the recipe →Tips for Making Peppermint Desserts
Use extract for flavor. Nearly every recipe here uses peppermint extract, including Peppermint Chocolate Chip Cookies, Peppermint Mocha Cookies and Dark Chocolate Peppermint Brownies, so a small bottle covers the whole list.
Save crushed candy canes for the finish. Easy Christmas Peppermint Sugar Cookies, Easy No Bake Peppermint Gluten Free Oreo Truffles and Quick & Easy Peppermint Meltaways with Peppermint Cream Cheese Frosting are topped with crushed candy canes or peppermint candies, which adds crunch.
Plan chilling time for truffles. Dark Chocolate Peppermint Truffles needs 2 hr 25 min in total and Vegan Gluten-Free Peppermint Brownie Truffles needs 2 hr 10 min, so make them the day before you need them.
If you want more ideas, see our 21 easy Christmas cookie recipes, the 21 easy fudge, bark and truffle recipes, the 25 easy Christmas desserts and the 21 easy no-bake desserts.
Peppermint Desserts FAQs
What is the fastest of these peppermint desserts?
Peppermint Chocolate Chip Cookies are the fastest of these peppermint desserts at 25 minutes in total, followed by Chocolate Peppermint Cookies (gluten-free), Vegan Chocolate Peppermint Cookies, Easy Christmas Peppermint Sugar Cookies and Quick & Easy Peppermint Meltaways with Peppermint Cream Cheese Frosting at 30 minutes each.
Which peppermint desserts are no-bake?
Healthy Chocolate Peppermint Truffles, Easy No Bake Peppermint Gluten Free Oreo Truffles and Dark Chocolate Peppermint Truffles are no-bake peppermint desserts that need chilling instead of baking.
Are there vegan peppermint desserts here?
Yes: Vegan Chocolate Peppermint Cookies, Vegan Candy Cane Cookies, Vegan Gluten-Free Peppermint Brownie Truffles and Healthy Peppermint Hot Cocoa Brownies (Vegan, Gluten Free).
Are there gluten-free peppermint desserts here?
Yes: Chocolate Peppermint Cookies (gluten-free), Gluten-Free Double Chocolate Peppermint Cookies, Easy No Bake Peppermint Gluten Free Oreo Truffles, Vegan Gluten-Free Peppermint Brownie Truffles and Healthy Peppermint Hot Cocoa Brownies (Vegan, Gluten Free).
Which peppermint desserts take the longest?
Dark Chocolate Peppermint Truffles takes 2 hr 25 min in total and Vegan Gluten-Free Peppermint Brownie Truffles takes 2 hr 10 min, mostly for chilling.
How many peppermint desserts are on this list?
There are 15 peppermint desserts here: 8 cookies, 4 truffles and 3 brownies and donuts.
Can I find more peppermint desserts on Dessertlush?
Yes, the recipe archive has more peppermint desserts and holiday treats, so browse it for extra ideas.
More Peppermint Desserts
Want to keep baking? Browse every Christmas dessert, all the cookie recipes, or the full recipe archive for more peppermint desserts.
