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35 Peppermint Desserts Perfect For Those Of You Stealing Candy Canes Off The Tree

We "candy cane"t wait for you to try them!

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candy cane cookies
PHOTO: BRYAN GARDNER; FOOD STYLING: MAKINZE GORE

There are some flavors—like pumpkin spice, watermelon, eggnog, and others—that are so reminiscent of a particular season that we can barely even picture them outside that time of year. For desserts this time of year? That’s peppermint. Rather than trying to imagine eating a candy cane in, say, July, we’re giving the minty-sweet flavor its proper due this holiday season. Join us as we make all 33 of these peppermint recipes—enjoy them for Christmas and all winter long.

When it comes to minty treats, we’d be remiss if we didn’t mention the OG: peppermint bark. Made with just 4 ingredients—white chocolate, milk chocolate, peppermint extract, and candy canes—it’s the simplest way to get your mint fix. Of course, we love the flavor combo so much, we have complicated things a bit by turning it into a myriad of other desserts, like a cheesecake, brownies, a trifle, a poke cake, and more. Trust us, they’re very worth the extra effort.

If you’re looking to expand your horizons beyond bark, we’ve got you too. Our candy cane cookies, our white chocolate peppermint blondies, our peppermint meltaways, our peppermint snowballs, and our peppermint meringues all have that biting, sweet taste you love without the (milk) chocolate.

It should also be noted, adding peppermint (and yes, bark) is THE best way to give festive flair to your favorite cocktails come Christmas. Check out our peppermint white Russians, our peppermint bark shots, our peppermintinis, or our peppermint bark mimosas to see what we mean. Be warned, though they’re extra-sweet and cute, they still pack a boozy punch.

Not a mint fan but still want some creative Christmas ideas? Check out our favorite Christmas cookies, our top holiday cocktails, and our best Christmas cakes too.

1

Candy Cane Cookies

candy cane cookies
PHOTO: BRYAN GARDNER; FOOD STYLING: MAKINZE GORE

These Christmas cookies look so much more complicated than they are. They're actually just a simple peppermint sugar cookie where half of the dough gets dyed red and then twisted together. So simple!

Get the Candy Cane Cookies recipe.

2

Chocolate Truffles

chocolate truffles topped with candy canes, sea salt, and cocoa powder
PHOTO: RACHEL VANNI; FOOD STYLING: BROOKE CAISON

Dessert truffles are not only a chocolate lover's dream, but they're also completely customizable and so easy to make. Top these with even more chocolate, or even Christmas toppings like candy canes or festive sprinkles to add some holiday cheer to any celebration. Hot tip: they make great gifts too!

Get the Chocolate Truffles recipe.

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3

Peppermint Sheet-Pan Bars

cookie bars topped with pink ice and peppermint candy pieces
PHOTO: RYAN LIEBE; FOOD STYLING: ADRIENNE ANDERSON

While peppermint and chocolate (à la classic peppermint bark) is a wonderful pairing, these bars really let the peppermint shine on its own. They're somewhere between a sugar cookie and a blondie, and have gorgeous swoops of minty cream cheese frosting with swirls of red and pink to mimic candy canes. This recipe also makes a ton, perfect for sharing!

Get the Peppermint Sheet-Pan Bars recipe.

4

Peppermint Bark

peppermint bark vertical
Parker Feierbach

Peppermint bark is THE candy we cannot wait to get our hands on every holiday season. Luckily for you, you can make a batch at home in just 10 minutes flat.

Get the Peppermint Bark recipe.

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5

Peppermint Meltaways

peppermint meltaway cookies topped with pink icing and crushed peppermints
PHOTO: DANE TASHIMA; FOOD STYLING: JASON SCHREIBER

These Christmas cookies have a velvety, melt-in-your-mouth texture and are topped with a pretty pink frosting, plus a shower of peppermints. There's just a touch of peppermint extract in the dough to lend the cookies a festive but not overpowering taste.

Get the Peppermint Meltaways recipe.

6

Frozen Peppermint Pattie Pie

chocolate pie shaped like a peppermint pattie candy
PHOTO: BRYAN GARDNER; FOOD STYLING: MAKINZE GORE

Even though this pie is served frozen, we think mint chocolate is good for all seasons. It would be an incredible no-bake dessert to serve at the holidays in lieu of more traditional options like cheesecake. Try sprinkling on some crushed peppermints to make it even more festive, if you like.

Get the Frozen Peppermint Pattie Pie recipe.

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7

Mint Chocolate Chip Cookies

green colored cookies with chocolate chips
PHOTO: ERIK BERNSTEIN; FOOD STYLING: MAKINZE GORE

Regular chocolate chip cookies are great, but this time of year, festive green peppermint chocolate chip cookies are even better. We added Andes Mints and peppermint extract to our cookies instead of chocolate chips to take these OTT.

Get the Mint Chocolate Chip Cookies recipe.

8

Peppermintinis

peppermint martini
PHOTO: ANDREW BUI; FOOD STYLING: ERIKA JOYCE

Peppermint bark fans, meet your match. If you're feeling EXTRA, pair it with our other favorite holiday treat, pretzel peppermint bark. We won't judge.

Get the Peppermintinis recipe.

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9

Cake Mix Peppermint Bark Cookies

chocolate cookies with peppermint bark and white chocolate
PHOTO: RACHEL VANNI; FOOD STYLING: MAKINZE GORE

Though we’re all for pulling out all the stops for holiday baking masterpieces, sometimes you just really want or need some festive cookies, like right now. That’s where these cake mix cookies come in. Best part? How versatile these are—you can use any mix-ins you like.

Get the Cake Mix Peppermint Bark Cookies recipe.

10

Peppermint Ice Cream

pink peppermint ice cream with crushed peppermint candy
PHOTO: ERIK BERNSTEIN; FOOD STYLING: TAYLOR ANN SPENCER

News alert—there’s more to holiday desserts than cookies. It's time for ice cream to take center stage, specifically this peppermint ice cream. It's delicious served plain, topped with chocolate sauce, or layered into a Christmas sundae with brownies, whipped cream, and shards of peppermint bark.

Get the Peppermint Ice Cream recipe.

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11

Peppermint Meringues

red and white swirled peppermint meringues dipped in chocolate and crushed peppermint
PHOTO: DANE TASHIMA; FOOD STYLING: JASON SCHREIBER

A cookie box filled with a wide assortment of shapes, sizes, and colors is such a treat to gift during the holidays. These peppermint meringues are the perfect addition to add a pop of color and fun. They practically scream “holiday!” and they taste fantastic as well.

Get the Peppermint Meringues recipe.

12

Peppermint Bark Brownies

peppermint bark brownies  delishcom
Joel Goldberg

This recipe can be as fancy or as simple as you want, depending on the type of brownies you make. Tbh, this peppermint white chocolate frosting would be amazing on pretty much anything. You could even sub out the brownies for cookies or even... brookies! The delicious options are endless.

Get the Peppermint Bark Brownies recipe.

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13

White Chocolate Peppermint Blondies

peppermint blondies cut into triangles and covered in white chocolate topped with crushed peppermint candy
PHOTO: DANE TASHIMA; FOOD STYLING: JASON SCHREIBER

There’s nothing quite like candy canes to put everyone in the holiday spirit, so top a peppermint-laced chewy blondie with a layer of snow white frosting and a dusting of chopped peppermints for the perfect holiday spin on the classic.

Get the White Chocolate Peppermint Blondies recipe.

14

Mint Chocolate Chip Pie

mint chocolate chip pie
DELISH

This no-bake pie tastes just like the beloved ice cream flavor. Looking for more no-bake mint chocolate goodness? Give our mint chip lasagna a try too!

Get the Mint Chocolate Chip Pie recipe.

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15

Peppermint White Russian

peppermint white russian
PHOTO: LUCY SCHAEFFER; FOOD STYLING: BROOKE CAISON

With a simple combo of Kahlúa, vodka, and heavy cream, the White Russian is already the king of creamy after-dinner cocktails, but adding a splash of peppermint schnapps makes it perfect for a seasonal celebration. Finish with a pinch of salt and a few peppermint candies, and meet your new favorite nightcap.

Get the Peppermint White Russian recipe.

16

Brownie Brittle

brownie brittle
PHOTO: LUCY SCHAEFFER; FOOD STYLING: BARRETT WASHBURNE

If you love candy brittle and are as obsessed with brownies as we are, then this brownie brittle will be your new favorite snack. Crisp and crunchy with deep cocoa flavor, this sweet snack bark is both insanely easy to make and incredibly delicious. Beware—you won’t be able to stop at just one piece!

Get the Brownie Brittle recipe.

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17

Chocolate Peppermint Crunch Cookies

chocolate peppermint cookies half covered in chocolate with crushed peppermint candies
PHOTO: DANE TASHIMA; FOOD STYLING: JASON SCHREIBER

With a texture similar to a crinkle cookie (minus the sugar coating), these chocolate peppermint crunch cookies are soft in the center and slightly chewy around the edges. They're made extra-festive with a dip in melted chocolate and crushed peppermint candies too.

Get the Chocolate Peppermint Crunch Cookies recipe.

18

Chocolate Peppermint Cheesecake

chocolate peppermint cheesecake
Parker Feierbach

With an Oreo crust and ganache topping, this is our favorite cheesecake to make for Christmas. It's like peppermint bark in cheesecake form, and we can't get enough.

Get the Chocolate Peppermint Cheesecake recipe.

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19

Peppermint Patties

peppermint patties
PHOTO; LUCY SCHAEFFER; FOOD STYLIST; FRANCESCA ZANI

Peppermint Patties were developed in 1940 at a store in York, Pennsylvania. The guy behind the York Cone Company, Henry Kessler, made sure the patties had that perfect “snap.” The company became one with Hershey in the late 1980s, and the candy is synonymous with the brand. The more you know!

Get the Peppermint Patties recipe.

20

Peppermint Bark Shots

peppermint bark shots with a peppermint candy rim
PHOTO: ERIK BERNSTEIN; FOOD STYLING: BARRETT WASHBURNE

We look forward to peppermint bark season all year long. These shots taste a lot like the real thing, only way more boozy. Sweet, minty, and creamy, be warned: These go down easy, but they’re just as strong as your average shot.

Get the Peppermint Bark Shots recipe.

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