Vegan Peppermint Brownies Recipe
I made this vegan peppermint brownies recipe over the weekend. I placed them on the counter, and while I was getting ready to photograph them, my husband inhaled three of them faster than I could get my phone’s camera ready. He was just getting into the fourth brownie square when I came back into the kitchen. Nothing can get between that man and his brownies. “They’re the perfect balance of fudgy and cakey,” he said through a mouth full.
I wasn’t going to tell him that it was the same ingredients I had been experimenting with and that he had seen on the counter the day before. I could have thrown a smug “I told you so” in his face, but in the interest of homemaking bliss, I just smiled and held my tongue. I’m ever the middle child. I was a vegetarian most of my life, my transition to veganism began back in 2020. This decision I made for two reasons: I no longer felt comfortable with the environmental impact that consuming animal products of any kind has, or the overall negative health effects on the human body (see table below for detailed nutrition information).
A Little About The Ingredients
These vegan peppermint brownies are both vegan and gluten–free. They are made without any grains or flour at all, actually. They have just seven simple ingredients and are probably one of the most nutritious brownies you’ll ever make. It’s safe to say that I love all things chocolate. That includes brownies, except traditional brownies aren’t exactly the healthiest of foods. They’re not even the healthiest of desserts, which is why I really enjoy creating healthy versions of chocolate brownies. I love baking healthy treats like these peppermint brownies that you can enjoy over the holidays. And if you love all things peppermint then you’ll also love my vegan thin mints cookies, vegan peppermint patties, peppermint raw vegan bars and vegan peppermint ice cream so try those recipes too. And if you’re looking for a refreshing minty post-workout nutritious boost, try my mint chocolate protein shake.
These particular brownies have double the protein and fiber of regular brownies because they are made with cashews and black beans instead of flour. You won’t ever notice that little healthy aspect of these brownies. Trust me, you won’t know they’re there. These vegan peppermint brownies have the perfect amount of peppermint flavor from one drop of peppermint essential oil. It’s amazing how concentrated essential oils are. You can also use peppermint extract, which is found in the baking aisle. If you do go that route, I suggest starting with ⅛ teaspoon of the extract and then tasting and adding more if needed. The extracts can be very powerful also, so a little goes a long way. Since these vegan peppermint brownies are vegan and gluten–free, tasting the batter is safe.
How to Make Vegan Peppermint Brownies
These vegan peppermint brownies are vegan, gluten–free, and the perfect amount of fudge. No one will guess they are made with black beans, cashews, and are naturally sweetened.
Prep Time: 10 minutes
Cook Time: 20 minutes
Total Time: 30 minutes
Yield: 16
Ingredients
- 1 cup dry roasted, salted cashews
- 1 ½ cups black beans, drained and rinsed
- 2 flax eggs (2 Tbsp. ground flaxseed meal mixed with 6 Tbsp. water)
- ½ cup pure maple syrup
- ½ cup unsweetened cocoa powder
- 1 teaspoon baking powder
- 1 drop peppermint essential oil (or ⅛–¼ tsp. peppermint extract)
- ¼ cup dairy–free chocolate chips
- 2 candy canes, crushed (optional, for topping)
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350℉.
- Line an 8 X 8 inch baking dish with parchment paper; set aside.
- In a large food processor, process the cashews until they are a fine crumb.
- Add the beans and process very well, until the two are totally mixed and there are very few lumps.
- Add the rest of the ingredients, except the chocolate chips, and process until mixed.
- Stir in the chocolate chips.
- Transfer the batter to the baking pan and bake in the prepared oven for 20 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean.
- Remove from oven and allow to cool completely before pulling the brownies from the pan and cutting (I like these best chilled in the fridge overnight, but that’s optional).
- Top with the crushed candy canes, if using, and serve.
Nutrition Information
| Calories | 162 |
| Sugar | 9.1g |
| Sodium | 29mg |
| Fat | 5.5g |
| Saturated Fat | 1.5g |
| Carbohydrates | 24.8g |
| Fiber | 4.4g |
| Protein | 6.4g |
| Cholesterol | 0.5mg |
We hope you give this recipe a try. If you do, let us know by leaving a comment. We’d love to see what you come up with. And if you enjoyed this post, subscribe to our newsletter to have more posts like this one delivered directly to your inbox. Cheers!
Source:
Peppermint Brownies (Vegan and Gluten-Free)
https://happyhealthymama.com/peppermint-brownies-vegan-gluten-free.html
Last updated on February 7, 2019. Originally posted on November 14, 2016 by Maryea