Description
These gluten free peppermint brownie bites are flourless and no-bake. They have a chewy mint brownie filling that's coated in dark chocolate and topped with crushed candy canes. Paleo, vegan and gluten free!
Ingredients
Scale
Peppermint Brownie Filling
- 1 1/2 cups pitted dates (260g) about 16 medjool dates
- 1/2 cup almond butter (just dry roasted almonds)
- 1 tsp peppermint flavoring*
- 1 tsp vanilla extract
- 1/3 cup cacao powder (27g)
- 1/3 cup pumpkin seed protein (34g)**
- 1/8 tsp salt
Chocolate Coating
- 1 1/3 cups dark chocolate chips
- 1/2 Tbsp coconut oil
Candy Cane Topping
- 1 organic candy cane, crushed
Instructions
- Line an 8''x4" loaf pan with parchment paper and set aside.
- Make the peppermint brownie filling: Place the pitted dates in a bowl and cover with hot water. Let them sit for 5 minutes to soften, then drain the water.
- Place the dates in a food processor, along with the almond butter, peppermint and vanilla. Blend, stopping to scrape the sides as needed, until a paste forms.
- Add in the cacao powder, pumpkin seed protein and salt. Pulse the mixture a couple times, then blend until the mixture forms a thick, sticky dough. The dough should end up forming a ball in the food processor.
- Scoop the dough out of the food processor and press into the lined loaf pan.
- Place the pan in the freezer and freeze for at least an hour (overnight is okay too).
- Coat the brownies in chocolate: Once the brownie filling has set, melt the dark chocolate and coconut oil for the coating***
- Remove the filling from the fridge and cut into into cubes. (I was able to make 18 brownie bites.) One at a time, dip each brownie into the melted chocolate. Place the dipped brownies on a sheet of parchment paper to set.
- Top with crushed candy cane: Right after dipping in chocolate, top the brownie bites with crushed candy cane pieces.
- Store in fridge or freezer.
Notes
*If using a peppermint extract or oil, be sure to adjust the quantity, as they tend to be stronger than flavorings.
**I have tested these brownie bites with both pumpkin seed protein and hemp protein - both work great. Other protein powders should work, but the filling texture may vary.
***Melt the chocolate and coconut oil in a small saucepan, over low heat. Or you can melt them in the microwave at 20 second intervals.