If you only think of after-dinner mints or candy canes when someone mentions peppermint desserts, we’ve got a delicious lesson or two for you.
These peppermint desserts taste like the holidays. There’s no other way to say it. The refreshing zing of peppermint plays perfectly with everything from dark chocolate — which makes us think of toasty cups of hot chocolate in the cold winter months — to creamy vanilla, a combination that conjures images of cookies set out for Santa by the fireplace.
Even if it’s a taste closely associated with one holiday in particular, we’re convinced there’s a reason they sell those after-dinner peppermints year-round and set out the candy canes so early: if you give them a chance, peppermint desserts are devastatingly delicious.
The peppermint desserts we’ve collected will satisfy a whole range of sweet cravings. Some of them put peppermint front and center, letting mint dominate the dessert, others pair it with bold dark chocolate for a balanced bite that keeps you coming back for more.
So grab an extra pack or two of those classic candy canes, and see all the delicious desserts they can make for the holidays. We know they usually just sit around in the plastic wrap after the holidays until someone finally throws them out, so it’s about time we let them finally live up to their holiday treat potential.
Our favorite? Well that’s like choosing between reindeer, but we do think you need to try the Peppermint Chocolate Brownie Cheesecake, which combines two of everyone’s year-round favorite flavors with the seasonal sweet peppermint bark. You’ll also see why mint is a natural pairing for some the richer desserts, as its freshness stops the sweet treats from feeling too heavy. That means you can go back for another slice or bar without a second thought!
