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This easy recipe for peppermint walnut brownie bites is perfect for your holiday cookie tray! They are made with simple ingredients like dates, walnuts, and cocoa powder and are a healthy no-bake alternative to rich brownies.
Tis the season for festive lights, wrapping presents, and holiday baking! The month of December is a fun one for many of us, especially when it involves everything that gets us into the holiday spirit.
I always look forward to the weekend where my mom and I clear our entire schedules to spend the whole day in the kitchen baking cookies. It’s my favorite holiday memory.
This year we are going to be adding these peppermint walnut brownie bites to the mix because they make any cookie tray look super festive and it doesn’t hurt that they are secretly a nutritious treat. Rich brownie bites made from only a handful of healthy ingredients are a perfect way to add some nutrients in between all of the cookies that will be eaten!
If you love the mint and chocolate combo, you should also bake my Double Chocolate Mint Paleo Cookies next!
Ingredients in peppermint walnut brownie bites
- Walnuts
- Dates
- Cocoa powder
- Peppermint extract
- Salt
- Water
- Chocolate for covering (I used both dark and white)
- Candy canes
How to make peppermint walnut brownie bites
The best part about these brownie bites is that they do not require any baking at all. This means that all you need is a food processor and about twenty minutes before you have yourself some healthy raw and minty brownie bites.
Since the base of our bites are dates and walnuts, we want to blend those together first. Do this by placing soaked dates (soak them in hot water for five minutes to make them soft!) and walnuts into a food processor.
Once this has turned into a paste, you’ll add the cocoa powder, mint extract, and salt and continue to blend, scraping down the sides as needed. Add a few tablespoons of water if you need the brownie base to come together more.
Roll your brownie ‘batter’ into balls and then freeze for about 15 minutes. While they are freezing melt your chocolate, I used dark chocolate to cover them and a drizzle of white chocolate on top, and then crush your candy canes for a fresh mint sprinkle!
Store in freezer or fridge.
Looking for more peppermint desserts? Try my Healthy White Chocolate Peppermint Cookies, Healthy Peppermint Brownies and Peppermint Cocoa Tahini Freezer Fudge too!
A few more facts about walnuts
Did you know that 99% of walnuts grown in the United States are actually grown in California? Hence the name, California Walnuts!
The health benefits of walnuts are probably one of my favorite parts about them. These little nuts pack a nutritious punch! They’re a good-fat food that supply a rich source of the plant-based Omega-3 ALA (2.5 grams per 1 ounce serving – that’s more than any other nut!). Walnuts are also naturally sodium and cholesterol free and are certified by the American Heart Association as a heart-healthy food.
They also are a great source of Omega-3 fatty acids and provide 4g of protein and 2g of fiber per one ounce. There is a lot of great information about walnuts on California Walnut’s website, www.walnuts.org .
Plus, when you pair them with ingredients like dates and cocoa powder, you get a rich and fudgy treat that almost seems too decadent to be healthy!
This blog post was sponsored by California Walnuts and all opinions are my own. I am so thankful to work with wonderful partners who help to keep this blog afloat!
Peppermint Walnut Brownie Bites
This easy recipe for peppermint walnut brownie bites is perfect for your holiday cookie tray! They are made with simple ingredients like dates, walnuts, and cocoa powder and are a healthy no-bake alternative to rich brownies.
Ingredients
- 1.5 cups walnuts
- 1 cup dates, pitted and soaked in hot water for at least five minutes
- 1/3 cup cocoa powder
- 1/2 tsp peppermint extract
- pinch of salt
- 1–2 tbsp water, as needed
- 1 cup chocolate chips, melted
- 1/4 cup crushed candy canes
Instructions
- In a food processor, blend together walnuts and dates until smooth, scraping down sides as needed.
- Add in cocoa powder, peppermint extract, and salt. Blend.
- Add in 1-2 tbsp of water as needed. A ball of dough may form in your food processor.
- Roll into balls and freeze for at least 15 minutes.
- Melt your chocolate and crush your candy canes while bites are freezing.
- Dip each bite into melted chocolate, or drizzle it on, and top with crushed candy canes.
- Store in fridge or freezer.
There may be affiliate links in this post! By purchasing a product I recommend, I may receive a small compensation. However, I only recommend products I absolutely love and use myself. Thank you for supporting Erin Lives Whole, it helps keep this blog afloat 🙂
Sarit says
Put these in Christmas baskets for family and friends and they were an absolute hit!
Erin says
Hi Sarit, thanks for sharing! 🙂
Kennedy says
These balls are the perfect little sweet treat, and are so yummy! All of my friends and family love them. The recipe is so easy to follow, with simple ingredients. I recommend buying nuts and dried fruit in bulk to save money long term.
★★★★★
Erin says
Hi Kennedy, I am so glad everyone loved them!!
Emily says
Made these for the holidays last year to share with coworkers and friends, and they were a HUGE hit! Nobody believed walnuts and dates could be so tasty and have such a good consistency. Will definitely make again!!
Erin says
Hi Emily! Thank you so much for your kind words! I am so happy everyone enjoyed them! 🙂
Promedos.Com says
Dip the brownie bites in the chocolate, concentrating on the top cone part. Allow to set for a few minutes. Chop the remaining mints and sprinkle them on the top. Set in the freezer for 10 minutes if you need them to set right away. Yum!
★★★★★
Erin says
Hi! Thanks so much for your tips!!
Maddie says
Hi Erin, I love this recipe! Do you think walnuts could be substituted for other nuts, say cashews?
Thanks for sharing!
Erin says
Yes! Walnuts have the best texture for sure though!
sarah osborne says
Could you use peppermint essential oil instead?
Erin says
Yes!