Gluten Free Peppermint Brownies (Paleo Friendly!)

Gluten Free Peppermint Brownies – These paleo-friendly peppermint brownies are the perfect holiday treat. Tender, crackly tops, deeply fudge-y centers and a kiss of peppermint make this brownie recipe amazing!

Holiday baking season is the BEST baking season, am I right? I look forward to it all year long, and we’re definitely going hard over here!

I’ve always got a few things I need to make during the holidays–my mom’s not-even-close-to-healthy-but-super-delicious Sweet Christmas Chex Mix (I use all Chex for a GF version), my favorite Paleo Ginger Cookies, and *something* with peppermint + chocolate.

These gluten-free peppermint brownies are EVERYTHING I’m looking for in a chocolate-peppermint treat. Here’s what makes them the best…

What Makes These Gluten Free Peppermint Brownies Amazing:

First off: the TEXTURE! This gluten free peppermint brownie recipe is a riff on my Perfect Gluten Free Brownies (one of the top GF brownies on the internet!) and they hit all my favorite notes. They have that gorgeous crackly top and a deeply fudge-y center that I love so much. This comes from whisking your eggs with coconut sugar to aerate them a bit (don’t skip this step!) and from plenty of melted chocolate. Ooh-la-la!

The perfect amount of peppermint flavor. These brownies won’t knock you over with mint flavor, nor will you be trying to guess what’s in them after you take a bite. It’s enough peppermint to come through, but not so much that that’s all you can taste for the next 2 hours. Know what I mean?

They’re just perfect for the holidays. Chocolate + peppermint = holiday happiness! These peppermint brownies have that warm, gooey brownie comfort with a bit of cool, refreshing mint that’s so cozy this time of year. Perfect with a cup of cocoa or a scoop of ice cream on top. On that note…

Here’s What You Need To Make Gluten-Free Peppermint Brownies:

• Chocolate Chips. Some good-quality chocolate chips melt to make our brownies extra fudgy and then I love to add some extra chocolate chips to the batter for a double-dose of chocolatey goodness.
• Coconut Oil, Butter, or Vegan Butter. I’ve made these with all 3 over the years, so use whichever works best for your dietary needs!
• Eggs. These help bind the brownie batter together, add fudginess, and give the brownies some puff. I don’t recommend egg substitutes for this recipe.
• Vanilla & Peppermint Extract. A blend of vanilla and peppermint give these fudgy brownies a rich, full flavor that’s tough to beat!
• Almond Flour. Just like our classic gluten-free brownie recipe, almond flour helps give these peppermint brownies a moist, delicious texture. Don’t swap gluten-free 1:1 flour or coconut flour here, as the ratios aren’t the same.
• Unsweetened Cocoa Powder. For an intense, delightful chocolate flavor. Either regular or dark/Dutch-processed cocoa powder works here!
• Baking Powder or Paleo Baking Powder. I use baking powder for puff & to help with that crackly crust I love so much. If you’re paleo, be sure to use a paleo baking powder option !
• Sea Salt. To help balance the flavor. Don’t forget it or the brownies won’t taste the same.
• Crushed Peppermint (If You Want). To decorate the top. I love the cheery holiday look this gives the brownies!

Ideas for Serving Your Peppermint Brownies:

1. Top them with crushed candy cane pieces or festive sprinkles. These gluten-free peppermint brownies look extra cute with a little somethin’-somethin’ sprinkled one top. I love using crushed candy canes or sprinkles (my kids LOVE them this way!) Wholesome makes candy canes without any added dyes, and you can stop by Whole Foods or Sprouts for dye free sprinkles.

2. Add a sprinkle of powdered sugar. A bit of powdered sugar makes these look extra festive for the holidays! (You can even make your own paleo powdered sugar by grinding up maple or coconut sugar with a bit of tapioca starch!)

3. Turn your brownie into a peppermint brownie ice cream sundae! I *may* or may not love turning these into a brownie sundae, with a scoop of (dairy free) vanilla ice cream + a drizzle of my vegan hot fudge sauce. You can even add 1/4 tsp peppermint extract to the hot fudge sauce for a double dose of peppermint!

FAQ + Tips For The Best Gluten-Free Peppermint Brownies:

Can I use peppermint oil instead of peppermint extract in peppermint brownies? Yes, so long as it’s food-grade essential oil. You will want to only use 1-2 drops peppermint oil, as it’s more concentrated than peppermint extract.

Turn the peppermint up or down. I think these gluten free peppermint brownies are right in the sweet spot of minty-ness. They’re not going to hit you in the face with mint, and you won’t be tasting them wondering where the mint flavor is. That said, if you like a bit more peppermint flavor, you can add up to 1 tsp peppermint extract (know they will be boldly peppermint with a full teaspoon). Or, if you’re nervous, you can go down to 1/4 tsp peppermint extract. They won’t have much peppermint flavor with 1/4, but if you’re sensitive to peppermint, that might be just right.

Can I substitute coconut flour for the almond flour? Unfortunately no. Coconut flour isn’t a 1-to-1 substitute for any other kind of flour because it behaves so differently. Coconut flour absorbs several times its own volume of liquid, so if you substitute it here, you’ll end up with VERY dry, crumbly peppermint brownies. You’d have to adjust the amount of liquid and eggs pretty significantly to make it work, and I can’t even begin to tell you how to do that without doing some significant testing.

Paleo notes. Depending on how strictly paleo you are, you can absolutely enjoy these brownies, since they’re grain free and dairy free. Many paleo folks are open to chocolate chips here and there (whether that’s stevia-sweetened ones, or simply dairy free chocolate chips). You may want to skip the peppermint crunch topping, but the peppermint flavor will still be nice and delicious. (Also: be sure to use paleo-approved baking powder!)

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Originally shared Dec 2018. Fully updated Dec 2021.