Gluten Free Healthy Peppermint Brownies

Crushed candy canes on a fudgy chocolate brownie is about as festive as dessert gets, and these Healthy Peppermint Brownies happen to have around 17g protein per serving. The secret is cottage cheese and cashew butter. They blend into a batter so rich nobody will guess what’s in it. No flour required!

I really love chocolate and peppermint together, especially once the holidays roll around. It’s honestly my favorite flavor combo of the season, so you know I had to make a peppermint version of my original cottage cheese brownies. The crushed candy canes on top adds the best crunch (and makes them look so festive).

If you love chocolate peppermint as much as I do, my Gluten Free Baked Chocolate Peppermint Christmas Donuts are a must this season. My Hot Chocolate Cookies are another cozy pick. For something nostalgic, try my Homemade Copycat Little Debbie Christmas Tree Cakes or my Easy Cake Mix Grinch Cookies. And if you’re in need of ideas of how to fill a cookie tray, try any of my favorites from my Holiday Favorite Gluten-Free Christmas Cookie Recipes.

Why You’ll Love This Recipe

• It's beginner friendly. No fancy equipment, no complicated steps. If you can stir ingredients in a large bowl and spread batter in a pan, you can make these!
• It's gluten free. No all purpose flour, no almond flour, no oat flour needed — the base is naturally grain-free, which means this is a sweet treat the whole crew can enjoy.
• It's high protein. Each serving of these protein peppermint brownies delivers a serious protein punch from cottage cheese, peanut butter, and an optional scoop of chocolate protein powder making it a dessert you can feel good about.
• Festive dessert. Perfect for any special occasion, perfect for Christmas parties or holiday get-togethers. And it makes 9 brownies so it is enough to share with family and friends!

Healthy Peppermint Brownies Ingredients (& Tested Substitutions)

• Full-fat cottage cheese. The secret weapon. It blends completely smooth and gives these fudgy brownies their thick, dense, protein-packed base. Don't skip the full-fat it matters for texture.
• Natural drippy cashew butter. You want the kind that's runny and natural, not the stiff stuff. This adds healthy fats, richness, and flavor. If you can't have cashew, you can swap it for natural peanut butter or almond butter.
• Unsweetened cocoa powder. This is your primary chocolate flavor. I use 1 full cup cocoa powder here for a deep, rich chocolate taste.
• Coconut sugar. My preferred natural sweetener for this recipe. It adds a subtle caramel undertone that pairs perfectly with chocolate. For a zero calorie sweetener swap, you can use granulated monk fruit.
• Chocolate protein powder. Adding a scoop of your favorite chocolate protein powder takes the protein content up even further. I use and love Equip Foods Prime Bar Chocolate (code PRETTYDELISH for 15% off).
• Peppermint extract. For extra peppermint flavor.
• Chocolate chips/ chopped chocolate & candy canes. These add more sweetness to the brownies and are also festive for the holiday spirit.

Peppermint Brownies Step by Step Instructions

1. Prepare to bake. Pre-heat the oven to 350 degrees farenheit. Line an 8x8 baking pan with parchment paper for easy removal and set aside.

2. Blend cottage cheese. Add the cottage cheese to a food processor or blender and blend until smooth (there should be no clumps left).

3. Mix the batter. Transfer the smooth cottage cheese to a mixing bowl and add cashew butter and the remaining dry ingredients, aside from the chocolate chips. Using a fork or silicone spatula, mix the batter until combined. Stir in half of the chocolate chips into the batter. Note that this batter will be very thick, much thicker than traditional brownie recipes.

4. Crush candy canes. Put unwrapped candy canes in a gallon-sized Ziplock bag and smash the candy canes with a meat mallet, rolling pin, or hammer.

5. Bake. Scoop the batter into the prepared pan, smooshing down with the back of a spatula until it is evenly distributed in the pan. Top the batter with the remaining chocolate chips and candy cane pieces and bake for 20-30 minutes for fudgy brownies or 35 minutes for cakey brownies.

6. Cool & Enjoy! Once the brownies are finished baking, leave them in the pan to cool for best results. Once they have cooled, slice into squares and enjoy.

Healthy Protein Brownies Expert Tips & Tricks

• Blend the cottage cheese until completely smooth. Any lumps left in the cottage cheese will show up in your final brownie. Take an extra 30 seconds to make sure it's fully pureed.
• Don't overbake. These are meant to be fudgy brownies. Pull them at 15-20 minutes and they'll continue to firm up as they cool. Check your level of doneness with a toothpick it should come out with moist crumbs, not wet batter.
• Use drippy cashew butter. Stiff or old nut butter will make the batter even harder to mix and can affect the final texture. If your cashew butter has separated, stir it well before measuring.
• Line your pan with parchment paper. This is non-negotiable for easy removal. Leave a little overhang on the sides so you can lift the whole slab out cleanly before slicing into bars.
• Use a sharp knife for clean cuts. For the most aesthetic brownies, run your knife under hot water and dry it before each cut.

Peppermint Brownies FAQs

Can I taste the cottage cheese? Not at all! Once blended smooth and baked, the cottage cheese is completely undetectable. It just adds creaminess, protein, and that dense, fudgy texture.

Can I make these dairy free? Unfortunately no as the main ingredient here is cottage cheese.

What type of protein powder works best? Chocolate beef isolate, whey protein powder or a casein blend are your best options for best results. Plant-based proteins can make the texture gummy or dry. If using whey, stick to one scoop as more than that and the batter can get too thick to spread.

Can I use something different than cashew butter? Yes, you can use natural drippy peanut butter or almond butter instead of cashew butter.

How much protein is in each brownie? That depends on whether you add the optional scoop of chocolate protein powder. With the protein powder, these healthy peppermint brownies come in around 17g protein per serving.

How to Store Peppermint Brownies 

Store these in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 5 days. The brownies hold their fudgy texture beautifully throughout the week making them a perfect meal prep sweet treat.

You can also freeze these! Slice into bars, place on a parchment-lined baking sheet to freeze individually, then transfer to an airtight container or zip-top bag. Freeze for up to 2 months and thaw in the fridge overnight.

If you liked this recipe, you might also enjoy

• Cottage Cheese Cosmic Brownies Recipe
• Fudgy Gluten Free Cottage Cheese Protein Brownies
• Espresso Brownies
• Gluten-Free Pinecone Brownies
• Gluten Free Baked Chocolate Peppermint Christmas Donuts with Peppermint Glaze
• Hot Chocolate Cookies
• Protein Powder Hot Chocolate

Did you have a chance to make this recipe? If so, please leave me a 5 star rating and review below. I always love and appreciate hearing from you!