50 Fun and Festive Peppermint Desserts
Updated: Dec. 02, 2023
These peppermint desserts are the ultimate way to get in the Christmas spirit.
When the holidays roll around, there’s no better way to end your Christmas dinner than these bright and refreshing peppermint desserts. Here you’ll find minty Christmas cookies, cheesecakes, bars, cakes and more that are sure to please.
Serve these desserts with a specialty coffee drink or wine paring before exchanging homemade Christmas gifts.
1
/
50
Peppermint Hot Chocolate Cookies
These peppermint cookies are a variation of the cookies my mother made when I was growing up. Now my 13-year-old daughter and I bake them together. They’re always a huge hit! The taste is like rich hot chocolate baked into a scrumptious cookie. —Larry Piklor, Johnsburg, Illinois
2
/
50
Peppermint Bark Trifle
We’re always looking for those showstopping peppermint desserts, especially during the holidays. This one is very impressive, but couldn’t be easier to make. No one will ever know it’s made with a store-bought angel food cake. —James Schend, Taste of Home Deputy Editor
3
/
50
Creamy Coconut Peppermint Pie
Garnished with toasted coconut and more peppermint candy, this creamy dessert welcomes the holidays! Look for premade shortbread crusts in the baking aisle of the grocery store. —Cheryl Perry, Hertford, North Carolina
4
/
50
Peppermint Schnapps Hot Cocoa Snowflakes
Mint and chocolate are perfect partners in these cutout cookies! —James Schend, Pleasant Prairie, Wisconsin
5
/
50
Shortcut Peppermint Layer Cake
When I first made this peppermint cake it was snowing outside, the entire family was home, and we enjoyed it all together. A perfectly pretty holiday cake for a perfect holiday moment! Be sure to measure the peppermint extract carefully—it’s strong, and a little bit goes a very long way. —Mindie Hilton, Susanville, California
6
/
50
Dark Chocolate Peppermint Bark
Classic dark chocolate peppermint bark gets a new look by swirling dark and white chocolate together. You can also layer them if you wish. Be sure to use real peppermint oil (not extract) so your chocolate won’t seize into a big clump. —James Schend, Taste of Home Deputy Editor
7
/
50
Peppermint Cheesecake
People are thrilled when they see me coming with this rich, smooth cheesecake—it’s always a crowd-pleaser. Not only does it look sensational, but it is so scrumptious. —Carrie Price, Ottawa, Illinois
8
/
50
Peppermint Cream Sandwich Cookies
My mother and I made these crisp chocolate peppermint sandwich cookies together. They are a perfect addition to any party. —Donna Williamson, Round Rock, Texas
9
/
50
Chocolate Peppermint Log
What a great make-ahead peppermint dessert! This cake log is perfect for the holidays because you can make it when you have time, store it in the freezer and scratch dessert off of your to-do list. —Brenda Sinclair, Princeton, Missouri
10
/
50
Peppermint Candy Cookies
Taking a cue from Star Mints, I created a buttery cookie with a holiday look. This one melts in your mouth faster than its candy cousin. —Gloria McKenzie, Panama City, Florida
11
/
50
Chocolate Peppermint Cheesecake
After making some delicious dessert bars, I was determined to turn the recipe into a chocolate peppermint cheesecake. This festive dessert is the result and one of my favorites to serve for the holidays. Whether I share it with family or give it as a gift, it always receives rave reviews. —Sue Gronholz, Beaver Dam, Wisconsin
12
/
50
Peppermint Kisses
This peppermint dessert is fun, refreshing and low in fat! —Lynn Bernstetter, Lake Elmo, Minnesota.
13
/
50
Goody-Goody Gumdrops
My jewel-toned squares are softer than store-bought gumdrops, and their terrific taste has a true old-fashioned quality people love. You can’t eat just one! —Richard Bunt, Painted Post, New York
14
/
50
Peppermint Puff Pastry Sticks
I wanted to impress my husband's family with something you'd expect to find in a European bakery, and these chocolaty treats are what I came up with. The flaky pastry melts in your mouth. —Darlene Brenden, Salem, Oregon
15
/
50
Peppermint Bundt Cake
With its pretty pink layer and fabulous mint flavor, this Peppermint Bundt Cake is a great holiday peppermint dessert. Because I work full-time, I like the convenience of starting with a cake mix. —Lisa M. Varner, El Paso, Texas
16
/
50
Peppermint Brownies
My grandmother encouraged me to enter these mint brownies in the county fair some years ago—and they earned top honors! They're a delicious treat to serve during the holidays. —Marcy Greenblatt, Redding, California
17
/
50
Red Velvet Peppermint Thumbprints
Red velvet cookies and cakes are so pretty, but I always wish they had a bigger flavor. I infused these thumbprints for a peppermint dessert. —Priscilla Yee, Concord, California
18
/
50
Candy Cane Punch
Peppermint ice cream makes this creamy drink taste—and look—more like a dessert than a punch! I've mixed it many times for ladies' lunches and buffets. For a fun garnish, hang mini candy canes around the punch bowl or on cups. —Neva Schnauber, Ft. Collins, Colorado
19
/
50
Peppermint Meltaways
This peppermint dessert is very pretty and festive-looking on a cookie platter. I often cover a plate of these peppermint cookies with red or green plastic wrap and a bright holiday bow in one corner. And yes, they really do melt in your mouth! —Denise Wheeler, Newaygo, Michigan
20
/
50
Peppermint Twists
Serve your family and friends this delicate twist that showcases one of the most popular flavors of the season…peppermint! —Taste of Home Test Kitchen
21
/
50
Holly Butter Mints
A merrier melt-in-your-mouth sweet than this butter-mint holly would be hard to find! It's inexpensive to make, looks so lovely on a candy tray and doesn't require refrigeration.
22
/
50
Candy Cane Pie
When my college roommate first made this peppermint pie, I couldn’t get enough! Using a store-bought crust helps save time when you’re in the midst of the holidays. —Charlotte Stewart, Mesa, Arizona
23
/
50
Swirled Peppermint Marshmallows
The fluffy, airy texture of handmade marshmallows will remind you of glistening snowflakes. —Taste of Home Test Kitchen
24
/
50
Triple-Chocolate Peppermint Cookies
Santa is sure to stop by your house if you leave these minty triple-chocolate peppermint cookies waiting for him. They’re quick and easy for the whole family to make together. —Teresa Ralston, New Albany, Ohio
25
/
50
Peppermint Lollipops
These peppermint lollipops can be made with any shape cookie cutter. Gingerbread men, snowmen, Christmas trees and reindeer—there are endless color and design options, so let your creative juices flow! —Taste of Home Test Kitchen
26
/
50
Mint Angel Cake
One sight of this lovely peppermint cake will have guests saving room for dessert! For an easy garnish, sprinkle with crushed mint candies.—Agnes Ward, Stratford, Ontario
27
/
50
Peppermint Ice Cream
With flecks of mint candy, this peppermint ice cream recipe is perfect for the holidays. —Berneice Metcalf, Leavenworth, Washington
28
/
50
Spearmint Thins
No time to bake cookies from scratch? Create a tasty treat in little more than half an hour by doctoring butter-flavored crackers with vanilla chips and mint candies.—Kathleen Felton, Fairfax, Iowa. Next, get to know the difference between spearmint and peppermint.
29
/
50
Layered Candy Cane Dessert
This fabulous peppermint dessert has the magical flavor of candy canes plus the bonus of an Oreo cookie crust. And it looks like a winter wonderland. —Dawn Kreuser, Green Bay, Wisconsin
30
/
50
Peppermint Snowball Cookies
The holidays don’t begin around our house until a batch of these cookies is baking in the oven. Their wonderful aroma scrumptiously says, “Christmas!”
31
/
50
Nana’s Chocolate Cupcakes with Mint Frosting
Even though Nana is no longer with us, her peppermint desserts bring me so much joy every time I bake them. For a more indulgent version, double the frosting and pile it on high! —Chekota Hunter, Cassville, Missouri
32
/
50
Mint-Filled Cookies
I tuck a peppermint patty inside these treats for a fun surprise. The bites will melt in your mouth. —Karen Nielson, St. George, Utah
33
/
50
Swirled Mint Cookies
No one will believe that these rich and buttery cookies are light, but they are! With their colorful swirls, each one of these minty, sugary bites has its own look. —Lois Hill, Thomasville, North Carolina
34
/
50
Peppermint Cake Rolls
With angel food cake, fudge sauce and peppermints, this cake roll is easy and pretty. —Suellen Calhoun, Des Moines, Iowa
35
/
50
Frozen Grasshopper Torte
I first made this peppermint dessert for a ladies’ meeting at our church. I’m still making it, and the compliments keep coming. —Elma Penner, Oak Bluff, Manitoba
36
/
50
Peppermint Twist Kisses
As rosy as Santa's cheeks, these merry morsels with chocolate kisses on top are a delightful yuletide favorite and one of my most-requested recipes. —Traci Wynne, Denver, Pennsylvania
37
/
50
Minted Chocolate Torte
Our family has enjoyed this remarkable layered peppermint cake for years. It’s a favorite for many occasions. —Barbara Humiston, Tampa, Florida
38
/
50
Chocolate Mint Creams
This recipe came from an old family friend and is always high on everyone's cookie request list. I make at least six batches for Noel nibbling and give some away as gifts. —Beverly Fehner, Gladstone, Missouri
39
/
50
Peppermint Swirl Fudge
Indulge in candy-shop flavor with these rich swirled squares. For Christmasy color, I add crushed peppermint candies and red food coloring. —Suzette Jury, Keene, California
40
/
50
Candy Cane Shortbread Bars
I created these peppermint bars for my daughter. The buttery shortbread texture just melts in your mouth. They’re a hit wherever I take them. —Susan Ciuffreda, Huntersville, North Carolina
41
/
50
Hidden Mint Morsels
Is it a cookie or a candy? No matter which answer folks choose, they find these minty morsels yummy. The recipe makes so much that you can whip up tons of gifts at once. —Adina Skilbred, Prairie du Sac, Wisconsin
42
/
50
Frozen Peppermint Delight
If you’re looking for a peppermint dessert that’s festive, delicious and easy to make, this is the one for you. Drizzled in hot fudge sauce and loaded with pretty peppermint pieces, this almost tempting treat will have guests asking for seconds. —Pam Lancaster, Willis, Virginia
43
/
50
Chocolate-Mint Cookie Cups
When chocolate and mint get together with a hint of peppermint, mmm…magic happens. If you don't have mini muffin pans to make these cookies, use disposable foil baking cups.—Pam Correll, Brockport, Pennsylvania
44
/
50
Peppermint Chip Cheesecake
I love to make cheesecakes and frequently give them as gifts or donate them to fundraisers. This peppermint dessert is very popular. —Gretchen Ely, West Lafayette, Indiana
45
/
50
Candy Cane Blossom Cookies
We like to stir different flavored candy canes into the dough for fun variety. —Joan Cossette, Colbert, Washington
46
/
50
Chocolate Peppermint Spritz Cookies
I love to make spritz cookies. Each year I make several varieties of cookies and then deliver them to friends. I love to watch them crack a smile when they see a plate full of cookies. —Margaret Otley, Waverly, Nebraska
47
/
50
Mint Chocolate Wafers
My grandmother gave me a cookbook stuffed with recipes. This is a slight twist on one of the first—and best—recipes I made from the book. It’s best to store this peppermint dessert in the refrigerator. —Mary Murphy, Evansville, Indiana
48
/
50
Frosty Peppermint Dessert
This creamy freeze with candy and a chocolate crust delivers make-ahead convenience. I'll often whip up two.—Carolyn Satterfield, Emporia, KansasFor more ideas, check out our top 10 peppermint recipes.
49
/
50
Candy Cane Souffle
I came up with this peppermint dessert by modifying one of my mom’s gelatin-based desserts. The pretty pink sweet is a welcome sight on the table.—Joni Hilton, Rocklin, California
50
/
50
Chocolate Mint Dreams
Since chocolate and mint is my favorite flavor combination, these dainty frosted treats are hard to resist. But I manage to save some for guests, because they make my cookie trays look so elegant. —Anne Revers, Omaha, Nebraska
Originally Published: November 29, 2018
