Peppermint Patty Bars Recipe – Dairy-Free, Healthy, Gluten-Free, No-Bake

A healthy dessert recipe perfect for the Holiday season. This no-bake peppermint patty bars recipe is loaded with everything good. Indeed, they’re an indulgent mix of nuts, coconut, and topped with hardened peppermint chocolate. An easy way to indulge without the bloat, these no-bake peppermint patty bars come together quicker than you think and work for any occasion. 

Now, I’ll be honest that most peppermint patty bars are a combination of chocolate, honey, peppermint, and coconut. And while this peppermint patty bars recipe definitely includes those ingredients, I was going for a healthier approach.

These no-bake peppermint patty bars are more than just a quick candy fix. Alternatively, they’re a tasty dessert more similar to biting into a brownie or a cookie. They have sustenance. They’re loaded with sweet, crumbly indulgence and topped with chocolate and peppermint.

These healthy peppermint patty bars fill you up because they have quality ingredients. Thus, they’re kid-approved on my end!

Don’t want to read? JUMP to the recipe.

Why You’ll Love This Peppermint Patty Bars Recipe

These gluten-free peppermint patty bars are the perfect blend between healthy and indulgence! They’re sweet but not too sweet so they won’t leave you with a tummy ache and the kiddos won’t go batsh*t eating them.

• a no-bake recipe
• can be stored in the freezer until you need them
• loaded with healthy fats
• allergy-friendly (dairy-free, gluten-free)
• pairs perfectly with homemade, dairy-free hot chocolate recipe

Are These Peppermint Patty Bars Paleo?

No. This peppermint patty bars recipe contains oats which is a grain and thus not paleo. However, the no-bake peppermint patties do contain paleo-based sweeteners. Though I haven’t tried removing the oats and replacing them with almond meal and a hint of coconut flour, it is possible.

Can I Interchange The Nuts In This Peppermint Patty Bars Recipe?

While it looks like the ingredients list is never-ending, once you go through it it’s really not that bad. I opted for almonds, pecans, and cashews for the no-bake peppermint patty bars because they are indulgent but practical.

However, as far as I’ve seen you can easily interchange the nuts to what you have on hand. Similarly, I’ve used both hazelnuts and walnuts in there instead.

Keeping in mind, it may change the flavor of the healthy peppermint patty bars slightly but otherwise, it works.

How Is The Chocolate Allergy-Friendly?

The peppermint patty bars use Enjoy Life Chocolate Chips to make the chocolate topping. Enjoy life is a staple brand for dairy-free chocolate lovers as it’s free from the top allergens.= (dairy, soy, seed oils, gluten, nuts, vegan etc).

Further. you can use the mini chocolate chips or large chunks for this peppermint patty bars recipe.

While you can take it upon yourself to make homemade chocolate with cacao butter and coconut oil, this chocolate peppermint topping simply keeps things simple.

Texture Of The Peppermint Patties

These peppermint patty bars are best served with a plate! In particular, while they do hold together the base is made of chunky nuts and thus they crumble when eaten.

Topping The No-Bake Peppermint Patty Bars

Lastly, topping the peppermint patty bars recipe! This is where things become delicious and beautiful. I personally top the bars with extra:

• crushed nuts
• shredded coconut
• chocolate chips or chunks

However, I would also love to top them with crushed candy canes in the winter months. For one thing, it would give them an added peppermint hit and the color would stand out beautifully.

Ingredients in The Healthy Peppermint Patty Bars

For the base

• 2 cups oats ground into flour
• 2/3 cups almonds
• 1/2 cup pecans
• 1 cup cashews
• 1/2 teaspoon sea salt
• 4 tablespoons of cacao powder or cocoa powder*see note
• 2 tablespoon coconut sugar
• 1/4 cup shredded coconut
• 1/3 cup coconut oil
• 2 tablespoons almond milk
• 3 tablespoons honey

For the topping

• 2 tablespoon coconut oil (measured solid)
• 1/2 cup enjoy life chocolate chips
• 1 teaspoon coconut sugar
• 1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract
• 3/4 teaspoon mint & peppermint extract

For the topping (choose them all or mix and match roughly 1/8 cup of each)

• chopped almonds
• shredded coconut
• chocolate chunks or chips

Note: You can grab all of the ingredients you need from my Pantry Staples. You can use either cocoa powder or cacao powder for the recipe. cacao powder comes with a host of health benefits and is my kitchen staple. However, cocoa powder is slightly sweeter.

Kitchen Tools You May Find Helpful

• Mixing bowls
• Whisk
• Silicone spatula
• Measuring spoons

How To Make The Gluten-Free Peppermint Patties

In a food processor, roughly chop the nuts. Moreover, leave some chunks for texture.

In a large bowl, combine the oat flour, nut mixture, salt, cocoa powder, and sugar. Mix.

In a small bowl melt the coconut oil and honey.

Pour wet into dry and mix. Considering this, it will still look slightly dry. Add in the almond milk. It should look somewhat wet. Likewise, it should also hold together when you press it.

Line an 8×8 pan with parchment paper. Dump the base into the pan and use another piece of parchment to press the mixture down throughout the pan evenly.

Press down firmly– otherwise, the squares will crumble.

Place the base mixture into the freezer.

In the meantime, combine the coconut oil and chocolate chips into a small pot and heat over medium to low heat. Too high and the chocolate will burn.

Once the coconut oil is melted and the chips are halfway melted, turn the burner off. Add in the remaining topping ingredients and stir until combined.

Remove the base mixture from the freezer and pour the chocolate over top using a silicone spatula to distribute it. The chocolate mixture will harden quickly so move fast to spread it. This makes a thin coating of chocolate over the peppermint patty bars. If you want thicker, double the recipe.

Finally, top the mixture with crushed almonds or coconut and press them into the chocolate with the spatula.

Return the pan to the freezer for 30-60 minutes to set. Cut the peppermint patty bars into squares.

Leave in the freezer until ready to serve then place in the fridge for ten minutes.

Makes 16 squares.

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Healthy Peppermint Patty Bars

A healthy dessert recipe perfect for the Holiday season. This no-bake peppermint patty bars recipe is loaded with everything good. An indulgent mix of nuts, coconut and topped with hardened peppermint chocolate. An easy way to indulge without the bloat, these no-bake peppermint patty bars come together quicker than you think and work for any occasion.

Prep Time 20 minutes

Cook Time 0 minutes

Total Time 50 minutes

Servings 16 squares

Calories 253 kcal

Author Fit as a Mama Bear

Ingredients

• For the base
• 2 cups oats ground into a flour, gluten-free if necessary
• 2/3 cups almonds
• 1/2 cup pecans
• 1 cup cashews
• 1/2 teaspoon sea salt
• 4 tablespoons cacao powder
• 2 tablespoon coconut sugar
• 1/4 cup shredded coconut unsweetened
• 1/3 cup coconut oil
• 2 tablespoons almond milk
• 3 tablespoons honey
• For the topping
• 2 tablespoon coconut oil measured solid
• 1/2 cup chocolate chips mini or chunks
• 1 teaspoon coconut sugar
• 1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract
• 3/4 teaspoon mint & peppermint extract
• 1/8 cup chopped almonds or coconut for topping

Instructions

1. In a food processor, roughly chop the nuts. Leave some chunks for texture.

   

2. In a large bowl, combine the oat flour, nut mixture, salt, cocoa powder, and sugar. Mix. In a small bowl melt the coconut oil and honey.

3. Pour wet into dry and mix. It will still look slightly dry. Add in the almond milk. It should look somewhat wet. It should also hold together when you press it.

   

4. Line an 8x8 pan with parchment paper. Dump the base into the pan and use another piece of parchment to press the mixture down throughout the pan evenly.

   

5. Once the coconut oil is melted and the chips are halfway melted, turn the burner off. Add in the remaining topping ingredients and stir until combined.

   

6. Remove the base mixture from the freezer and pour the chocolate over top using a silicone spatula to distribute it. The chocolate mixture will harden quickly so move fast to spread it. This makes a thin coating of chocolate over the peppermint patty bars. If you want thicker, double the recipe.

7. Finally, top the mixture with crushed almonds or coconut and press them into the chocolate with the spatula.

8. Return the pan to the freezer for 30-60 minutes to set. Cut the peppermint patty bars into squares.

   

9. Leave in the freezer until ready to serve then place in the fridge for ten minutes.

Recipe Notes

Note: You can grab all of the ingredients you need from my Pantry Staples. 

You can use either cocoa powder or cacao powder for the recipe. cacao powder comes with a host of health benefits and is my kitchen staple. However, cocoa powder is slightly sweeter.

Nutritional Information does not include toppings.

Nutrition Facts

Healthy Peppermint Patty Bars

Amount Per Serving

Calories 253 Calories from Fat 162

% Daily Value*

Fat 18g28%

Saturated Fat 8g50%

Cholesterol 1mg0%

Sodium 85mg4%

Potassium 171mg5%

Carbohydrates 21g7%

Fiber 3g13%

Sugar 9g10%

Protein 5g10%

Vitamin A 13IU0%

Calcium 37mg4%

Iron 2mg11%

* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.

An indulgent snack or healthy dessert for moms and kids. This no-bake, peppermint patty bars recipe is the perfect blend of healthy indulgence. Likewise, it contains allergy-friendly ingredients that won’t leave you feeling sluggish but fueled! Thus, a great no-bake Christmas dessert for busy moms.