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Home » All posts » Desserts

Peppermint Hot Cocoa Cookies (no-bake)

Updated: Dec 11, 2024 · Published: Dec 7, 2022 by Laura Yautz · This post may contain affiliate links · Leave a Comment

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These chocolate Christmas cookie bites are so much fun! We take notes from creamy peppermint hot chocolate to create healthy date balls, and stuff mini marshmallows in the center. Then we roll the whole thing in crushed candy canes for an ultra-seasonal treat that's kind to your heart. No bake peppermint hot cocoa cookies are super yummy and really easy. Using dates as a base means the only added sugar comes from the candy cane coating and surprise marshmallow center!

This post may contain affiliate links. See our Disclaimer for more information

Small plate of peppermint hot cocoa bites.

These are perfect to bring to your Christmas party this year. You'll love how easy they are to make, and they'll be a hit with everyone!

You'll love these Cherry Truffles, too, made using the same technique!

Jump to:
  • Heart Health Benefits of Peppermint Hot Cocoa Cookies
  • Ingredients
  • Instructions
  • Substitutions
  • Variations
  • Equipment
  • Storage
  • How to freeze these no bake cookies
  • Pro tip
  • FAQ
  • Related
  • Pairing
  • 📖 Recipe
  • Food safety

Heart Health Benefits of Peppermint Hot Cocoa Cookies

Dates

I love dates for their natural caramel-like sweetness. Because they're a whole food, they're full of fiber and other nutrients that refined sugar just doesn't have. They boast a good amount of potassium, magnesium, and manganese as well. Because they are a dried fruit, they are a little high on the calorie side, so be sure to consume them in moderation.

Cashews

Cashews are a great addition to heart healthy diets! They are high in heart healthy fats, mostly in the form of omega-6 and omega-3 fatty acids (polyunsaturated fats). In addition, they're a good source of magnesium. While they are higher in saturated fat than other nuts, cashews have been shown to decrease LDL cholesterol and total cholesterol, making them a great addition to your diet (1).

Cocoa

You've no doubt heard of the supposed health benefits of chocolate. But those benefits don't really apply to chocolate bars. Unless you're eating the darkest of dark chocolate, all the extras you get along with that cocoa, like cocoa butter, whole milk, and sugar, can negate the healthy effects.

But adding cocoa powder to otherwise healthy foods can enhance heart health! Cocoa has been found to be overall anti inflammatory, probably due to its high antioxidant content. Research on other effects cocoa may have on the heart is conflicting. So for now, choose the darkest chocolate you can (the darker the chocolate, the more antioxidants it contains), and consume small amounts at a time.

Chia Seeds

Chia seeds are excellent binders, because they absorb water and become gel-like. That helps hold these treats together. That same property may help them decrease your cholesterol!

They are an excellent source of fiber, and contain mainly omega-3 fats. Chia seeds do have a notable amount of calcium and manganese, too. They have a tough outer layer that is hard for us to digest, so they offer more nutrition when they are ground.

Ingredients

Those broken candy canes that fell off your tree? Perfect for peppermint hot cocoa bites! Just a handful of other ingredients.

Ingredients for no bake peppermint hot cocoa cookies.
  • Pitted dates
  • Cashews
  • Unsweetened cocoa powder
  • Ground chia seeds
  • Peppermint extract
  • Water
  • Mini marshmallows
  • Candy canes

See recipe card for quantities.

Instructions

The only "tool" you need for this recipe that you might not already have is some plastic food prep gloves. If you need some, there is a link below for you - but they are typically available at pharmacies, too! Follow these easy, step-by-step instructions!

Ingredients for hot cocoa cookies in a food processor.
  1. Step 1: Add dates, cocoa, cashews, chia, and peppermint extract to a food processor.
Cookie ingredients ground up in a food processor.
  1. Step 2: Process until the mixture resembles dirt - you don't want any large lumps of ingredients.
Dough coming together inside a food processor.
  1. Step 3: With the processor running, slowly pour in the water until everything comes together into a dough.
Dough formed into a bowl shape.
  1. Step 4: Scoop out a tablespoon of the dough and, using your gloved hands, shape the dough into a bowl shape.
Marshmallow in the middle of the dough "bowl"
  1. Step 5: Place a mini marshmallow in the bowl.
Formed cookie ball on a plate of crushed candy canes.
  1. Step 6: Form and shape the dough around the marshmallow, and smooth it out to form a sphere.
Date ball rolled in crushed candy canes.
  1. Step 7: Roll the ball in crushed candy canes.

Hint: make sure to crush your candy canes well so there aren't large pieces, but not so finely that they're dust.

Substitutions

While you definitely don't want to substitute anything for the dates or cocoa, some of the other ingredients are more flexible if needed.

  • Chia - instead of chia seeds, you can use ground flax the same way
  • Nuts - use another nut of your choices - walnuts are great - or use sunflower seeds to make it nut free
  • Peppermint extract - if you don't like peppermint, you can leave it out, or use another extract like vanilla.

Variations

These are really fun, with a lot of possible variations. Try one of these!

  • Chocolate Gingerbread - instead of water and peppermint, try adding a little molasses and some ground ginger and cinnamon. Omit the marshmallow and roll in graham cracker crumbs!
  • Apple pie - omit cocoa, marshmallow, and peppermint, and use applesauce instead of water, with a little cinnamon and clove. Roll in graham cracker or vanilla wafer crumbs.

Try this cherry truffle version, perfect for Valentine's Day!

Equipment

There are a few pieces of equipment that are very important for the success of these no bake peppermint hot cocoa cookies.

First, you will want a sturdy food processor. Chopping by hand just won't cut it for this recipe. I use this Hamilton Beach food processor (affiliate link), and it's been wonderful.

Another absolute necessity for these truffles is plastic food prep gloves (affiliate link). I have tried to make these without gloves, and the dough is just too sticky. You can get them at the link I've provided, or they are also available at most any store with a pharmacy - exam gloves work just as well! Alternatively, you can try to use plastic sandwich bags on your hands. It's a bit cumbersome, but it will work.

Small plate of peppermint hot cocoa bites.

Storage

These cookies can be stored in an airtight container at room temperature for about 2 days. For storage up to 5 days, keep them in the refrigerator.

They may start to sweat a little no matter how you store them. This is a normal and expected occurrence. Re-roll them in the candy coating before serving, if desired.

How to freeze these no bake cookies

These date truffles are great to freeze! To freeze them, follow the recipe as written, down to step 4. Do not roll them in crushed candy canes.

Arrange the date balls on a cookie sheet, so they are not touching each other, and freeze them for at least 2 hours.

Once they're frozen solid, you can remove them from the cookie sheet, and put them all in a freezer storage bag. They can stay this way for up to 6 months!

To thaw: Remove them from the freezer, and put them on a plate, in the refrigerator, covered lightly with waxed paper, for 12-24 hours.

Once they're completely thawed, roll them in the crushed candy canes and serve!

Pro tip

Use food prep gloves or exam gloves to make these cookies! I promise they are worth purchasing for this.

Small plate of peppermint hot cocoa bites, with a bite taken from one to reveal the marshmallow center.

FAQ

What kind of dates are best for this?

I like pitted deglet noor dates. Madjool dates are good, too. No matter what you choose, make sure they are pitted. And don't get those little date pieces covered in oat flour - those will not work for this recipe.

Why does my candy cane coating "disappear" from my hot cocoa cookies?

Moisture dissolves sugar over time. The chocolate date balls hold a lot of moisture, and candy canes are made of sugar. So it will appear that the smaller pieces of candy cane coating disappear after a few hours.
To make sure your cookies look their best, roll them in the candy cane coating as close to serving as possible.
Or you can always just "refresh" the coating right before serving.

Related

Looking for other holiday dessert recipes? Try these:

  • 5 peanut butter cookies with chocolate kisses in them, on a serving plate.
    Healthier Peanut Butter Blossoms
  • Overhead image of a bowl of cooked red cabbage.
    Slow Cooker Red Cabbage (German Style)
  • Whole wheat drop biscuits on a serving tray.
    Whole Wheat Drop Biscuits
  • Stack of cookies on a plate.
    Cherry Pistachio Cookies

Pairing

These are my favorite recipes to serve with Peppermint Hot Cocoa Cookies:

  • Overhead shot of a loaf of quick bread studded with candied oranges.
    Pecan Cranberry Bread
  • A winter fruit salad shaped like a wreath, with a bowl of dip in the middle.
    Christmas Fruit Tray with Cinnamon Yogurt Dip
  • Healthy no added sugar Spiced Nuts
    Spiced Nuts Recipe (no sugar)
  • Glass mug of hot cocoa, garnished with whipped cream and 2 cinnamon sticks. Small gingerbread cookies are scattered around the table.
    Gingerbread Hot Cocoa
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📖 Recipe

Small plate of peppermint hot cocoa bites.

Peppermint Hot Cocoa Cookies (no bake)

Laura Yautz
Peppermint chocolate cookies that are super yummy, really easy, no bake, and use dates as a base, so the only added sugar comes from the candy cane coating and surprise marshmallow center!
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Total Time 30 minutes mins
Course Dessert, Holiday
Cuisine American
Servings 20 cookies
Calories 73 kcal

Equipment

  • Food processor
  • Plastic food prep gloves
  • Measuring Cups and Spoons

Ingredients
  

  • 1 ⅔ cup Whole Pitted Dates
  • ½ cup Raw Cashews
  • ¼ cup + 1 tablespoon Unsweetened Cocoa Powder
  • ¼ cup Ground Chia Seeds or Ground Flax Seeds
  • ¼ teaspoon Peppermint Extract
  • 2-3 tablespoon Water, as needed to thin mixture
  • 20 Mini Marshmallows
  • 4 Candy Canes, crushed, for coating

Instructions
 

  • Add the first 5 ingredients to a food processor or blender, and process on high until well blended, scraping down sides as needed.
  • Add water, a tablespoon at a time, to the running blender/food processor, until the mixture forms a thick, dough-like consistency.
  • Using plastic gloves, measure out 1 tablespoon of the mixture, and carefully form it into a bowl shape.
  • Place one mini marshmallow in the dough "bowl", and carefully form the dough around the marshmallow to form a sphere. Smooth out the sphere and roll it into a ball.
  • Roll the ball in crushed candy canes, carefully pressing the candy pieces into the ball so they stay. Alternatively, you can use more of the cocoa powder for coating.
  • Repeat with remaining mixture.
  • Store in an airtight container for up to a few days. Longer storage in the refrigerator.

Notes

Note that the moisture from the Hot Cocoa Bites will dissolve the candy cane pieces over time, so these are best served within a few hours of coating. They can easily be made ahead and rolled in the candy before serving if desired.

Nutrition

Serving: 1cookieCalories: 73kcal (4%)Carbohydrates: 14g (5%)Protein: 1g (2%)Fat: 2g (3%)Saturated Fat: 0.3g (2%)Polyunsaturated Fat: 0.5gMonounsaturated Fat: 1gSodium: 2mgPotassium: 125mg (4%)Fiber: 2g (8%)Sugar: 10g (11%)Calcium: 10mg (1%)Iron: 0.6mg (3%)

*Nutrition information is an estimate, and will change based on the brand and individual ingredients and amounts you use. This is provided for your convenience only.

Keyword healthy christmas cookies
Tried this recipe?Let us know how it was!

Food safety

Safety is our top priority in the kitchen! Always keep these tips in mind.

  • Wash hands before beginning, after touching hair, face, or pets, and whenever they are dirty
  • Ensure all equipment and utensils are clean and free from dust and dirt/pet hair if they haven't been used in a while
  • Don't leave food sitting out at room temperature for extended periods

See more guidelines at USDA.gov.

Top picture is a small plate with chocolate date balls covered in crushed candy canes. Bottom picture is a date ball with a bite taken out to reveal the marshmallow center. Text overlay: No Bake Peppermint Hot Cocoa Cookies, with a surprise marshmallow center!

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Laura Yautz in her kitchen

Hi, I'm Laura!

I’m a Registered Dietitian and I love food and cooking, It’s my passion to help you discover how delicious and easy heart healthy eating can be! I’m glad you’re here! Take a look around. You’re going to LOVE Being Nutritious!

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