Peppermint Mocha Cookies (Paleo, Vegan)

Chewy & crisp chocolate cookies flavored with espresso & peppermint topped with smooth buttercream. Free from grains, eggs, dairy and refined sugar. Perfect for a holiday cookie exchange!

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Holiday baking season is here and I'm SO excited!! Cookies are one of my favorite things to make at Christmastime. But baking without flour, butter, sugar and eggs can be really tricky! Thankfully over the past few years I've learned some TRICKS so that I can make delicious cookies without ANY of the conventional ingredients. Cookies that are both Paleo, vegan AND delicious for ALL.

Crisp, Buttery Cookies!

Did you ever get cookies from those kiosks in the mall? Oh my gosh, growing up back in the 80's & 90's I used to get those HUGE sugar cookies on the regular. How did they make them so insanely good?

  I just LOVE cookies that are CRISP on the edges (not the kind that are too soft or too cakey) I like ones that taste buttery! And that's what I got with these!! So crisp on the outside, without being too dry. BUTTERY BLISS (without butter!) 😉 A little CRISP, slightly CHEWY, and covered in thick BUTTERCREAM. Perfection! Who needs a bakery, now? Not me, haha.

Peppermint Mocha Flavor

It's no secret I'm a bit of a coffee addict. My morning ritual involves brewing the perfect cup using my French press. How do you like your coffee? I like mine extra hot with vanilla cashew milk! Mmmmm. I used to be a big fan of Starbucks before I went dairy-free & sugar-free, but now my options are limited, so I brew at home. Healthier and cheaper for sure, lol. But oh how I remember those PEPPERMINT MOCHAS. I don't want to even think about how many grams of sugar are in those, lol.

Well now I get to enjoy the same flavor, without dairy and sugar and in a scrumptious COOKIE! =D To add yummy espresso flavor, I used Medaglia D'oro instant espresso powder (which is freeze dried espresso -- not coffee grounds.) Most grocery stores carry it, or you can find it on Amazon. Add as little or as much as you like. Tasting the dough cookie dough? Big fat YES. Go for it. There's No eggs, so no salmonella.

Flourless Cookies

You won't believe these cookies are flourless! So what in the world are they made of?? Cashews and coconut, the most versatile and delicious ingredients EVER. You can use them to make cheesecakes, pies, cookie dough, and brownies... virtually anything! And especially COOKIES! These cookies don't actually taste like cashews or coconut at all. The bold chocolate flavor, rich espresso and fresh peppermint flavors shine. It's a complex, deep flavor that may become your new favorite!

Dairy-Free Peppermint "BUTTERCREAM"

Omg, you guys... This "buttercream" is insanely good. And guess what-- it's DAIRY FREE. (Insert shocked face emoji) It's made from coconut butter (similar to my Fruit Pizza!) It's THICK, smooth, creamy and amazingly delicious!

And unlike conventional frosting, you won't feel utterly sick from eating SO much sugar, lol. There are only 4 teaspoons in the whole recipe, but it's perfectly sweet. The best part - it's stable at room temp. No refrigeration needed! So BRING ON those cookie parties!! 🙂 I almost forgot-- it's also full of FIBER! Can you believe it?? Best. frosting. EVER. 

 More Healthy Christmas Cookies

Peppermint Mocha Cookies with Peppermint Buttercream

Crisp & chewy peppermint chocolate cookies with hints of espresso, frosted with smooth peppermint "buttercream." A festive holiday treat!

5 from 1 vote

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Prep Time: 5 minutes

Cook Time: 8 minutes

Total Time: 13 minutes

Servings: 15 cookies

Author: Emily

Ingredients

• 1 cup raw cashews
• ½ cup unsweetened coconut flakes
• 2 Tbs coconut flour
• ⅓ cup cacao
• ¼ teaspoon salt
• ¼ teaspoon Baking Soda
• ½ cup coconut oil - melted
• ¼ cup maple syrup
• 1 ½ - 2 Tbs instant espresso powder
• 1 teaspoon vanilla
• 1 teaspoon peppermint extract - to taste

Instructions

• Preheat oven to 350. Line a large baking sheet with parchment.
• Blend cashews and coconut in a food processor until finely ground (about 30 seconds)
• Add remaining "dry" ingredients (through baking soda) and pulse to incorporate.
• In a glass measuring cup, stir together all "wet" ingredients and stir in instant espresso to dissolve. Pour into food processor and blend. Taste and add a little more espresso or peppermint, if desired.
• Let the dough rest for a couple of minutes to absorb the liquid. If it's too wet, add a ½ Tbs more coconut flour.
• Use a cookie scoop to place dough on baking sheet. Optional - roll dough using your hands. Flatten with a spatula.
• Bake for 7-10 minutes until set and edges are firm. Let cool 5 minutes before removing.
• Optional - frost with peppermint buttercream (recipe in notes,) Enjoy!

Notes

Peppermint "Buttercream" 

½ cup coconut butter, softened (I used homemade)

3 Tbs coconut milk

4 teaspoon maple syrup

½ tsp peppermint extract, to taste

Dash of pink salt

To make: Mix all ingredients together in a small bowl. Pipe on using a baggie with the corner snipped off. Use your fingers to smooth out, if needed.

Garnish: Sprinkle on some chocolate shavings or even chocolate chips or crushed peppermints!

Tip: you can make coconut butter by blending 2 cups of coconut flakes in a food processor for about 20 minutes (scraping down the sides as needed) Keep processing until it is *drippy* and liquid. It will firm up when it comes back to room temp (or when chilled). If your butter is too firm, place the jar in a bowl of warm water to soften. If refrigerated, it will be rock hard.

What I used:

To store: cookies may be kept at room temp for about 4 days, in an airtight container.

For longer storage, freeze *unfrosted* cookies in an airtight bag for 1 month. Store frosting separately in a jar at room temp for 1 week, or refrigerate for 2-3 weeks.

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