Baked chocolate peppermint donuts with brownie-like richness and refined sugar-free sweetness from Medjool dates for a decadent holiday dessert!
THIS POST IS SPONSORED BY NATURAL DELIGHTS®
Did you really think I was going to post only gingerbread recipes the whole month?
If you did, you were almost right. But then the idea for these Medjool date sweetened, dark and chocolatey, decadently fudgy, candy cane decorated donuts happened in my head. And I couldn’t say no.
Is it a brownie? Is it a donut? YES.
It’s basically the most holiday appropriate way to disguise a brownie as a Christmas dessert. Because I know it’s the month of the cookie and all, but I am confident I can convince you that December donuts need NEED to happen…
Why you need these Medjool Date Chocolate Peppermint Donuts in your December life:
- Chocolate. In rich and dark and decadent quantities.
- Only 7 ingredients.
- Vegan and paleo. In case you have/are that picky person at the Christmas party.
- No flour or refined sugar thanks to…
- Medjool dates! They are the sweetener and the binder, making things healthier and fudgier at the same time.
Bonus! This is the perfect way to repurpose those candy canes that just seem to appear this time of year. In your house. And your car. Where do they come from? Where are they going in life?
The batter. This is easier than easy. Our key players are Medjool dates, almond milk, nut or seed butter, and cacao powder. Then baking soda for fluff. And salt and peppermint extract for flavor. I recommend blending the Medjool dates with the liquid ingredients first to get it as lump free as possible, then adding the dry. If you are using really fresh and squishy Medjool dates, you won’t need to soak them. But if your Medjool dates are harder, then soak for 30 minutes in warm water and drain first.
Which is reason #354 I love Natural Delights®, their Medjool dates are always fresh and squishy. Plus organic and already pitted for you too if you want them to be! The organic pitted is probably my favorite variety they offer, but all of them are delicious and will work perfectly here.
The glaze. You have two options – both easy, neither required.
- Melted chocolate. Semi sweet or dark, drizzled or dipped.
- Coconut butter + cacao powder. Not sweetened, but delicious with a sweet donut underneath
Personally I went with option two, but there is no wrong choice. Because chocolate.
The sprinkles. I just used plain ol’ candy canes crushed up and sprinkled on . You could opt for a healthier/vegan/organic candy cane brand, those do exist. Or shredded coconut looks lovely and snow-like on top too.
Chocolate, peppermint, Medjool dates, and your oven all pitched in to bring this delicious donut gift to you. I promise you won’t be needing the gift receipt.
WATCH HOW TO

Medjool Date Chocolate Peppermint Donuts
- Prep Time: 00:10
- Cook Time: 00:15
- Total Time: 25 minutes
- Yield: 6 donuts 1x
- Category: chocolate
- Method: baking
- Cuisine: american
Description
Baked chocolate peppermint donuts with brownie-like richness and refined sugar-free sweetness from Medjool dates for a decadent holiday dessert!
Ingredients
- 1 cup (200g) Natural Delights® pitted Medjool dates
- 1/2 cup (120g) nondairy milk
- 1/2 cup (125g) nut/seed butter (I used almond butter)
- 1/2 cup (40g) cacao powder (or cocoa powder)
- 1/2 tsp baking soda
- 1 tsp peppermint extract
- 1/4 tsp salt
Glaze:
- 1/2 cup melted chocolate chips
- OR 1/2 cup coconut butter + 2 tbsp cacao powder
Optional: crushed candy canes to decorate
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 350F.
- Blend the Medjool dates, nondairy milk, almond butter, and peppermint extract.
- Transfer to a bowl. Add the cacao powder, salt, and baking soda. Mix.
- Spoon or pipe into a donut pan (silicone or lightly oiled so they don’t stick). You will get about 6 full size donuts or 10 minis.
- Bake for 15-17 minutes at 350F.
- Cool for 10 minutes. Then flip onto a cooling rack to cool completely.
- Dip or drizzle with glaze and sprinkle with candy canes if using. Chill for the glaze to set.
- Enjoy!
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 donut
- Calories: 239
- Sugar: 23g
- Fat: 12g
- Saturated Fat: 1g
- Carbohydrates: 33g
- Fiber: 6g
- Protein: 6g
Keywords: vegan, paleo, christmas, dessert, holiday, gluten-free, mint