
It’s beginning to look a lot like Christmas! Christmas is my all time favorite holiday and it’s all about the holiday flavors. One of my holiday traditions is to drink warm cozy cups of tea, I choose my flavors to represent the season. Over the Christmas holiday I always buy candy cane tea.

This season I’ve upped the ante and created a holiday recipe infused with my beloved Candy Cane Lane tea. This Candy Cane Cacao Bar recipe is vegan, refined sugar free, nutrient dense, and will satisfy your holiday sweet tooth. These bars will keep in the fridge for about a week and make for a delightful breakfast snack. Have a truly wonderful holiday, share this recipe with the people you love.



Peppermint Cacao Bars
- Total Time: 30 minutes
- Yield: 12 bars
Description
These Peppermint Cacao Bars taste like a chocolate candy cane and are vegan, nutrient-dense, and perfect for satisfying your holiday sweet tooth.
Ingredients
Pecan crust:
- 1/2 cup dark rye flour
- 1/3 cup + 2 tablespoons cacao powder
- 1 cup raw pecans
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 10 dates (pitted)
- 2 teaspoons coconut oil
Candy cane cream:
- 1/2 cup coconut oil
- 5 bags of candy cane peppermint tea
- 1 cup cashews (soaked overnight, drained)
- 1 tablespoon coconut cream
- 1 teaspoon liquid stevia
Chocolate peppermint cream:
- 1 cup cashews (soaked overnight, drained)
- 1/2 cup coconut oil
- 1/2 cup coconut cream
- 1/2 cup cacao powder
- 1/4 cup maple syrup
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 10 peppermint candies (crushed)
Instructions
Pecan crust:
- In a food processor, combine 1/2 cup dark rye flour, 1/3 cup + 2 tablespoons cacao powder, 1 cup raw pecans, and 1/2 teaspoon salt. Blend until well combined.
- Gradually add 10 pitted dates and 2 teaspoons coconut oil to the processor, blending until the mixture forms a sticky dough.
- Press the dough into a small wax paper-lined baking dish to form an even crust layer. Set aside.
Candy cane cream:
- In a small saucepan, melt 1/2 cup coconut oil over low heat. Add 5 bags of candy cane peppermint tea to the melted oil and steep for 1 hour on low heat.
- Strain the tea-infused oil into a medium bowl, discarding the tea bags. Add the tea-infused oil to a food processor along with 1 cup soaked cashews, 1 tablespoon coconut cream, and 1 teaspoon liquid stevia. Pulse until smooth.
- Spread the candy cane cream evenly over the crust layer and freeze for 15 minutes.
Chocolate peppermint cream:
- In a food processor, combine 1 cup soaked cashews, 1/2 cup coconut oil, 1/2 cup coconut cream, 1/2 cup cacao powder, 1/4 cup maple syrup, and 1/2 teaspoon salt. Blend until smooth.
- Spread the chocolate peppermint cream evenly over the chilled candy cane cream layer.
- Sprinkle the 10 crushed peppermint candies evenly over the top.
- Freeze for 30 minutes, or until firm. Cut into bars and serve chilled.
Notes
These bars will keep in the fridge for about a week. They make a delightful breakfast snack. Ensure the bars are fully set before cutting to maintain their shape.
- Prep Time: 20 minutes
- Cook Time: 10 minutes
- Category: Dessert
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 bar
- Calories: 200
- Sugar: 10 grams
- Sodium: 50 mg
- Fat: 15 grams
- Carbohydrates: 18 grams
- Fiber: 4 grams
- Protein: 3 grams
- Cholesterol: 0 mg
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I substitute the Candy Cane Lane tea with another flavor?
Yes, you can experiment with different flavored teas, but keep in mind that it will alter the taste of the bars. A peppermint or chocolate-flavored tea would complement the cacao well.
What can I use instead of refined sugar in this recipe?
Since the recipe is refined sugar-free, you can use natural sweeteners like maple syrup or agave nectar to maintain the sweetness while keeping it healthy.
How should I store the peppermint cacao bars to maintain freshness?
Store the bars in an airtight container in the fridge, where they will stay fresh for about a week.