Peppermint Hot Cocoa Brownies

Peppermint Hot Cocoa Brownies
The weather is cooling down, the holidays are quickly approaching, and what’s better than a cozy mug of hot cocoa topped with marshmallows? Peppermint Hot Cocoa Brownies! These super rich chocolate brownies are flavored with peppermint extract and topped with a simple homemade peppermint marshmallow. In other words, forget about the hot cocoa (for tonight) and indulge in one of these festive brownies instead!
For this recipe I used my favorite base brownie recipe from Running with Spoons and paired it with a slightly altered version of Alton Brown’s Homemade Marshmallow Recipe. I’ve made marshmallows using a different recipe in the past and found myself disappointed with the taste. But this marshmallow topping has no funky gelatin flavor, isn’t too sweet, and has the perfect marshmallow texture! You can eat the brownies as-is or pop one in the microwave for a warm, gooey marshmallow brownie experience – this was my favorite way to eat these. And if you’re not a fan of peppermint, feel free to leave it out completely, replacing it with extra vanilla extract (or your extract of choice!).

Some of the ingredients I like for this recipe:
Coconut sugar is my go-to baking sweetener. It’s low GI, unrefined, and makes for a perfect substitute for white granulated sugar. And it tastes nothing like coconut! For a sweeter (less rich) brownie, feel free to use regular, white granulated sugar instead.
Chocolate chips (or chopped chocolate) lend moisture and lots of chocolate goodness to these brownies.
Eggs make for the perfect brownie texture. Trust me, I’ve tried multiple egg replacements in this recipe, and they do not work. So don’t even try.
Instant coffee granules are totally optional but will deepen the chocolate flavor and richness in the brownies. I highly recommend adding it if you’re looking for a rich brownie!
Arrowroot starch thickens the brownie batter while also keeping it free of grains and gluten – perfect for GF and non-GF eaters alike since the taste is undetectable!
White granulated sugar is necessary for the marshmallow topping! I don’t recommend any substitutes since this topping has been tested as-is and works as-is.
Agave makes for a better alternative to corn syrup, which is what most marshmallow recipes call for. It also has a very low GI, which is great considering the higher GI of the white sugar you’ll also be using.

More Chocolate Marshmallow Recipes
Marshmallow Hot Cocoa Cookies
Spicy Hot Cocoa Muffins
Rocky Road Brownie Cookies
Double Chocolate S’mores Cookies
Peppermint Hot Cocoa Brownies

Ultra rich and fudgy peppermint brownies topped with a layer of homemade peppermint marshmallow! The perfect treat for a cool, winter night!
Ingredients
Brownies
- 1/3 cup coconut oil, measured as a solid (or 6 Tbsp olive oil)
- 1 cup (175g) chocolate chips
- 1 tsp instant coffee granules (optional)
- 1/4 cup (20g) natural cocoa powder
- 2 large eggs, room temp
- 2/3 cup (110g) coconut sugar (or 150g white granulated sugar)
- 1/2 tsp peppermint extract
- 1/2 tsp vanilla extract
- 1/2 tsp salt
- 3 Tbsp (24g) corn starch (or arrowroot or tapioca starch)
Marshmallow
- 6 Tbsp water, divided
- 1 packet of gelatin powder
- 2/3 cup (150g) white cane sugar
- 3 Tbsp agave syrup
- Pinch of salt
- 1/8 tsp peppermint extract
- 1/4 tsp vanilla extract
Instructions
Make the Brownie Base
- Preheat your oven to 350°F and prepare an 8x8" baking pan with non-stick spray. Line your pan with parchment paper by cutting one long strip for the bottom and two sides - fold over and trim the excess paper to edge of pan. Bring your eggs to room temperature by placing them in a glass of warm water for around 10 minutes.
- Meanwhile, in a microwave-safe bowl, melt together the oil and chocolate chips, stirring the mixture every 15 seconds until chips are melted. Stir in the instant coffee and cocoa powder; set aside.
- In the bowl of a stand mixer fitted with the whisk attachment, add the eggs and sugar. Whisk on medium-high speed until thick and light in color. Whisk in the peppermint and vanilla extracts. Gently fold the chocolate mixture into the sugar and eggs. Add the salt and cornstarch and gently mix until just combined.
- Pour batter into prepared baking dish and bake at 350°F for 17-23 minutes or until a toothpick inserted into the brownies comes out slightly gooey - you don't want to over bake! Allow the brownies to totally cool before making the marshmallow.
Make the Marshmallow
- In the bowl of a stand mixer fitted with the whisk attachment, add the gelatin and 3 Tbsp of the water. Give it a little stir and then allow it to thicken while you heat up your sugar.
- In a small saucepan, add the sugar, agave, salt, and the remaining 3 Tbsp of water. Gently swirl the pan to ensure sugar is totally saturated. Set heat to medium-high (or medium for a gas range) and bring the mixture to a boil. Use a candy thermometer to monitor the sugar's temperature. If your mixture begins to boil too high up the pan, you can use your thermometer to gently swirl the mixture back down or hold the pot up and over the heat. When the mixture reaches 240°F immediately remove from the heat.
- With your stand mixer running at low speed, slowly pour the hot sugar mixture into the gelatin. Turn the speed to high and whisk until mixture becomes white, thick, and fluffy. I like to wait until I see soft peaks. Immediately whisk in the peppermint and vanilla extracts.
- Pull the cooled brownies out the pan. Immediately spread the marshmallow over the brownies, using an offset icing spatula to spread and swirl it over the surface. Top with sprinkles, chocolate chips, or crushed peppermint candies.
- Allow marshmallow to set for at least 4 hours before slicing. For an easy, clean slice, I recommend running a sharp knife under HOT water, wiping clean with a towel, and then carefully slicing - you'll need to heat and carefully* wipe the knife between every slice (I used a thermos to hold the hot water, which allowed me to dip my knife each time). Slice into 9 or 16 brownies.
- Store leftovers in an airtight container at room temperature. I highly recommend popping a brownie into the microwave for a few seconds before enjoying!
*Be careful when wiping your knife - it's easy to accidentally slice your hand/fingers if you're holding the towel. I recommend setting the towel down and wiping.
Notes
Brownie recipe slightly adapted from Running with Spoons & Marshmallow recipe slightly adapted from Alton Brown
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Nutrition Information:
Yield:
16Serving Size:
1Amount Per Serving: Calories: 266Total Fat: 8gSaturated Fat: 6gTrans Fat: 0gUnsaturated Fat: 2gCholesterol: 23mgSodium: 103mgCarbohydrates: 47gFiber: 1gSugar: 29gProtein: 2g
calculated nutrition information may not always be accurate
Did you make this recipe? I would love to see!
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