But, now that fall has passed us by, nothing screams Winter Holidays to me like Peppermint or Minty Flavored Desserts. And there’s no better way to enjoy mint than with chocolate. You agree, right?
Growing up I loved my moms’ Creme de Menthe Bars but since I am a gluten & soy-free vegan, and the traditional recipe is very heavy on dairy, eggs, and crumb-cookie crusts, I had some major tweaking to do. But I succeed and present you with:
Averie’s Vegan Creme de Menthe Bars-No Bake/Gluten & Soy-Free
This is a 3 Layered Bar: The Chocolate Base/Crust, the White Minty Buttercream-Inspired Middle Layer, and the Chocolate Mint Top Layer.
It is definitely like Thin Mints meets Buttercream Frosting meets Dipped in a Minty Chocolate Bath. And the whole thing is done in less than 20 minutes.
Base/Crust
1/4 c Earth Balance-Soy Free Buttery Spread (or your preferred butter/margarine). Melt the Butter.
Then add:
1/4 c cocoa powder
1/4 c almond meal
1/4 c ground oats/oat flour (note: you can just use 1/2 c almond meal OR whatever combo & type of flour you prefer, i.e. cashew, oat, rice, almond, wheat, etc.)
1/4 c powdered sugar
1 Tsp Vanilla Extract
Optional: 2 Tbsp Agave
Stir everything together. Pour into your container & flatten.
You may have some leftover crust mixture, about 1/4 c worth. Or just make a thicker crust. Yummy stuff.
Set in the freezer while you make the middle layer.
Middle Layer
1/4 c of Buttery Spread. Melt it.
Then add:
1.5 c powdered sugar (I said it’s vegan, not low cal)
Scant 1/4 c Creme de Menthe (If you don’t have access to Creme de Menthe, use Peppermint Extract and start with 1 Tbsp, adding slowly and carefully until just slightly minty or to taste)
Optional: Green Food coloring to make it look minty. Or a shot of green juice.
Whip Until Blended, Creamy, & Fluffy. (This is basically Buttercream Frosting. Tip of the Day: Vegan Buttercream frosting is 1 part buttery spread to 3 parts powdered sugar, dash of vanilla extract, blend, devour.)
Pour this mixture over the crust forming the middle layer.
Put in fridge/freezerwhile you make the Top Layer
Side View of Crust + Middle
Top Layer
1/4 c Buttery Spread. Melt it.
Add 1/2 c Chocolate Chips (I used the Chocolate and Mint Holiday Edition chips, not technically vegan. But you could use Baker’s Chocolate, or Cocoa Powder, Agave, Coconut Oil, with an optional Peppermint Extract to keep the top layer truly vegan)
1/4 c powdered sugar
1 Tsp Vanilla Extract
Add all the ingredients to the melted buttery spread and whisk until combined
Retrieve Crust + Middle Layer from Freezer, and Pour the Chocolate Top Layer over it
Place back into Freezer to Cool & Set Up
Can anyone say Crust + Middle + Top = Vegan Oreo Mint Cookie Adaptation?
After the Creme de Menthe Bars have set up, retrieve them from the freezer and Devour with Wild Abandon.
These are the adult-themed version of Girl Scout Cookie Thin Mints meet Minty Buttercream Frosting meet Chocolate Decadence.
You’ve got a crunchy chocolaty minty base layer, with a fluffy minty frosting-like center, with Chocolate on the Top.
They are soooo good. Sooo rich.
You really only need a tiny piece to feel satisfied…
….Or a big square to feel stuffed.
I included lots of photos for a step-by-step Creme de Menthe making tutorial and it looks like alot, but the whole recipe only takes about 20 minutes of active kitchen time and the rest if just waiting for set-up in the freezer.
Enjoy!
Peppymint chia pudding?! Yesss. :)
First of all, I am still drooling over those creme de menthe bars. Second of all, I NEED to get some chia seeds to make your pudding recipe!
As for those yoga pose, I can actually do that one! When I first started to do yoga I could barely touch my toes, now I can grab onto the bottoms of my feet a little. I hope to be able to be as flexible as you one day!
can i just tell you that you are SO freakin cool? yoga, baking, dishwasher detergent!! you are the WHOLE package missy!!
I just love your desserts that you make! I am transitioning into a high raw (eventually fully raw someday) vegan diet from a vegan diet. I can't wait to start feeling great and hopefully my digestive problems will clear up.
But, I see that you like to experiment with different raw desserts, so I was wondering if you would like to take on the task of inventing a raw vegan carrot cake? Wouldn't that be awesome!? I just love carrot cake and would be delighted if there was an easy-to-make vegan version. :)
I have got to get some chia seeds! I bet that pudding would be great with some cocoa!
I don't know if you are still rocking the banana softserve but today I added cocoa powder and almond extract with a teeny squirt of agave to the pure bananas and it was so good I had to tell someone!!
Averie m’dear! How do you do it? Seriously, how? Do you dream up these creations as you sleep, my genius friend?
I am SO excited for you about becoming certified at the 500 level! Being that yoga has become such a large and wonderful part of your life, it only makes sense. :) Haha, you remind me so much of myself… I always need to have my brain moving and need a little bit of everything in my life. I honestly have considered Real Estate myself at one point! Good to know I'm not alone in my drive for knowledge!
xxoo
Heather
I totally think there's something to this full moon business. My mom used to work in the psychiatric ward at the hospital and she said her patients would completely change during the full moon.
And YAY for movin' on up in yoga!!!! I can totally see how that would be the next logical step for you. And like you inferred, life is long and you'll always have a chance to do the PT thing. I totally want to go to one of your classes :)
Soooo fabulous about your yoga teacher certification!!!
And hooray for yet another pose that I do quite often :)
You are going to make a fantastic yoga teacher! Can't you move to MI, even if it's just once a week, and be my yoga instructor?! Please?! ;)
I think everyone should be life long learners but that could be the teacher in me. Good luck with everything!
The peppermint chia seed pudding looks so much like tapocia! YUM!
You really are a jack of all trades!
I think you've gotten me on a peppermint thing, because I had to pick up a chocolate peppermint Luna today even though I generally dislike Lunas. I'll be sure to be using some peppermint extract when I go home next time for baking(or probably anise but the flavors are so similar to me).
OMG Averie.. I think this is actually a pose I can do!! lol I actually do that stretch every morn.. feels great!
Thanks for the chia recipe (As you know I got 3 lbs in my freezer!) :) :)
Im so happy that you are following your passion.. what a wonderful sense of accomplishment (and drive) you must have.
Yay! I am so happy for you that you are pursuing the higher yoga cert. It really seems to be where your passion lies. I love people who have PASSION!! :)
I really need to get some darn chia seeds. I still haven't bought any. I want some so bad!
The full moon stuff is so interesting! Yum pudding I haven't had any in forever! Wow that is pretty cool about the yoga hours! I am just getting into yoga and I LOVE it. I feel it has improved my running more then anything!