Gluten-Free Vegan Chocolate Peppermint Candy Cane Balls

{Gluten-Free, Vegan, with Paleo & Refined Sugar-Free Option}

‘Tis the season! Candy cane season, that is ;) . Made these gluten-free vegan chocolate peppermint candy cane balls the other day. Set them in front of some friends and watched them “fight” over them to the last ball — yep, they were good! Kind of like a peppermint mocha at Starbucks good {I really miss those!}. Seriously, paired with some coffee, these were the BEST!

And they’re really easy to make {no-bake, not fussy}, and apart from the candy cane {which has to happen this time of year, ya know}, they are refined sugar-free and totally… um… good for you… What?! They are! They could totally be made without the candy cane too {then they’ll be raw vegan and paleo chocolate peppermint balls — nothing wrong with that ;) } — just roll them around in some cocoa powder and you’re all set. But candy cane makes me jolly. And I got even more jolly when I found an organic, corn-free, vegan candy cane pack at the store {made with raw cane sugar too!}! And that’s how I ended up with these little nuggets of Christmas in a jar ;)

Gluten-Free Vegan Chocolate Peppermint Candy Cane Balls

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★★★★★ 5 from 2 reviews

• Author: Audrey @ Unconventional Baker
• Prep Time: 10 minutes
• Cook Time: 10 minutes
• Total Time: 20 minutes
• Yield: 14 - 20 balls
• Category: Balls
• Method: No-Bake
• Cuisine: Dessert

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Description

‘Tis the season! Candy cane season, that is ;) . Made these gluten-free vegan chocolate peppermint candy cane balls the other day…and they were darn good!

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Ingredients

• 8–10 candy canes (I used vegan, corn-free ones)
• 1 ⅓ cups almonds (other nuts would work too)
• 2 cups almond flour (other nut flour would work too)
• 2 cups medjool dates (pitted + presoaked for 15–20 minutes in hot water)
• ¾ cup cacao powder
• ¼ cup liquid sweetener of choice (I used maple syrup)
• 5 tbsp softened coconut oil (soft, but at room temp — not hot)
• 1 tbsp lemon juice
• 2 tsp pure vanilla extract
• 1 tsp peppermint oil
• pinch of salt
• ⅛ tsp black pepper

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Instructions

1. Place candy canes in a mini-food processor {I used my magic bullet} and process into a mixture of crumble and dust. Alternatively you can crush the candy canes by hand by placing them in a zip lock bag, wrapping with a towel, and then smashing them with something hard on top to break them up into bits and shards. Set aside.
2. Process almonds in a food processor into a fine crumble. Add in all remaining ingredients, except crushed candy canes, and process until everything is thoroughly combined and mixture begins to form into a ball.
3. Pour some of the candy cane mixture onto a rolling plate. Have a serving plate handy. Scoop out about 1 – 2 tbsp mixture (depending on how large you want your balls to be) from the food processor with your hands and roll into a ball. Roll around in candy cane mixture and place on the serving plate. Repeat with the rest of the mixture (adding more of the crushed candy cane mixture onto the rolling plate as needed).
4. Chill for 10 minutes in the freezer to help the balls firm up quickly, or enjoy them fresh. Store any leftovers in the fridge.

Enjoy!

xo Audrey

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Disclaimer: This post contains an affiliate link to the mini blender used.