Description
Festive peppermint chocolate delight brings winter magic to dessert tables with rich cocoa and cool mint notes. Holiday bakers can craft this irresistible treat that perfectly balances sweet chocolate and refreshing peppermint in one elegant dessert.
Ingredients
Scale
Main Ingredients:
- 1 package (8 ounces/226 grams) cream cheese, softened
- 1 pre-made chocolate cookie crust
- 1 cup (240 milliliters) heavy whipping cream
Flavor and Sweetening Ingredients:
- 1 cup (120 grams) powdered sugar
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 1 teaspoon peppermint extract
- 1 cup (150 grams) crushed peppermint candies (plus extra for garnish)
Topping and Finishing Ingredients:
- 1 cup (240 milliliters) whipped topping
- Optional: Chocolate syrup for drizzling
Instructions
- Whip the heavy cream until it forms stiff, voluminous peaks, creating a light and airy base for the dessert.
- In a separate mixing vessel, transform cream cheese into a silky-smooth consistency using an electric mixer.
- Infuse the cream cheese mixture with powdered sugar, vanilla, and peppermint extracts, blending until the texture becomes uniform and velvety.
- Carefully incorporate the whipped cream and crushed peppermint candies, using a folding technique to maintain the delicate airiness of the mixture.
- Elegantly transfer the creamy concoction into the prepared chocolate cookie crust, ensuring an even distribution and smoothing the surface with a gentle spatula motion.
- Allow the dessert to set in the refrigerator for a minimum of 4 hours, giving the flavors time to meld and the texture to firm up completely.
- Just before presentation, embellish the chilled pie with a cloud of whipped topping, a sprinkle of additional crushed peppermint candies, and an artistic drizzle of chocolate syrup for a show-stopping finale.
Notes
- Cream Whipping Technique: Ensure the heavy cream is cold and use a chilled bowl for faster, more stable peaks that will maintain structure in the dessert.
- Peppermint Intensity: Adjust peppermint extract to personal taste, starting with less and gradually adding more to prevent overwhelming flavor.
- Gluten-Free Adaptation: Replace chocolate cookie crust with gluten-free cookie crumbs or almond flour crust for those with dietary restrictions.
- Make-Ahead Magic: This dessert can be prepared up to 2 days in advance, making it perfect for holiday entertaining and reducing day-of stress.
- Prep Time: 20 minutes
- Cook Time: 0 minutes
- Category: Desserts, Mocktails
- Method: Chilling
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 8
- Calories: 320
- Sugar: 24 g
- Sodium: 150 mg
- Fat: 22 g
- Saturated Fat: 14 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 6 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 32 g
- Fiber: 0 g
- Protein: 3 g
- Cholesterol: 70 mg