Candy Cane Cupcake Muffins

Candy Cane Cupcake Muffins

Now that Spring is just around the corner, I thought it was time to finally take away all the candy canes that had been sitting in jars and vases in my living room.  But I didn't want to throw them away, and I didn't want my kids to have a candy fest over the weekend, so what did I do?  I made peppermint candy cane "sugar"!  Granted, it has red dye, plain white sugar, corn syrup, and plenty of other unhealthy ingredients, but not everything has to be perfect, and not tossing something usable into the garbage has to count for something.  I have decorated cookies with ground up candy canes before, (Peppermint Sugar Cookie Pinwheels), but I have never actually used the candy canes as the only sweetener. So this was definitely a fun little experiment, and something that I could also use if needed in other mint recipes when I don't have the (much healthier) fresh mint ingredient on hand (Dark Chocolate Peppermint Brownies). The smell when grinding up the candy canes was great enough, but the smell of these muffins in the oven was even better.  And since they are full of whole wheat flour (fiber, protein), and heart healthy canola oil, they are a good breakfast treat, or afternoon snack.  I just enjoyed mine with a cup of tea and a small dish of raw walnuts. Tasted amazing. And a little bit like Winter, because technically, it still is!

Dark Chocolate Peppermint Brownies

Dark Chocolate Peppermint Brownies

I have been holding out this recipe for so long because they were so good, and my family and I ate them so fast, that we never got a great photo.  I was hoping to make them again before my backyard mint plants died, but never got around to it.  I know I could buy mint at the grocery store to make them again, but there is something special about adding something from my own personal garden, that it just didn't feel the same. But this recipe is way too delicious not to share, and since winter is also peppermint season, I thought it made sense.  I actually have about 40 candy canes decorating my house since Christmas that I plan to grind up into sugar soon, and I am sure if I substituted the sugar in this recipe with candy cane sugar, I would get a similar, although less natural, peppermint flavor.  If the idea of using mint leaves in baking seems odd, just think of a peppermint patty in a brownie, but nature's version.  It is surprisingly refreshing, and gives the rich chocolate taste of the brownie an unexpected twist.  For a healthier version of mint chocolate baking, check out my flourless, high protein, Mint Chocolate Chip Cookies.

Peppermint Sugar Cookie Pinwheels

Peppermint Sugar Cookie Pinwheels

I seriously thought I would have posted a basic sugar cookie recipe already, but I guess I overlooked that last year when posting all my different versions of the original: (Vegan Coconut sugar Cookies and Vegan Chocolate Sugar Cookies). So here is the most basic sugar cookie recipe that I like to use, of course embellished for a Christmas theme.  Obviously you can use all white flour if you want lighter colored and textured cookies, but I love the hearty flavor and nutritional benefits of whole wheat and love giving cookies as a gift that are slightly unexpected and show people that even delicious treats can be healthy as well.  Some would argue that a "healthy cookie" defeats the purpose of a treat, and while I totally understand that sentiment, sometimes it is nice to be able to indulge while knowing you aren't completely sabotaging yourself.  But I honestly dare you to try these without completely falling in love with them because they are ridiculously good, and like all sugar cookies, they taste even better a couple of days after baking.  So you can enjoy them throughout the entire holiday season.