One of my husband’s favorite candies is the York Peppermint Patty. This minty-chocolate treat might not be the most popular candy bar on the market, but it’s not that far of a stretch from his favorite ice cream, mint chocolate chip.
But take a look at this ingredient list:
sugar, corn syrup, semi- sweet chocolate (chocolate, sugar, cocoa, milk fat, cocoa butter, soy lecithin, PGPR, emulsifier, vanillian, artificial flavor), invert sugar, egg whites, and oil of peppermint
Gross, huh? I mean, lots of dieters LOVE York peppermint patties because they’re “OMG FAT FREE!” but with sugar in their ingredient list four times, they’re far from “good for you.” So I set out to make a much more nourishing, high-fat, low-sugar version.
And it is delicious.
The filling is simple. About a cup of coconut butter (I made my own by processing Organic Coconut Chips in my food processor until the oil released and the coconut became slightly doughy), with a few drops of peppermint extract and a touch of honey.
Next time, I’ll leave out the honey because the sugar in the dark chocolate coating was plenty of sweetness for me.
I made the patties about an inch and a half across, squeezing the “dough” tightly to shape it, placing them on a parchment-covered cookie sheet (you can use a silpat if you have one). When they were all shaped, I put the baking sheet in the freezer for just a couple of minutes.
While the patties were cooling down, I melted some chocolate – maybe a cup of dark chocolate, maybe a little less. You can use a double-boiler, but it works fine to do it in the microwave. Just microwave for 15 seconds, then stir, microwave another 15 seconds and stir. You want it to get to the point where there are still chocolate “lumps” in the melted part, that will melt as you stir… you don’t want them to melt in the microwave.
I hope that made sense. Basically: err on the side of under-“melted” and if you can’t get the pieces to combine by stirring, pop it in for another short period of time (even 5 seconds toward the end).
Then pull the cold patties out from the freezer, and coat each one with chocolate before placing them back on the parchment. Chill for another couple minutes to set the chocolate, and enjoy them cold from the fridge.
In a cooler climate or a better-air-conditioned house (we are trying to not go overboard with the cooling!) these might survive without becoming too sticky on your counter top… we just kept them in the fridge and enjoyed them cold though, which was very refreshing!
I see mounds/almond joy in my future… (would mix in shredded coconut with the coconut butter for a less creamy texture, leave out the mint, etc).
Homemade York Peppermint Patties Recipe
- 1 cup coconut butter
- few drops peppermint oil
- small amount of honey – optional
- 2/3 cup – 1 cup dark chocolate
This recipe makes about 16 peppermint patties, if yours are the same size mine were.
- Combine the first 3 ingredients thoroughly. Then shape into 1.5” patties with your hands and place on a parchment-covered baking sheet. Refrigerate or freeze.
- Meanwhile, melt your chocolate however you like to do it.
- Dip the mint patties into the chocolate, covering thoroughly. Then place back onto the baking sheet.
- Refrigerate or freeze until set, then remove from parchment.
- Eat!
Hi! I'm Emily. I'm a Navy wife and stay at home mom of two beautiful children. I cook simple, delicious, grain-free recipes, do crafts, decorate my home on a budget, and keep a happy household. I tandem breastfeed, babywear, cloth diaper, practice elimination communication, homebirth, and co-sleep, but I'm not a hippie.
These sound delicious and easy to make with just a few ingredients–my kind of recipe. Would make a great gift idea too.
These look so good. I can’t wait to make them!
Nina Nelson recently posted..Lessons learned while jogging
I like the previous comment, Halloween candy, what an ingenius idea. Make these and see if I can trade my kids for their junk candy that their going to get
I’ll have to try making some, if I win the cream concentrate, not that I’m likely too as I never win anything 
Those look AMAZING!!!! I’m thinking Halloween candy!!!!
[...] really looking forward to using it to make my homemade peppermint patty recipe, without having to grind up the dried coconut… this will be much simpler and probably a smoother [...]
I just recently learned that the peppermet patties are made in mexico, so from now on I am defintly making my own.
Mmm. Going to try this recipe and the grain free granola bars. Thanks for such a great blog. I’ve bookmarked it!
Holly Moccia recently posted..Gentle Herbal Exfoliating Facial Cleansing Grains 2oz glass Jar
Hi! I found these when searching for a “primal-ish” peppermint pattie!Thank you so much for sharing this! I’m new to this kind of eating, and had a temporary panic at missing my beloved mint patties! Problem solved.
Also, I don’t know how messy this got for you, but I just used a rubber IKEA ice cube tray and made mint “cups”. They worked like a charm!
[...] someone please make these for me? Homemade York Peppermint Patties by Joyful [...]
[...] but it’s not that far of a stretch from his favorite ice cream, mint chocolate chip — via Joyful Abode This entry was posted in Craft. Bookmark the permalink. ← Bounce – A fun and easy way [...]
[...] Gigi, I took you up on your recipe dare. Organic Peppermint Patties (recipe found by Gigi on Joyful Abode) made out of raw coconut butter and honey and chocolate… sounds so delicious, doesn’t [...]
Speaking of food processors-what kind do you guys use? Want something good for processing coconut chips and almonds, etc.
I've made two batches of these so far, I think they are my new favorite food. The next batch will be made with the new food processor
[...] Home Made Candy! Filed under: Recipes, paleo by jalzen — Leave a comment July 8, 2010 So my grandpa has always been the husband’s hero because the one time we went to visit them my grandpa had a bunch of home made candy. After the movies a few weeks back Michael and I decided to try making some of our own candy. Joyful Abode was my source of inspiration again with her awesome peppermint patties recipe. [...]
Can you use Peppermint extract instead of Peppermint oil? These look amazing. Peppermint Patties are my absolute favorite “candy” of all time. Thank you for this amazing recipe!
[...] ~ Homemade York Peppermint Patties [...]
Oh yum!! I Love peppermint patties!! But can you please tell me what coconut butter is? I read somewhere that it is the same as coconut oil,but where I'm from coconut oil is usually liquid. Do I just put it in the fridge until it becomes a solid? Or is there something else I can use instead?
[...] Gigi, I took you up on your recipe dare. Organic Peppermint Patties (recipe found by Gigi on Joyful Abode) made out of raw coconut butter and honey and chocolate… sounds so delicious, doesn’t [...]
oh oh oh oh… be still my beating heart! As I sit here and drool over these… no wait. I am drooling over these and the fact I had a double root canal today on some damaged teeth and am still half frozen… sob… I want these patties NOW! But it may be a few days…. because I'm not makin' 'em until I can eat 'em! LOL
Twitter: JoyfulAbode
says:
my coconut chips are nothing but dehydrated coconut – nothing added… if your flakes are the same then yeah, just keep processing them. It'll look powdery for a while and you'll go, “What on earth?? This will never stick!” and then all of a sudden the oils will release and it'll become pasty!
What's the difference between coconut chips and coconut flakes. I went out and got the flakes, pulverized them in the processor and they don't seem to make as good of a butter as you got. Maybe I need to process them longer? I'll try that, but these look so tasty, I'm excited to get them done.
Twitter: JoyfulAbode
says:
The coconut chips are big enough that they're like nice flakes instead of just shreds… so one thing I do with them sometimes is put them in a bowl with some chopped nuts and some raisins or blueberries or other fruit, and pour milk over top… eat it like cereal. It's GOOD.
I made the filling part last night w/ organic coconut butter. Don't know if it was that brand of butter, or that I was using peppermint extract, but I did need maybe half a teaspoon or so to cover the coconut flavor. I left them to cool overnight and will do the chocolate tonight, so possibly the flavor has permeated stronger with time too.
I did appreciate your link to the $10 gallon of coconut chips as that 1 cup of butter cost about $6! But what else can you do with coconut chips?
Twitter: JoyfulAbode
says:
my coconut chips are nothing but dehydrated coconut – nothing added… if your flakes are the same then yeah, just keep processing them. It'll look powdery for a while and you'll go, “What on earth?? This will never stick!” and then all of a sudden the oils will release and it'll become pasty!
Twitter: JoyfulAbode
says:
The coconut chips are big enough that they're like nice flakes instead of just shreds… so one thing I do with them sometimes is put them in a bowl with some chopped nuts and some raisins or blueberries or other fruit, and pour milk over top… eat it like cereal. It's GOOD.
Double post
NICE!
Twitter: JoyfulAbode
says:
I used a bag of chips this time.
But usually I prefer to use a bar because it's darker than the chips – I prefer about 86% dark chocolate.
A cup is… if you make a deep well with one of your hands and fill it up to the top w/chocolate, that's about a cup… so a LARGE hand-scoop-ful.
Twitter: JoyfulAbode
says:
yes, you can use peppermint oil! Just a couple drops will do.
Also, you can order coconut butter from the link I posted… I have never seen it in a local grocery store here though… that's why I made my own as I described in the post.
Good luck! I hope they turn out well!
thank you, thank you. oh these are so up my alley. i can't wait to try them. but please tell me, where do i find coconut butter in my grocery store?? and is peppermint oil the same thing as peppermint extract?? ooh, details please. merci.
Twitter: JoyfulAbode
says:
I used a bag of chips this time.
But usually I prefer to use a bar because it's darker than the chips – I prefer about 86% dark chocolate.
A cup is… if you make a deep well with one of your hands and fill it up to the top w/chocolate, that's about a cup… so a LARGE hand-scoop-ful.
Brilliant! York peppermint patties are a HUGE weakness of mine, but this sounds so easy and better for you!
Definitely something I want to try!!
What kind of chocolate did you use? Bag of chips? Block, etc? And about how much is a cup?
They look so good! I want to make some for DD!
Twitter: JoyfulAbode
says:
It really depends on how you like to enjoy chocolate – some people love unsweetened chocolate. For me, the 85% sounds much better.
I have some unsweetened bakers chocolate in my cupboard, will this work or should I use a chocolate with a bit of sugar? Thinking 85% Dark chocolate bar……
I am so excited to make these! Thank you for being so creative!
Thanks for sharing – these look scrumptious!
I loved the poster. It may actually become a wedding gift for some friends…
[...] Abode posted a homemade York Peppermint Patty recipe. This looks and sounds seriously [...]
This is my kind of recipe! I love the high-fat, low-sugar part and the 3 ingredients with an optional fourth part. I'm totally making these.
P.S. You should totally check out this sweet poster I spied at a handmade market I went to a couple of weeks ago. It says, “Fat Gives Things Flavor.” You might like it:
http://www.etsy.com/listing/48728958/8×10-bolog…
These look yummy! We don't have York Peppermint Patties in Australia, but it looks very similar to something else we have. Very nice! Thanks
)
Twitter: JoyfulAbode
says:
My husband couldn't tell that they were made of coconut at all… they taste like minty chocolatey goodness.
He also said, “Can you really say they're nourishing? I mean, they're incredibly sugary-sweet, right?” and when I told him the only sugar was in the dark chocolate, and a tiny bit of honey that I would leave out next time, he was really surprised.
Do these taste like coconut?
oh my! I just found this via craft magazine. I'm trying this on Sunday as my project of the week.
Looks delicious. I am going to add this to my recipe folder.
Those look delicious beyond all reason. My mouth may be watering right now.
[...] at Joyful Abode shares her recipe for making a “much more nourishing, high-fat, low-sugar version” of York Peppermint [...]
Oh those sound wonderful. I'll have to try them very soon!
If you're worried about the chocolate getting a bit melty, just go ahead and completely temper it before dipping. If you heated 2/3 of your dark chocolate to 115 degrees, let it cool to 100 degrees and then stirred the rest of your chips in, it'll set up for tempering. You could dip your patties when it reaches 85-90 degrees. They should set up just fine for counter storage up to 80 degrees if they aren't in direct sun.
I doff my hat to your ingenuity.
Wow! Those look delicious! We will totally be trying these.
Oh my, I will totally be trying these! Thank you for sharing.
This I have to try! Wow! What a sweet handmade gift these would make! Thank you for sharing!