This fudgy chocolate peppermint brownie cheesecake features a rich brownie bottom with a chocolate peppermint cheesecake batter studded with bite-sized fudgy brownie, vegan ganache, and crushed peppermint candies on top! NO eggs, dairy free, and unbelievably vegan- honestly the best Christmas cheesecake around!

sliced vegan peppermint brownie cheesecake

The Ultimate Holiday Cheesecake Recipe:

You might have tried my vegan cookie dough cheesecake (heavenly) and my no bake brownie cookie dough cheesecake bars (YUM).

So let me introduce you to your new favorite cheesecake flavor with a holiday twist: chocolate peppermint brownie cheesecake.

Trust me, I love all of my vegan cheesecake recipes (especially this fun cannoli cheesecake, this easy no bake Biscoff cheesecake, and of course, this pecan pie cheesecake!). And we can’t forget this Nutella cheesecake either.

But this chocolate peppermint brownie cheesecake just is on its own level. It’s all of the holiday cheer and nostalgic flavors in an entirely vegan, dairy free, no-egg, and plant based cheesecake recipe. That you’d never know is vegan.

sliced vegan chocolate peppermint cheesecake recipe

Tell me about this fudgy chocolate peppermint brownie cheesecake:

Let me break down the components of this lovely cheesecake. We start with:

  • Brownie base: A layer of my classic fudgy brownies lines the bottom of this chocolate peppermint brownie cheesecake. We’ll only bake half of the batter in the springform pan because the remaining will be baked into brownie bites!
  • Chocolate peppermint cheesecake batter: Rich, silky, and ultra creamy, this chocolate cheesecake batter is infused with a peppermint extract that balances the decadence of this cheesecake just so. We’re using plant-based cream cheese and arrowroot or cornstarch to help our cheesecake set perfectly (my favorite vegan egg replacement to use!).
  • Brownie bites: Then folded into the cheesecake batter are dozens of tiny bite-sized brownie pieces so that there is truly brownie in every bite.
  • Chocolate ganache: We top our baked chocolate peppermint cheesecake with a 2-ingredient simple vegan ganache, along with remaining brownie bites and crushed peppermint candies!

Trust me, this cheesecake is going to be the showstopper on your holiday table!

sauced vegan chocolate peppermint brownie cheesecake on a plate with a bite taken from it

Overview: Step by Step How to Make Vegan Chocolate Peppermint Brownie Cheesecake:

For the full written instructions and ingredient measurements, see the bottom of this post in the recipe card. You can also hit the “jump to recipe” button at the top of this post! Here, we’ll go over a brief overview of the steps, along with providing visuals for a better understanding of the recipe.

brownie batter in a bowl
We’ll start with the brownie batter. This is my traditional vegan brownie recipe, made in one bowl, but then we’ll divide the batter.
brownie batter before baking
We’ll bake half of the batter in our springform pan and the other half in a loaf pan to create brownie bites.
sliced brownie bites
Once the loaf is baked, slice into bite size pieces.
plate of brownie bites
We’ll use half in our cheesecake batter and half for topping!
chocolate peppermint cheesecake batter
Next, we’ll blend the cheesecake batter ingredients in a food processor.
cheesecake batter with brownie bites
Fold in the brownie bites, then we’ll pour the cheesecake batter over the baked brownie in the cheesecake pan.
baked peppermint brownie cheesecake
We’ll bake the brownie cheesecake for 65 minutes, then let it cool in the oven (turned OFF) for 1 hour before transferring to the fridge to chill overnight.
vegan brownie cheesecake with ganache and peppermint candies on top.
Top with vegan ganache, brownie bites, and peppermint candies. Slice and serve!

Tips & Tricks:

  • Bake this cheesecake over two days: Because this cheesecake needs to set in the fridge for a few hours, you’ll have most success planning to serve the cheesecake the following day. You can even prep it 2-3 days in advance from when you’re serving!
  • For gluten free: I recommend using King Arthur Measure for Measure baking flour. I’ve tested it so many times in the brownie portion, and it really does work. Check out my vegan chocolate mousse cake for proof!
  • Be careful on measuring the peppermint extract: A little goes a long way- follow my measurements exactly, don’t eyeball it!
  • Want just a brownie cheesecake? Skip the peppermint extract all together for a perfectly fudgy vegan brownie cheesecake.
slice of vegan chocolate peppermint cheesecake on a plate

Can I make this as a no bake cheesecake?

Since there are no eggs, you actually could do this brownie cheesecake as a partially no-bake peppermint brownie cheesecake.

You would need to omit the arrowroot starch, and you’d still need to bake the brownie portion. However, after that, you can just set the cheesecake for an hour or two in the freezer. Then remove it 15-20 minutes before serving, top with the ganache, and serve!

bitten slice of vegan chocolate peppermint cheesecake on a plate

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If you make this recipe, please be sure to leave a comment and a rating ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ below. This helps others to find the recipes! As always, I absolutely love to see your beautiful creations on Instagram and Pinterest, so be sure to tag me there as well!

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sliced vegan peppermint brownie cheesecake

Unbelievably Vegan Chocolate Peppermint Brownie Cheesecake

5 Stars 4 Stars 3 Stars 2 Stars 1 Star 5 from 1 review
  • Author: Britt Berlin
  • Prep Time: 45
  • Cook Time: 65
  • Total Time: 1 hour 50 minutes
  • Yield: 12 1x
  • Category: Cheesecake
  • Method: Baking
  • Cuisine: American
  • Diet: Vegan
Print Recipe

Description

This fudgy chocolate peppermint brownie cheesecake features a rich brownie bottom with a chocolate peppermint cheesecake batter studded with bite-sized fudgy brownie, vegan ganache, and crushed peppermint candies on top! NO eggs, dairy free, and unbelievably vegan- honestly the best Christmas cheesecake around!

Ingredients

Scale

Brownie Base:

  • 1/2 cup (113 g) vegan butter or coconut oil, melted and hot
  • 6 ounces high quality vegan dark chocolate
  • 1/2 cup (50 g) Dutch Processed French Cocoa Powder
  • 1/3 cup (80 mL) aquafaba*, room temperature
  • 3/4 cup (150 g) granulated sugar
  • 1/2 cup (100 g) light brown sugar
  • 2 tbsp ground flaxseed mixed with 1/2 cup coffee (decaf if needed- you can sub water), room temperature*
  • 1 tsp vanilla extract
  • 1/4 tsp sea salt
  • 1 2/3 cup (200 g) all-purpose flour or gluten free 1:1 baking flour
  • Additional 1/2 cup (80 g) high quality vegan dark chocolate

Chocolate Peppermint Cheesecake batter:

  • 32 ounces (454 g) vegan cream cheese, room temperature
  • 1/2 cup (120 g) unsweetened vegan dairy free yogurt (such as Forager Project), room temperature
  • 1 cups (240 mL) heavy vegan cream or cashew cream, room temperature
  • 1 cup (200 g) organic granulated sugar or coconut sugar
  • 7 tbsp (70 g) arrowroot starch or cornstarch
  • 1 tsp vanilla extract
  • 10 ounces vegan chocolate, melted and cooled to room temperature
  • 1/3 cup (35 g) cocoa powder
  • 1/2 tsp peppermint extract
  • 3–4 cups boiling water

Topping:

Instructions

  1. Prep: We’ll first start with making the brownie base, then we’ll move onto the cheesecake filling. Preheat the oven to 350F. Line a 9″ springform pan with parchment paper on both the sides and the bottom of the pan, as well as a 9″ loaf pan with parchment paper.
  2. Make the brownie batter:
    1. Make the fudge sauce: In a microwave-safe bowl, heat the vegan butter until melted and hot. Add in the chocolate, and whisk until melted. Then add in the cocoa powder, and whisk until combined. Set aside.
    2. Dissolve the sugar: In a large bowl, add in the aquafaba, brown sugar, sugar, flaxseed mixture, vanilla extract, and sea salt. Use a hand mixer, and mix the ingredients together until the sugar has completely dissolved- you won’t feel any granules between your fingers.
    3. Finish the batter: Then pour in the fudge sauce, and cream until completely mixed in. Add in the flour, and whisk JUST until the flour is incorporated into the wet ingredients. Then set the hand mixture aside, and fold in the remaining chocolate chips.
  3. Divide the batter and bake: Pour half of the brownie batter into the springform pan, and the remaining half into the prepared loaf pan. Place both into the oven to bake. The springform pan will bake in about 28-30 minutes, and the loaf pan will need 35-37 minutes. Keep the oven preheated.
  4. Cool and slice: Remove the springform pan from the oven, and set aside. Remove the loaf pan from the oven and allow the brownies to cool in the loaf pan for 5 minutes. Then remove from the pan, and use a clean kitchen knife to slice the loaf into 1-inch bite-sized brownie squares. Set aside.
  5. Make the brownie cheesecake batter: Place a baking sheet onto the bottom rack of the oven, and start to boil the water for the water bath. In a large food processor, add the vegan cream cheese, dairy free yogurt, heavy vegan cream, sugar, arrowroot starch, vanilla, melted vegan chocolate, cocoa powder, and peppermint extract. Blend until completely incorporated and creamy, stopping a few times to scrape down the sides.
  6. Assemble the brownie cheesecake: Add half of the chopped bite-size brownies into the cheesecake batter, and fold until evenly distributed (you’ll save the remaining brownies for topping!). Pour the cheesecake batter into the springform pan.
  7. Make the water bath: Pour the boiling water into the cookie sheet in the oven, and close the door.
  8. Bake the cheesecake: Once you’ve made the water bath, place the cheesecake into the oven on the middle rack (above the water bath, NOT in it). Bake for 65 minutes. The cheesecake will wiggle a bit still, but the edges will look set.
  9. Cool in the oven: Turn OFF the oven, and crack the door. Leave the cheesecake in the oven to cool for 1 hour.
  10. Cool fully: Then cover the cheesecake and place into the fridge to chill and set for 4 hours or overnight.
  11. When ready to serve: Carefully remove the walls of the cheesecake pan. Then top with vegan ganache, reserved brownies, and crushed peppermint candies.
  12. Slice and enjoy! Serve chilled and enjoy! Store any leftovers in an airtight container and in the fridge for up to 5 days.

Equipment

Notes

Gluten free: Swap in King Arthur Measure for Measure gluten free flour for a completely gluten free vegan cheesecake.

Aquafaba: You can also swap in soy milk, almond milk, or oat milk here.

Flaxseed swap: Swap in 1/2 cup (120 g) dairy free yogurt at room temperature.