These Peppermint Brownies Are So Rich You'll Forget They're Vegan

vegan peppermint brownies with candy cane pieces

It's baking season! As we at Brit + Co know so well, learning how to make basic recipes sets the stage for a fun and delectable cooking experience, from biscuits to pie crust. That's why we got Yumna Jawad from Feel Good Foodie to share her recipe for rich, fudgey, vegan brownies. We'll let her take it from here!

The holidays are upon us and that means peppermint flavored treats. It’s one of my favorite festive flavors, and it takes these brownies to another level! These vegan brownies are so delicious, and those that aren’t vegan won’t notice the difference. They’re so easy to make and the perfect holiday treat!

Image viaFeel Good Foodie

This brownie recipe is dairy-free and vegan, so no eggs, butter or animal products are used. In traditional brownies, the egg is what helps to bind the mixture together, so I have replaced this with a flax egg. A flax egg is 100% natural and is so easy to make. Make it before you mix the batter so that it has time to thicken up. You can buy ground flaxseed in most stores.

Once the brownies are baked and cooled, you can store them in an airtight container with the layers separated by parchment paper. They will keep at room temperature for 3 to 4 days and if stored in the fridge, they will last for 5 to 7 days.

Ingredients

Image viaFeel Good Foodie

Instructions

Image viaFeel Good Foodie

  1. Preheat the oven to 350ºF and line a 9 x 9 baking pan with parchment paper.
  2. Make the flax eggs by stirring the ground flax and water in a small bowl. Set aside to thicken.
  3. In a large microwave-safe bowl, melt the vegan butter. Then whisk the butter with the granulated sugar and the brown sugar until creamed. Add the flax eggs and peppermint and whisk until evenly combined.
  4. Over the same large bowl, sift in the flour, cocoa powder and salt. Add the salt and stir with a large wooden spoon until just combined, do not overmix.
  5. Fold in the chocolate chips. Pour the batter into the prepared pan and smooth out the top.
  6. Bake in the preheated oven for 40-45 minutes, until the middle of the brownies no longer jiggles and is just set.
  7. Remove from the oven, sprinkle the crushed peppermint on top, and allow to cool in the pan for 15 minutes.
  8. Then pull the brownies out, using the parchment paper and let cool on a wire rack for another 15-30 minutes before slicing and serving.

Tips and Tricks For Making Vegan Peppermint Brownies

Image viaFeel Good Foodie

  • You can substitute the flaxseed for chia seeds and still keep the brownies vegan. Chia seeds work pretty similarly as a vegan binder and you can substitute them 1:1.
  • Make the brownies more fudgey by using ¼ cup less flour and/or 1-2 tablespoons more butter. Fudgy brownies really come down to the fat-to-flour ratio. So add more fat and/or reduce the flour to help you achieve that more fudgy consistency.
  • Wait to add the crushed peppermint until after the brownies are baked. Otherwise they will melt and won’t have the fresh and crunchy effect.
  • Allow the brownies to rest first in the pan and out of the pan on a wire rack before cutting into them. This will ensure that they set properly and keep their shape when you cut into them.

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All images viaFeel Good Foodie.

Sound the alarms: Starbucks' Valentine's cups have landed in stores! Four adorable cup designs hit shelves on January 3, with plenty of time left for you to snag your favorite design (or a few of 'em) ahead of Valentine's Day. Of course, the Starbucks Valentine's cups are covered in nothing but pinks, reds, and hearts.

You're not gonna want to miss this year's Starbucks Valentine's cups, because just like any reusable cup, they let you take $0.10 off your coffee order, plus earn 25 bonus stars if you're a Starbucks Rewards member.

Scroll on to see the cutest Starbucks Valentine's cups for 2025!

See The New 2025 Starbucks Valentine's Cups

Starbucks

Valentine’s Day Cold Cup

Starbucks' Valentine's Day drop includes some pretty bold designs, including this playful pixelated piece. This 24-ounce cold cup goes for $22.95, and it's perfect for holding your iced lattes and cold brews and keeping them cold all day long.

Starbucks

Pink Floral Cold Cup with Straw Topper

The next cold cup boasts a ton of eye-catching florals and an adorable straw topper for extra curb appeal. This baby hold 24 ounces and will cost you $24.95 at participating Starbucks stores.

Starbucks

Hot Pink Heart Tumbler with Charm

For all you hot drink lovers out there, you're def gonna want to snag this 12-ounce tumbler ($27.95) to help you get nice and caffeinated on your morning commute. It even comes with a heart charm for extra whimsy.

Starbucks

Valentine’s Day Tumbler

The final Starbucks Valentine's cup is this fun ombré tumbler that holds a whole 16 ounces. Find it at your nearest 'Bux for $14.95.

Surprise! Peep The Starbucks Lunar New Year 2025 Cups

Starbucks

Year of the Snake Cold Cup

The Starbucks Valentine's cups aren't all that's new to cafes – the coffee chain also dropped 3 adorable new cup designs for Lunar New Year, the Year of the Snake!

The first item is this 24-ounce cold cup. We simply adore all the colors featured on this one. Plus, it comes with a cutie little snake straw topper! Find it for $24.95.

Starbucks

Year of the Snake Stainless Steel Tumbler

Next up is this stainless steel tumbler that'll keep 12 ounces of hot liquid, well, hot for the entire day. The illustration is just too cute! This baby goes for $22.95 at participating Starbucks locations.

Starbucks

Year of the Snake Ceramic Mug

Finally, the most adorable Starbucks mug of all time! This 14-ounce mug is shaped like a lil' rainbow snake to spark joy every time you sip. Shop it for $16.95 in stores.

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After almost 17 years of marriage, Jessica Alba just officially split from her husband, Cash Warren. TMZ reported that the actress and film producer have been separated for a while now, and this article seems to make everything even more official. Here's everything we know so far about the breakup — including how long it seems like the pair's actually been split up.

Here's everything we know about Jessica Alba's split from husband, Cash Warren.

On January 8, 2025, sources spilled to TMZ about Jessica Alba and Cash Warren's separation. The sources shared that the couple is allegedly "moving forward" with a divorce, so unfortunately it doesn't seem like this split is a short-term solution.

TMZreported that both Jessica and have gone in public without wedding rings recently — Jessica as recent as the Golden Globes afterparties on January 5, 2025. Apparently, one of the last times the two were spotted publicly was back in November 2024. Outside of that, the couple celebrated their son's birthday at Universal Studios together in January, but it's unclear how official the separation was at that point.

According to PEOPLE, Jessica and Cash got engaged in 2007, after meeting on the set of Fantastic Four back in 2004. They got married and stayed together for 16 years, welcoming three children to their family: Honor (16), Haven (13), and Hayes (7).

Back in 2021, Alba told PEOPLE that they tend to "over-communicate" in order to best support each other and their different needs. She said that they don't have a "secret" to making it work — they "just need to check in with each other."

Whatever happens next, we hope that Jessica, Cash, and their kids are able to find peace and happiness throughout this major transition.

Looking for more celebrity news? Be sure to follow us on Facebook so you never miss a thing!

If you’re a trueTrader Joe’s fan, you probably already carry your pickle tote bag everywhere. And, of course, you can’t forget the frenzy for the-ever stylish Trader Joe’s mini tote bags! TJ’s is here to shake (or, rather, shred) things up with an all-new tote bag design – and it’s super cheesy.

Trader Joe’s

That’s right – Trader Joe’s latest and greatest tote bag design (which you can shop from end caps near the TJ’s checkout lines) features all things cheese! Any charcuterie, mac and cheese, grilled cheese, and pizza lover will immediately fall in love with it.

Eme Estevez / Dupe

The tote is covered in “charmingly cheesy” illustrations of all the varieties of cheese Trader Joe’s has to offer. They’re perfectly colorful and bold, so you’ll adore looking at it every time you make a grocery trip.

Fans are calling the new design "sooo cuteee" and "un-brie-lieveable." One Instagram user even said, "now that’s a tote worth getting if you are cheeseboard obsessed. 🥳🥳🥳"

Jayda Anderson / Dupe

The bag is certifiably heavy duty, made of 100% cotton, and features reinforced seams with two handles long enough to hang comfortably on your shoulder – perfect for you if you walk to your nearest Trader Joe’s instead of driving there! It measures 18.5 by 13.5 inches to carry all the snacks, frozen meals, and beverages your heart desires.

Trader Joe’s

My favorite part of this new TJ’s tote is that it’s also covered in tons of cheese puns, which are quite “pun-gent,” per Trader Joe’s.

The cheese puns in question? “I’m wheel excited to be here. You cheddar believe it. To brie, or not to brie. I am fondue you. Life’s so gouda.” I’m a firm believer that everyone loves a good pun, so this bag is an instant source of entertainment.

Alexy Almond / PEXELS

The new Trader Joe’s cheese tote bags are just $4 each. I’ll definitely be snagging one for myself and a few more to share with the TJ’s lovers in my life!

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The 2000s was a golden age for all kinds of fantasy movies. Think the Narnia trilogy, Harry Potter, and of course, Pirates of the Caribbean. Not only did it have me dreaming of a tropical vacation but who didn't fall in love with Orlando Bloom as Will Turner? The first film was so successful it led to a whole series (and a redesign of the Disney World ride that inspired it), not to mention the fact Johnny Depp's Jack Sparrow has been cemented in pop culture history forever!

Here's the official Brit + Co ranking of the Pirates of the Caribbean movies, from best to worst.

1. 'Pirates of the Caribbean: The Curse of the Black Pearl'

Walt Disney Studios

Yeah, the first film totally takes the cake as the best Pirates of the Caribbean movie. It has a super solid script, and introduces us to characters who feel three-dimensional, engaging, and memorable. Jack Sparrow and Will Turner search for Captain Barbossa, who's taken Jack's ship (alongside his past crew, who are now undead) and kidnapped Elizabeth Swann, Will's love.

2. 'Pirates of the Caribbean: At World's End'

Walt Disney Studios

Pirates of the Caribbean: At World's End is such an emotional experience that I have to put it at number 2. It's the perfect conclusion to the original trilogy, and follows Will, Elizabeth, and Barbossa as they set off to find Jack. It's got everything: romance, adventure, humor. And Elizabeth becoming Pirate King? 2007 me was shook.

3. 'Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man's Chest'

Peter Mountain/Disney

The third spot on this list just has to go to the second installment of the OG trilogy. In this Pirates of the Caribbean movie, our favorite pirates are all hunting for the heart of Davy Jones: Jack hopes to avoid becoming Davy's slave, while Will wants to free his father. It's fun and opens with a crazy scene as Will and Elizabeth's wedding is interrupted by Lord Beckett arresting them.

4. 'Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Men Tell No Tales'

Walt Disney Studios

The latest installment of the Pirates franchise (which was released in 2017) comes in at four. As Jack searches for Poseidon's Trident to defeat Captain Salazar, Will's son Henry teams up with astronomer Carina Smyth to help defeat the dangerous enemy. I love how this film brings Will and Elizabeth back (even if it's only for a bit), and I think the whole story is the perfect treat for fans of the series.

5. 'Pirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger Tides'

Walt Disney Studios

In the fourth Pirates of the Caribbean movie, Jack and Barbossa are looking for the fountain of youth, only to learn they're up against Blackbeard and his daughter. Unfortunately, Will and Elizabeth are nowhere to be found, which means this movie just doesn't have the same magic as the originals (even though Sam Claflin has my heart).

Which Pirates of the Caribbean movie is your favorite? Let us know on Facebook!

The Office and One Tree Hill aren't the only old school TV shows getting the sequel treatment — a new Friday Night Lights is on its way! The reboot is in development at Peacock, with the original series' showrunner Jason Katims, director Peter Berg, and Brian Grazer on board (all of whom were executive producers as well). And it looks like we might just see our favorite stars return to Dillon, too.

Here's the latest news on the Friday Night Lights reboot — and its cast.

Is Friday Night Lights getting a reboot?

Yes, Friday Night Lights is getting a reboot! The news was announced at the end of 2024, and we'll once again see a local football team up against the odds. According to the show's official logline, "following a devastating hurricane, a rag tag high school football team and their damaged, interim coach make an unlikely bid for a Texas High School State Championship becoming a beacon of light for their town."

Will we see anyone from the original show?

The Friday Night Lights reboot cast hasn't been confirmed just yet, but one OG cast member just revealed we might see a few familiar faces. "I've been asked and we'll leave it at that," Taylor Kitsch (who played Tim Riggins) told SiriusXM’s The Spotlight. "I would come in and do something that maybe for an episode or something." He even pitches the idea that he could "maybe play an opposing team's coach or something and be on screen for like eight seconds. I would do that."

If Taylor's been asked then I'll bet some of our other favorite cast members have heard rumblings of the reboot as well. I'd love to see Zach Gilford and Minka Kelly return in literally any capacity.

Although Kyle Chandler (who starred as fan favorite coach Eric Taylor) revealed on TODAY he hasn't gotten any calls...yet. “I don’t know what I’ll say [if I’m asked].”

The Friday Night Lights cast included to Kyle Chandler, Connie Britton, Gaius Charles, Scott Porter, Aimee Teegarden, Minka Kelly, Michael B. Jordan, Adrianne Palicki, Taylor Kitsch, Zach Gilford, and Jesse Plemons.

Where can I watch the Friday Night Lights reboot?

We don't have a Friday Night Lights release date to give you just yet, but we do know we'll be able to stream the new TV show on Peacock. Stay tuned for more!

Check out 25 New TV Shows You NEED To Watch In 2025 for all the new titles to hold you over until you can press play on the Friday Night Lights reboot.