If there are any flavors I'm totally obsessed with is the combination of Chocolate and Peppermint. I'm that person adding a few pumps of peppermint syrup to their mocha frappuccino in the middle of July. So I got excited when I saw Trader Joe's Chocolate Peppermint Loaf and Baking Mix hit the rest of the baking mixes.
Review
Now, this product is somewhat new. They've offered something similar back in 2012, so it's been a while since they've had anything similar. Plus, when the packaging changes you know there is a possibility of a formula change as well.
With this mix, you can choose to make a loaf or cookies. Since Trader Joe's has a ton of cookie mixes suddenly on shelves, I opted to make this as a loaf.
Plus, we've got a bunch of pot lucks coming up at work so I'm saving those cookie mixes for then. Plus, there was a good chill in the air this weekend so I really didn't mind having the oven on for at least an hour.
Out of the box, the mix smells of chocolate and peppermint with a few mini chocolate chips packed in as well.
The directions for the loaf were straightforward and involved simple pantry items and ingredients.
An hour in the oven is about the right amount of time for a deep, dark chocolate loaf that is a perfect match to the image on the box.
But the loaf is very moist and full of chocolate and peppermint flavor. It eats a bit like a chocolate peppermint pound cake. The chocolate and peppermint flavors are pretty well balanced as one does not overwhelm the other.
And yes, it reminded me of my favorite Peppermint Mocha Frapp if it were made into a cake. How could I get it closer to my favorite coffee shop drink? Replace the water with coffee next time.
Just a quick baking tip- if you are using an aluminum loaf pan, keep your oven on at 350F. But if you are using a darker colored baking loaf tin as I do (It's Calphalon), which is a dark silver, then lower your oven temperature to 325F.
Overall
For $2.99 this is a really solid holiday option. Perfect for dessert or a really rich-tasting breakfast. Would probably even be nice in a trifle.
Happy baking!
Would I buy this again? Yes, I would buy a few more boxes of Trader Joe's Chocolate Peppermint Loaf and Baking Mix before the season is out.
Did you try it? Let me know what you think in the comments section!
Product Photos
The box of Trader Joe's Chocolate Peppermint Loaf and Baking Mix:
Calories and ingredients
How to prepare as cookies:
How to prepare as a loaf:
After being baked, you get:
Want to see more items I've reviewed from Trader Joe's? Click on Thoughts & Reviews of Trader Joe's for a searchable list.
Trader Joe's Chocolate Peppermint Loaf and Baking Mix
Product Name: Trader Joe's Chocolate Peppermint Loaf and Baking Mix
Product Description: Trader Joe's Chocolate Peppermint Loaf and Baking Mix is a returning seasonal item that hasn't been seen on Trader Joe's shelves in quite some time.
Price: $2.99
Currency: USD
Availability: LimitedAvailability
Summary
Trader Joe's Chocolate Peppermint Loaf and Baking Mix is a returning seasonal item that is full of delicious seasonal flavor
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Taste
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Value
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Worthy of Repurchasing
Pros
- As a loaf, this was easy and did not involve a lot of ingredients
- Well balanced between the chocolate and mint flavors
- Very moist loaf.
Cons
- Seasonal item, so if you love it, you'll want to stock up.
Alek says
Aldi's has peppermint extract too. I make homemade buttermints and I love peppermint! I wonder if it is possible to even make this like a brownie bark then top off with melted dark chocolate and sprinkled with crushed peppermints.
becomebetty says
Hey Alek! I saw your buttermints and they turned out great looking! I don't see why you couldn't try. Thanks for the tip on Aldi's. I wish I lived closer to one. Thanks again for stopping by!
nlb says
I made this to take to a dinner with friends. It was delicious. Easy to make and inexpensive. I used parchment paper to insure easy removal from the pan. It is a very moist cake. While you could add a glaze or frosting, it really does not need anything. I wish I'd picked up more during the holiday season. I'd give it 5 stars.
becomebetty says
Thanks for sharing!
Sara says
Hi! I’d like to make these as mini muffins. What temp & time do you recommend?
becomebetty says
I would try 350F for 10-15 minutes. I hope that helps!