Christmas Mints Recipe

Introduction

Christmas Mints are a delightful holiday treat that combine creamy peppermint flavor with a sweet, melt-in-your-mouth texture. These colorful peppermint patties make a festive addition to any holiday dessert tray or gift plate.

Ingredients

• ⅓ cup granulated sugar
• 4 ounces cream cheese (room temperature)
• 2 tablespoons unsalted butter (room temperature)
• 2 tablespoons light or clear corn syrup
• 1 teaspoon peppermint extract
• 4¼ to 5 cups powdered sugar (divided)
• 6 drops green liquid food coloring
• 6 drops red liquid food coloring

Instructions

1. Step 1: Line a large rimmed baking tray with parchment paper. Place the granulated sugar in a small bowl and set aside.
2. Step 2: In a large mixing bowl, beat the cream cheese, unsalted butter, corn syrup, and peppermint extract with a handheld mixer on low speed for about 1 minute until smooth.
3. Step 3: Gradually add 4¼ cups powdered sugar to the mixing bowl, about ½ cup at a time, keeping the mixer on low. As the dough thickens, switch to mixing by hand with a spatula or wooden spoon to fully incorporate the sugar.
4. Step 4: Spread a piece of parchment paper on a clean counter and sprinkle ¼ cup powdered sugar over it. Turn the dough out onto the sugared parchment paper.
5. Step 5: Divide the dough into three equal parts. Make a shallow well in the center of two parts. Add red food coloring to one, green to another, and leave the last part white.
6. Step 6: Knead each colored dough ball to distribute the food coloring evenly. Add up to ¼ cup additional powdered sugar as needed to prevent stickiness. Adjust the amount depending on temperature and dough moisture, adding sugar gradually.
7. Step 7: Roll each dough ball into an 18-inch long rope, about 1 inch thick.
8. Step 8: Slice each rope into ½-inch pieces until the entire rope is cut.
9. Step 9: Roll each piece between your palms into small balls and set aside.
10. Step 10: Toss 2-3 dough balls at a time in the bowl of granulated sugar until coated, then place them on the prepared baking tray. Repeat with all dough balls.
11. Step 11: Press the top of each sugar-coated ball gently with the tip of a fork to flatten into discs, creating a pretty striped pattern.
12. Step 12: Let the peppermint patties sit at room temperature on the tray for up to 24 hours to dry and set before serving or arranging on a platter.

Tips & Variations

• If the dough is too sticky when kneading, add powdered sugar gradually to avoid over-drying. Food coloring can affect moisture, so adjust as needed.
• For a stronger peppermint flavor, add a little more peppermint extract but be careful not to overpower.
• Try different liquid food coloring colors to create a unique variety of festive mints.

Storage

Store Christmas mints in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 1 week. If your home is warm, keep them in a cool place to prevent softening. These mints do not require refrigeration. Before serving, you can let them sit at room temperature if stored in the refrigerator.

How to Serve

Serve this delicious recipe with your favorite sides.

FAQs

Can I use powdered sugar substitute for some of the sugar?

Powdered sugar is essential for the texture and consistency of these mints. Substituting it may result in a different texture, so it’s best to use regular powdered sugar for the best results.

How do I prevent the dough from sticking too much while kneading?

Add powdered sugar gradually while kneading to achieve a pliable but not sticky dough. Avoid adding too much at once to keep the mints tender rather than dry.

Christmas Mints Recipe

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4.4 from 124 reviews

These festive Christmas Mints are a delightful homemade treat featuring creamy peppermint-flavored dough in classic holiday colors. Made with cream cheese, butter, and powdered sugar, these bite-sized peppermint patties are coated in granulated sugar and adorned with a charming striped fork pattern. Perfect for holiday gatherings or gifting, they require no baking and develop a smooth, refreshing texture after setting for up to 24 hours.

• Author: Maya
• Prep Time: 15 minutes
• Cook Time: 0 minutes
• Total Time: 24 hours (including setting time)
• Yield: Approximately 60 peppermint patties 1x
• Category: Candy
• Method: No-Cook
• Cuisine: American

Ingredients

Scale 1x2x3x

Dry Ingredients

• ⅓ cup granulated sugar
• 4¼ to 5 cups powdered sugar, divided

Wet Ingredients

• 4 ounces cream cheese, room temperature
• 2 tablespoons unsalted butter, room temperature
• 2 tablespoons light/clear corn syrup (Karo brand recommended)
• 1 teaspoon peppermint extract
• 6 drops green liquid food coloring
• 6 drops red liquid food coloring

Instructions

1. Prepare baking tray and sugar: Line a large rimmed baking tray with parchment paper. Place ⅓ cup granulated sugar into a small bowl and set aside for coating the mints later.
2. Mix wet ingredients: In a large mixing bowl, use a handheld mixer on low speed to beat together cream cheese, unsalted butter, light corn syrup, and peppermint extract for one minute until the mixture is smooth and creamy.
3. Add powdered sugar gradually: Slowly add 4¼ cups powdered sugar, about ½ cup at a time, to the wet mixture with the mixer still on low. As the dough thickens, switch to a spatula or wooden spoon to mix by hand and finish incorporating all the powdered sugar into a stiff dough.
4. Prepare dough surface: Lay a piece of parchment paper on a clean counter and sprinkle it with ¼ cup of the remaining powdered sugar. Turn out the dough onto this sugared surface.
5. Divide and color dough: Divide the dough evenly into three balls. Make a shallow well in two of the balls; add red food coloring to one and green food coloring to the other. Leave the third ball white.
6. Knead dough with food coloring: Knead the colored balls thoroughly to evenly distribute the colors. Add additional powdered sugar a tablespoon at a time as needed to counteract stickiness from the liquid food coloring. Knead the white dough slightly with a small amount of powdered sugar if necessary.
7. Roll dough into ropes: Roll each colored dough ball into an 18-inch long rope about 1 inch thick on the parchment paper.
8. Slice ropes into pieces: Slice each rope into ½-inch thick pieces from one end to the other, repeating with each color rope.
9. Form balls: Roll each slice between your palms to form small balls and set them aside.
10. Coat in granulated sugar: Drop 2 to 3 dough balls into the granulated sugar bowl and toss to coat evenly. Place coated balls on the prepared parchment-lined baking tray. Repeat until all dough balls are coated.
11. Flatten into patties: Using the tip of a fork, gently press each sugar-coated dough ball into a disc about ½ inch thick, creating a striped fork pattern on top.
12. Allow mints to set: Let the peppermint patties sit uncovered at room temperature on the tray for up to 24 hours to dry and set before transferring them to a serving platter.

Notes

• Adding powdered sugar gradually while mixing helps achieve the perfect dough consistency without it becoming too dense.
• When kneading the dough after adding food coloring, add powdered sugar slowly to avoid making the dough too dry or crumbly.
• The peppermint patties need time to dry and firm up for the best texture; do not rush this step.
• Store the mints in an airtight container at room temperature; they are best consumed within a few days.
• For extra festive presentation, consider alternating red, green, and white patties on your serving plate.

Keywords: Christmas mints, peppermint patties, holiday candy, no-bake sweets, festive treats