These homemade mint candies are a sweet, no-bake treat that can be made for a variety of occasions. Choose colors to match your theme, or the holiday you're celebrating.
★ Why You'll Love this Recipe ★
This is a simple, 5-ingredient recipe that's incredibly easy to make—no cooking or baking required!
The mint dough comes together in minutes, making it perfect for last-minute treats or gifts. You just need to allow about 3 hours for drying and hardening.
The creamy, melt-in-your-mouth texture and customizable flavors and colors makes these mints to fun and versatile!
This is a great recipe to make with others, especially once you get to forming the mints!
These pillowy party mints are simple to make, and this is a great recipe to make with kids.
★ Ingredients You'll Need ★
These melt-away mints and made with just a handful of ingredients.
Here's a look at everything you'll need:
- Cream cheese. Store brand works, however, I do find that Philadelphia brand cream cheese has a nicer flavor, in my opinion. Be sure it's regular cream cheese not light, or this may affect flavor and texture.
- Butter. Salted butter.
- Powdered sugar. Sift or whisk it to avoid lumps before combining for best results.
- Peppermint extract. Make sure this is peppermint, not mint.
- Food coloring. Choose any colors you'd like. I prefer the liquid drops but gel will work too just might require more mixing.
★ How to Make this Recipe ★
These peppermint cream cheese candies come together in just a few steps.
Here are the steps (full recipe in the recipe card, below):
- Mix butter, cream cheese, peppermint extract and powdered sugar.
- Separate dough into bowls.
- Add color to each bowl of dough; mix to combine.
- Spoon dough into balls then press flat and mark with a fork.
- Place on parchment paper and allow to dry.
- Store in the fridge until ready to eat!
★ Tips & FAQs ★
Tips
- Chill the dough: After mixing, chill the dough for 15-30 minutes to make it easier to roll into balls and shape.
- Customize the flavor: Feel free to customize the flavor and replace the peppermint extract with vanilla, lemon, cinnamon, orange, etc.
- Change the color: Add food coloring to the dough to match the occasion, flavor or your personal preference.
- Storage: Store in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 2 weeks, or freeze for longer storage.
FAQs
Can I use a different type of cheese?
It's best to use cream cheese for this recipe, as it gives the mints their smooth texture and creamy taste. Other cheeses may alter the consistency and flavor.
Can I use whipped cream cheese for this recipe?
No, regular cream cheese found in a brick shape is best. Whipped cream cheese has air bubbles which will not give you the desired velvety-smooth finished texture of these mints.
I don’t have powdered sugar, is there anything I can use to replace it?
You need powdered sugar for this recipe, if you don’t have that, but you do have white granulated sugar and cornstarch, you can make your own. Simply use 1 cup of granulated sugar to 1 tablespoon of cornstarch and blend in a blender or food processor until it becomes powdery.
How do I know when the dough is ready to shape?
The dough should be soft but firm enough to roll into small balls or shape into your preferred form. If it's too sticky, add a little more powdered sugar or try chilling it first.
Can I make these mints ahead of time?
Yes, these mints can be made up to 2 weeks ahead. Store them in an airtight container in the fridge to keep them fresh.
Can I make these mints without food coloring?
Absolutely! The mints are just as delicious without food coloring. You can skip the coloring for a natural white mint.
★ More Recipes You'll Love ★
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These no-bake cream cheese and butter mints were featured on South Your Mouth!
Cream Cheese Mints
Ingredients
- 4 oz cream cheese room temperature
- 2 tablespoon butter room temperature
- 4 ½ cups powdered sugar
- 1 teaspoon peppermint extract
- 4 drops food coloring divided (1 drop per color)
Mighty Mrs. is a #WalmartPartner.
Instructions
- Combine cream cheese and butter. Using an electric mixer, in a larger bowl, beat together the cream cheese and butter until smooth and peaks are formed.
- Add peppermint extract and powdered sugar. Add peppermint extract and powdered sugar, once cup at a time, until it gets hard to mix. Divide candy dough. Divide mixture equally into 4 separate bowls or as many colors as you would like to have.
- Color dough. Add 1 small drop of food dye of choice into each bowl and stir well.
- Form your mints. Take a round ½ teaspoon, scoop up some dough, level off, and pop it out of the measuring spoon. If you don't have a round measuring scope, gently roll ½ teaspoon of dough into a ball with the palm of your hand.Place mints on parchment paper.
- Imprint mints. Use the tines of a fork to make an imprint in each of the mints.
- Let harden. Allow mints to slightly dry out and start to harden for about 3 hours at room temperature (or 2 hours in the fridge).Once hardened, store mints in an airtight container in the fridge.
Notes
- It helps to let the dough slightly dry, before molding into mints, as it will be easier to work with.
- If making 4 different colors, you should measure out about ½ cup of dough per bowl before adding the food dye.
Equipment
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Esme Slabbert says
What's not to love about this? Cream cheese and mint, I am all over it
Saw your post at The Country Cook.
My entries are Pink French Macarons and Christmas Plum Pudding (Stovetop steamed method)
Hope you will join SSPS https://esmesalon.com/tag/seniorsalonpitstop/