This easy Christmas mints recipe is perfect for the holidays and so festive. They are smooth and creamy for a great addition to your dessert table.
Homemade mints are so easy to make and taste better than anything store bought. I make these every year and everyone raves about them. These cream cheese mints will melt in your mouth. Each bite is rich and delicious.
Plus, they look so gorgeous served at holiday parties. The red and green add the perfect burst of color. This is one of our favorite holiday treats to make alongside cookie trays and Easy Christmas Dessert Recipes.
We also make Cream Cheese Mints and Butter Mints frequently for baby showers, wedding mints and more. Mints are easy and delicious to enjoy year-round. We also love 45 Gluten Free Christmas Desserts, No Bake Christmas Desserts and Christmas Dessert Lasagna Recipe.
Another fun treat to try is Christmas Oreo Balls Recipe and Snowman Chocolate Covered Oreos.
Table of Contents
Why we love this recipe:
- Only 6 ingredients. The entire recipe is super easy using mostly pantry staples and you don’t need mint molds.
- Tastes delicious. No one can resist these mints. They are so rich and creamy.
- Perfect for parties. The dessert table will look stunning with a platter of these red and green mints.
- Ideal for gifting. Everyone loves these mints. They are perfect for handing out to friends, neighbors, teachers and more.
Ingredients:
- Cream Cheese, Softened at room temperature
- Butter, Softened
- Powdered Sugar, sifted
- Peppermint Extract
- Red and Green Gel Food Coloring
- Granulated Sugar, for rolling the mints
Find the complete ingredient list and instructions at the bottom of the post.
Variations:
- Extract. You can use any flavor extract you prefer. While not traditional, some ideas include vanilla, cherry and more.
- Different colors. You can make the dough any color your prefer. It is easy to make various colors for parties, receptions, birthdays and more. They are pretty for holiday such as Easter.
How to make Christmas mints:
Step 1. Combine the cream cheese and butter in a mixing bowl with a hand mixer or stand up mixer. Combine until smooth and creamy in a large mixing bowl.
Step 2. Then add in 1 cup of the powdered sugar. And then add the peppermint extract. Continue until all the powdered sugar has been added. The dough should be thick and not sticky.
Step 3. Then divide the dough into 3 separate bowls. Add the red food coloring to one bowl, the green food color to another and then one white and mix well until you reach the desired colors. Roll into balls and place on the baking sheets.
Step 4. Dip the tongs of a fork in the sugar and then gently press the fork down onto each mint to flatten them out and make a pattern. Repeat until you have finished all the mints.
Step 5. Let the mints sit at room temperature until they have fully hardened.
Step 6. Serve and enjoy!
Tips for Christmas peppermint patties:
- Chocolate. You can dip the mints in white chocolate or milk chocolate to resemble York Peppermint Patties.
- Sprinkles. Add a handful of sprinkles to the mint mixture. They will look even more festive.
- Gel Food Coloring. The mints turn out best using gel food coloring. The color is vibrant and the dough is easier to work with.
- Peppermint Extract. This provides the perfect flavor in this recipe. Do not substitute it for mint extract. Mint will not taste the same and often results in a toothpaste flavor.
- Dip fork into sugar. Prior to flattening the mints, make sure to dip the fork into sugar. This will prevent the fork from sticking to the mints. It also looks pretty.
- Mixing dough. You can finish combining the dough by hand if it becomes too thick to use the mixer.
Frequently Asked Questions
Store in an airtight container and refrigerate up to 2 weeks. I recommend placing the mints in single layers with a sheet of wax paper between each layer.
Allow the mints to sit at room temperature before serving. This will give them time to soften.
The mints will last up to 2 weeks if stored properly. If you need the mints to last longer, they can be frozen.
Place the mints inside a freezer container. Use layers of parchment paper in between the mints to prevent them from sticking.
The mints can be frozen up to 2 months. This is so helpful when preparing these for the holidays. You can make them ahead of time and thaw when ready to use.
More easy Christmas desserts:
- Christmas Crack Chex Mix
- Gingerbread Cake Recipe
- Christmas Dirt Cake Recipe
- Easy Christmas Chocolate Covered Pretzel Rods
- Strawberry Santas
- Christmas Candy Desserts
Make these delicious homemade mints. Then please leave a star recipe rating. I love to hear from you.
Christmas Mints
Ingredients
- 8 oz Cream Cheese Softened at room temperature
- 4 Tbsp Butter Softened
- 9 cups Powdered Sugar sifted
- 2 tsp Peppermint Extract
- Red and Green Gel Food Coloring
- ½ cup Granulated Sugar for rolling the mints
Instructions
- Cream together the cream cheese and butter with a hand held mixer or stand up mixer until smooth and creamy.
- Then add in 1 cup of the powdered sugar. Mix together until well combined.
- Then mix in the peppermint extract.
- Then place the mixer on low and gradually add in the remaining powdered sugar, 1 cup at a time, scraping down the sides of the bowl after each cup is added in. Continue until all the powdered sugar has been added. The dough should be thick (play-dough like consistency) and not sticky. If the dough is still sticky and not thick enough add in more powdered sugar.
- Then divide the dough into 3 separate bowls. Add the red food coloring to one bowl, the green to another and then one white and mix well until you reach the desired colors.
- Cover and refrigerate the dough for 2 hours.
- Then line 2 baking sheets with parchment paper or wax paper. Roll the dough in between your palms to form approximately 1 inch balls. Then place the balls on the baking sheets.
- Dip the tongs of a fork in the ½ cup granulated sugar and then gently press the fork down onto each mint to flatten them out and make a line pattern on the mints. Follow this process until all the mints are formed and keep dipping the fork in the powdered sugar when forming the mints.
- Then allow the mints to sit at room temperature until they have fully hardened (4-6 hours). They should be hard on the outside and soft on the inside.
- Store in an airtight container in single layers with a sheet of wax paper between each layer in the refrigerator for up to 2 weeks.
