Description
These Holiday Cream Cheese Mints are a festive, creamy, and melt-in-your-mouth treat perfect for the holiday season. Made with cream cheese, butter, confectioners’ sugar, and peppermint oil, these no-bake mints can be customized with food coloring and flavor twists. They chill to a firm, minty delight ideal for gifting or sharing at holiday gatherings.
Ingredients
Scale
Main Ingredients
- 6 oz cream cheese, softened
- 2 tbsp unsalted butter, softened
- 6 cups confectioners’ sugar (powdered sugar)
- 4–5 drops peppermint oil (adjust to taste)
- 2 drops food coloring paste (use more or split for variety)
Optional
- Granulated sugar for rolling
Flavor Twists (Optional)
- Swap peppermint oil with vanilla, almond, or lemon extract for variety
- Use gel food coloring to make holiday-themed batches (red, green, gold)
- Dip in dark chocolate for a peppermint bark-style version
- Roll in sanding sugar for extra sparkle and crunch
Instructions
- Beat Cream Cheese and Butter: In a large bowl, beat cream cheese and unsalted butter together until the mixture becomes smooth and creamy, ensuring there are no lumps.
- Incorporate Powdered Sugar: Gradually add the confectioners’ sugar while mixing continuously until a soft dough forms that is pliable but not sticky.
- Add Flavor and Color: Mix in 4–5 drops of peppermint oil and 2 drops of food coloring paste thoroughly until the dough is evenly tinted and fragrant.
- Chill Mixture: If the dough feels too sticky to handle, chill it in the refrigerator for 30 minutes to firm up and make shaping easier.
- Shape the Mints: Roll the dough into small balls, then either flatten them gently with a fork or press them into sugar-dusted candy molds to create festive shapes.
- Set the Mints: Place the shaped mints onto trays lined with wax paper and refrigerate uncovered for 2 hours, allowing the mints to firm up completely.
- Storage: Once set, store the mints in an airtight container in the refrigerator to keep fresh, or freeze for up to 2 months for longer storage.
Notes
- You can customize the flavor by swapping peppermint oil with other extracts like vanilla, almond, or lemon.
- Use gel food coloring for vibrant holiday colors such as red, green, and gold.
- Optionally roll the mints in granulated or sanding sugar for extra texture and sparkle.
- Dipping the mints in melted dark chocolate creates a delicious peppermint bark-style treat.
- Store in an airtight container to maintain freshness and prevent drying out.
- If the dough is sticky, chilling it before shaping makes handling easier and cleaner.
