🎉 Introduction
These Soft Christmas Peppermints are creamy, smooth, melt-in-your-mouth little treats that bring pure holiday nostalgia. Made with simple ingredients like butter, powdered sugar, cream, and peppermint extract, they create a velvety dough that can be tinted with festive red swirls for a beautiful Christmas look. Perfect for gifting, dessert trays, party favors, and after-dinner treats, these mints deliver cool peppermint freshness, creamy sweetness, and a soft, pillowy texture that feels like Christmas magic in every bite.
🛒 Ingredients
For the Peppermint Dough
- 1/2 cup Butter, softened
- 3 cups Powdered sugar
- 2 tablespoons Heavy whipping cream
- 1/4 teaspoon Peppermint extract
- Red gel food coloring (as needed)
Optional Decorations
- Christmas sprinkles
- Crushed candy canes
- Extra powdered sugar for rolling
🧰 Equipment Needed
- Mixing bowl
- Electric mixer
- Rubber spatula
- Measuring cups & spoons
- Baking sheet
- Parchment paper
- Knife or dough scraper
- Small storage container
👩🍳 Directions (Form-Steps Style)
🔹 PART 1 — MAKE THE PEPPERMINT DOUGH
Step 1 — Beat the Butter
- Add softened butter into a mixing bowl.
- Beat until smooth and creamy.
Soft butter helps the dough stay silky and pliable.
Step 2 — Add Powdered Sugar
- Add powdered sugar gradually.
- Mix on low first, then increase speed when combined.
The mixture will become thick, sweet, and dough-like.
Step 3 — Pour in Heavy Cream
- Add heavy cream to soften and hydrate the dough.
- Mix until smooth and velvety.
Cream helps the mints get their melt-in-your-mouth texture.
Step 4 — Add Peppermint Extract
- Add peppermint extract.
- Taste and adjust if needed.
Peppermint is strong, so a little goes a long way.
🔹 PART 2 — COLOR THE MINT DOUGH
Step 5 — Divide the Dough
- Split the dough into two equal portions.
Step 6 — Color Half the Dough Red
- Add a few drops of red gel food coloring to one portion.
- Knead until evenly tinted.
Red gel gives a bright, festive look without watering down the dough.
Step 7 — Create Red-and-White Swirls (Optional)
For a beautiful holiday swirl:
- Roll both colors into long ropes.
- Twist them together.
- Knead gently to create a candy-cane effect.
🔹 PART 3 — SHAPE THE MINTS
Step 8 — Roll Into Ropes
- Roll dough into long ropes about ½ inch thick.
Step 9 — Slice Into Bites
- Cut into small bite-sized pieces.
- Each piece should look like a tiny square peppermint.
Step 10 — Place on Parchment
- Transfer mints to a parchment-lined tray.
🔹 PART 4 — DRY & SET
Step 11 — Let the Mints Air-Dry
- Allow mints to dry at room temperature for 12–24 hours.
This helps them firm slightly on the outside but stay soft inside.
Step 12 — Store Properly
Once dry, place mints into airtight containers.
🍽️ Servings & Timing
- Makes: 60–100 mints (depending on size)
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Mixing & Coloring: 10 minutes
- Drying Time: 12–24 hours
- Total Time: ~24 hours (mostly inactive)
🧊 Storage
Room Temperature
- Keeps 2 weeks in airtight container.
Refrigerator
- Stays fresh 3–4 weeks.
Freezer
- Freeze up to 2 months.
- Thaw at room temp before serving.
🥄 Variations
1. Green Christmas Peppermints
Add green gel food coloring instead of red for a mistletoe look.
2. Candy Cane Peppermints
Add crushed candy canes into the dough.
3. Vanilla Butter Mints
Replace peppermint extract with vanilla extract.
4. Chocolate Peppermints
Roll mints in cocoa powder for a chocolate-mint twist.
5. Christmas Sprinkle Mints
Roll cut mints in festive sprinkles before drying.
6. Lemon or Orange Mints
Use lemon extract or orange extract for citrus holiday flavors.
❓ 10 FAQs
1. Why is my dough too sticky?
Add more powdered sugar, 1 tablespoon at a time.
2. Why is the dough crumbly?
Add 1 teaspoon heavy cream at a time until smooth.
3. How strong should the peppermint flavor be?
Start small — peppermint extract is powerful.
4. Why didn’t my red turn bright?
Use gel coloring, not liquid.
5. Can I serve these immediately?
Better after drying — texture improves.
6. Can kids help make these?
Yes — coloring and cutting are fun for kids.
7. Can I skip the food coloring?
Yes — plain white mints look elegant.
8. Can I roll the dough thinner?
Yes — depends on how small you want your mints.
9. Can I use salted butter?
Yes — just a pinch of salt boosts flavor.
10. Why are mine hard after drying?
Dried too long — shorten drying time next batch.
🏁 Conclusion
These Soft Christmas Peppermints are creamy, velvety, and beautifully festive. With simple ingredients and easy no-bake steps, they’re perfect for every holiday celebration. Whether you swirl them with red coloring or roll them in sprinkles, each mint delivers cool peppermint freshness and a melt-in-your-mouth sweetness that makes them irresistible. They’re perfect for gifting, decorating dessert trays, or enjoying after a holiday meal. A true Christmas classic!
The Magic of Soft Christmas Peppermints – Creamy, Velvety & Melt-In-Your-Mouth
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Ingredients
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Equipment
Method
- 🔹 PART 1 — MAKE THE PEPPERMINT DOUGH
- Add softened butter into a mixing bowl.
- Beat until smooth and creamy.
- Soft butter helps the dough stay silky and pliable.
- Add powdered sugar gradually.
- Mix on low first, then increase speed when combined.
- The mixture will become thick, sweet, and dough-like.
- Add heavy cream to soften and hydrate the dough.
- Mix until smooth and velvety.
- Cream helps the mints get their melt-in-your-mouth texture.
- Add peppermint extract.
- Taste and adjust if needed.
- Peppermint is strong, so a little goes a long way.
- 🔹 PART 2 — COLOR THE MINT DOUGH
- Split the dough into two equal portions.
- Add a few drops of red gel food coloring to one portion.
- Knead until evenly tinted.
- Red gel gives a bright, festive look without watering down the dough.
- For a beautiful holiday swirl:
- Roll both colors into long ropes.
- Twist them together.
- Knead gently to create a candy-cane effect.
- 🔹 PART 3 — SHAPE THE MINTS
- Roll dough into long ropes about ½ inch thick.
- Cut into small bite-sized pieces.
- Each piece should look like a tiny square peppermint.
- Transfer mints to a parchment-lined tray.
- 🔹 PART 4 — DRY & SET
- Allow mints to dry at room temperature for 12–24 hours.
- This helps them firm slightly on the outside but stay soft inside.
- Once dry, place mints into airtight containers.
Notes
Room Temperature Keeps 2 weeks in airtight container. Refrigerator Stays fresh 3–4 weeks. Freezer Freeze up to 2 months. Thaw at room temp before serving. 🥄 Variations
1. Green Christmas Peppermints Add green gel food coloring instead of red for a mistletoe look. 2. Candy Cane Peppermints Add crushed candy canes into the dough. 3. Vanilla Butter Mints Replace peppermint extract with vanilla extract. 4. Chocolate Peppermints Roll mints in cocoa powder for a chocolate-mint twist. 5. Christmas Sprinkle Mints Roll cut mints in festive sprinkles before drying. 6. Lemon or Orange Mints Use lemon extract or orange extract for citrus holiday flavors. ❓ 10 FAQs
1. Why is my dough too sticky? Add more powdered sugar, 1 tablespoon at a time. 2. Why is the dough crumbly? Add 1 teaspoon heavy cream at a time until smooth. 3. How strong should the peppermint flavor be? Start small — peppermint extract is powerful. 4. Why didn’t my red turn bright? Use gel coloring, not liquid. 5. Can I serve these immediately? Better after drying — texture improves. 6. Can kids help make these? Yes — coloring and cutting are fun for kids. 7. Can I skip the food coloring? Yes — plain white mints look elegant. 8. Can I roll the dough thinner? Yes — depends on how small you want your mints. 9. Can I use salted butter? Yes — just a pinch of salt boosts flavor. 10. Why are mine hard after drying? Dried too long — shorten drying time next batch. 🏁 Conclusion These Soft Christmas Peppermints are creamy, velvety, and beautifully festive. With simple ingredients and easy no-bake steps, they’re perfect for every holiday celebration. Whether you swirl them with red coloring or roll them in sprinkles, each mint delivers cool peppermint freshness and a melt-in-your-mouth sweetness that makes them irresistible. They’re perfect for gifting, decorating dessert trays, or enjoying after a holiday meal. A true Christmas classic!
